Fasting Part 3

In yesterday’s blog, we learned that fasting is a distinguishing mark of a follower of Christ, and God promises reward to those who properly engage in it. Today I want to talk about the resolve to fast…..you’ll need it! Your tummy is a formidable foe in this matter, even given god-like status by the Apostle Paul in  Php 3:19, “whose god is their belly,”  Of course his remark had nothing to do with fasting, but it does serve as a reminder of the strength of our flesh in striving against the Spirit of God! Fasting IS a battle! Know that going in!

One of the lies that the devil uses against us, is to try and tell us that fasting is just for the Old Testament. It was something reserved just for the prophets with sackcloth and ashes. As we pointed out last time, this is simply not true. Jesus point blank states that His followers WILL fast.  (See Mt 6:17, and Mt 9:15) 

Many times in the Old Testament, fasting was quite public, this seems to fly in the face of our Lord's New Testament admonition to keep it between ourselves and God, but it seems that these public fasts were undertaken for the welfare of the people at large, rather than individuals. And that is the thrust of my proposed Easter fast this coming weekend. We are fasting for the welfare of our church, our nation, and our world, especially in the wake of this COVID 19 plague.

One thing you should know when fasting, and that is, people will mock what you are doing. Perhaps you have seen the picture of vice president Pence gathered in prayer with the coronavirus task force at the white house at the beginning of the crisis. Whereas Christians took comfort in the scene, others mocked and belittled him.

As you seek to pray and fast, others will try to convince you that what you are doing is silly. This is not old news, be prepared for it and resolve to fast anyway!

In Psalm 69:10-13 we read, “When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing I became a byword to them. I am the talk of the gate and the drunkards make songs about me.”

Imagine that, people singing mocking songs about a man desperately trying to hear from God. I wonder how the song went?

“I once knew a man from Judah,

Who tried to do without foodah.

He thought it was neat,

To give up his meat,

But we think it's a lot of hooyah.”

But seriously the devil, the world, and yes, even our flesh,  will use any means possible to discourage a fast, because it is such a powerful tool of the church. The uninformed think the spiritual disciplines of praying, giving to the poor, and fasting are silly...well, let me encourage you, purpose in your heart to practice them anyway, because each discipline mentioned in the sermon on the mount comes with a promised reward from God. 

Listen to how the psalmist answers his mockers. He says in v13, “But as for me, my prayer is to you O Lord.”  You see, he fasted with the right motivation. He fasted for God alone. He was saying, “Lord, this fast is for You, not for them.

And by the way, we can say, according to this verse, that fasting is a form of praying.  In fact all three of these spiritual disciplines are forms of prayer. We pray with our hands through our acts of mercy giving to the poor. We pray with our lips by vocalizing our prayers, and we pray with our body when we deprive it for a season, asking God to act on our behalf with His promised reward.

Father, help me to overcome the taunts and doubts that the evil one brings our way. Grant us the resolve to practice these spiritual disciplines.