Thursday October 20, 2022

Today is Thursday, October 20 and we are studying what the Bible says about fasting.

I come before my Lord in a spirit of humility and devotion. Setting aside the things of this world, I seek God alone to satisfy the deepest longings of body, mind and soul.

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, I want to learn how to live the kingdom life from You. Teach me to practice the spiritual disciplines in this time and place. I trust that You know what is best for me and desire that I grow and mature as Your disciple. Amen.

I humble myself and turn to the Lord my God with the words of Psalm 107.

Indeed, I eat ashes like bread and mingle tears with my drink, because of your indignation and anger, for you have lifted me up and thrown me aside. But you, O Lord, are enthroned forever; your name endures to all generations. You will rise up and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to favor it; the appointed time has come. Psalm 107:9-13 NRSV

Pause and Pray

Methodists have long advocated regular fasting, yet the practice has all but been abandoned in this day and time. Why should I fast? Fasting is an act of humility before God undertaken to seek His divine intervention in my life. Fasting is the example set by Jesus, the prophets and the apostles. Fasting will provide time for me to pray, seek God and repent. Fasting exposes the sin inside of me so that I can confess it. More than any other spiritual discipline, fasting reveals the things that control me. I cover up what is inside of me with food and other good things, but with fasting these things rise to the surface. Whether I harbor pride, anger, bitterness, jealousy, doubt, fear, disobedience or self-will, if they are within me they will become evident during fasting. Fasting reveals the root of my intentions and motivations.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.” John 4:31-34

John Wesley outlined five essential reasons why Christians should fast. First, when I am overwhelmed with sorrow for my sin. I am truly repentant and acknowledge my sadness over the heavy burden of transgression. I lament my wrongdoing. Second, I am aware how often I have impaired my health by the abuse of food or other substances, consuming an excess of food or drink or by exhibiting a lack of self-control. A fast is an opportunity to wean myself away from the control that substances have over my physical body. Third, fasting is an aid to prayer. My prayer life will be richer, deeper and fuller when combined with fasting. Fourth, fasting is a way to seek God’s guidance, instruction, power, blessing and peace. Fifth, fasting will reveal the things that control me and provide God a greater capacity to remove them.*

Ask: What are the reasons for fasting that most appeal to me? What difference might fasting make in my life?

Pause and Pray

Lord Jesus, thank You for challenging me to grow spiritually. I realize I still have much to learn and ask that You be my teacher and my guide. You set me the example for fasting and tell me that God provides food to eat that know one else will know about – spiritual food and heavenly bread that will enable me to do Your will and accomplish Your work. I read John again, listening for the message You have for me today.

Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.” But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.” So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?” Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.” John 4:31-34

Ask: What image, word or phrase stands out to me when I slowly read this passage? What is God trying to say to me through these words of scripture?

Pause and Pray

This week I seek to learn about Real Christianity and listen to Jesus’ teaching on why I should fast. I consider what God may be trying to convey to me today. Perhaps I have never experienced the fullness of the bread that God provides. Maybe I have been satiating myself with the things of this world and ignoring a deep hunger for the things of God. Perhaps there is a spiritual food I have yet to learn about and God wants me to take a further step toward the sustenance He alone provides.

Pause and Pray

Jesus, You are the Bread of Heaven and You are the Living Water – fill me full of Your love and teach me what it means to follow You. I hunger and thirst for holiness of heart and life and recognize that You are the only one that is able to satisfy the deep emptiness of my soul. Come, pour yourself into my longing heart. Amen.

There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. Ezra 8:21-23

*Resources: Sermons on Several Occasions, Volume II – Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount, by John Wesley, edited by William J. Abraham, 2021.

I leave this time of prayer seeking to grow in holiness and striving to love others as Jesus loves.

Amen