Matthew 9:15
And Jesus said to them, "The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Reflection: Fasting, just do it….
Written By: Pastor Jesse Caro
I would love to see a study indicating how many people engage in fasting. Perhaps that study would show how many people fast in America as opposed to other parts of the world. In this study/survey, I of course, would limit the sample to people who are Christians (and for fun, let’s take Lent out of it). Consistent with my experience talking about fasting, on and off, over the last 25 years… I think the numbers would be exceptionally low. My guess is that few people fast, apart from Lent, as a regular part of their disciplined life.
As we do enter into Lent, however, my hope and prayer (I know it is Pastor Brad’s as well) is to teach about fasting that encourages this discipline as a regular part of our lives. Indeed, Lent is a good place to teach fasting and to encourage regular practice of fasting. Clearly fasting can (and probably should) include things other than food. But, for the purposes of Rooted, I want to point out that fasting food is the principal thing to fast. It is strictly what is meant in the Bible. Fasting food puts us in a very unique position where our bodies have a physical reaction that puts us in dependence on God. But whatever else is true, this is absolutely true: Jesus assumes we are fasting. So, whether it is food or not, a meal or two meals…. Fast. Often.
Prayer
Lord, help our church to develop a discipline of fasting in order to hunger for you more deeply, allowing you to be our sole desire and satisfaction.
