Hunger
Of all the spiritual disciplines, I think that fasting is one that I do the least. I recently spent some time thinking fasting and would like to share some thoughts. Firstly, let me say that Jesus fasted and that should be enough reason to do it. Here are some other plus’s to fasting. Fasting makes us hungry, it rejects the flesh, it creates time in busy days, it cleanses us/jumpstarts us, makes our bodies week and tired. Fasting, in my opinion, is very hard work. I’ll also say that I like food. I grew up with a mom who could really cook good. Then I married a girl who loves cooking and making deserts. Then, I had a couple kids, so I am always cleaning off their plates.
As I started thinking about fasting, it dawned on me how relational our meal times are. In order to skip meals, one may find themeselves missing community. We as a society, plan our days around meal times. We schedule lunch or dinner meetings or meet for drinks of one kind or another. When we have a real appetite for something in particular, we most often invite others to partake with us. I have seen so many be so generous to others, while at the same time feeding their appetites. I do the exact same thing. I justify gratifying what I want by including others into the fuflillment of it. I am not talking just about food now. It might be entertainment of some kind. A little bitty indulgence. We won’t admit we don’t have self control because we are doing it in community. Soon our lives get driven by meeting these hungers. It becomes a routine to eat huge meals right after church, or spend whole days watching every football game on t.v., or getting on the internet every ten minutes to check out everyone’s facebook status. This country and our church’s have become lethargic and self indulgent. Somehow it crept in.Discernment is at an all time low, disception is at an all time high. Instead of partaking of the body and the blood each week as a church, we partake in the loudest rock, brightest lights, free coffee, and shortest service. Then off to satisfy the rest of fleshly desires.
I’m lashing out because i noticed that these are my tendancies. The Sermon on the Mount says blessed are the hungry. I had to learn to like coffee. I had to learn to understand football. I have to be intensional to feed myself.
Hungering for God, I think, is the same way. Fasting quickens that process. It’s me telling my body, “NO MORE!” I don’t want to conform to this world. I don’t want to give in even if it means I miss out on community. As I was thinking about fasting I realized that I am fat. Not just physically over weight. I am able to sit down and talk about the latest t.v. shows and movies, I am able to talk sports (at least NBA and NFL), I can tell give you restaurant options for whatever your craving, I can tell you about the cars I want, …do you get where I am going? I have taught myself to hunger for the things of this world but God gave me an example through His Son Jesus how I can battle my flesh.
Fasting. And when I am hungry for God, I invite others to join me when I seek to satisfy that craving. When I am planning my day, it is around meeting with Christ. Like most spiritual disciplines, when I am making habits of them I am joyful and satisfied. I find myself hearing God and effectivly loving people. I would challenge you to spend one day saying no to your flesh. Give up food and drink, entertainment and distraction. Get quiet and seek the Lord and all that He has for you. And in the end, you will be satisfied.



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