Pauses for Lent Day 4
Pauses for Lent by Trevor Hudson
Day 4 Word: FAST
Scripture: “But when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting me be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” Matthew 6:17-18
Throughout the ages, those who have made an impact on their generation for the sake of Christ have fasted. This usually involves going without food for a set length of time. Certainly Jesus assumes that his followers will do this as part of their relationship with God. He says, “When you fast…” not “If you fast…”
Fasting is really feasting on God’s overwhelming goodness and love for us. We do this during our fast by nourishing ourselves on those words that God speaks to us. We learn that we do not lie on bread alone but by every word of God.
When Jesus instructs us not to look somber when we fast, he is not inviting us to mislead others, He knows from his own experience of fasting how fasting leads us to those unseen gifts that come only from God.
Comment from Marie: It’s ironic, in a culture obsessed with different kinds of weight loss diets that deprive, including the recently much talked about intermittent fasting, that the idea of fasting for spiritual reasons can seem foreign. How necessary do you think it is to fast? Please share your thoughts on today's word.
Day 4 Word: FAST
Scripture: “But when you fast put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting me be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you” Matthew 6:17-18
Throughout the ages, those who have made an impact on their generation for the sake of Christ have fasted. This usually involves going without food for a set length of time. Certainly Jesus assumes that his followers will do this as part of their relationship with God. He says, “When you fast…” not “If you fast…”
Fasting is really feasting on God’s overwhelming goodness and love for us. We do this during our fast by nourishing ourselves on those words that God speaks to us. We learn that we do not lie on bread alone but by every word of God.
When Jesus instructs us not to look somber when we fast, he is not inviting us to mislead others, He knows from his own experience of fasting how fasting leads us to those unseen gifts that come only from God.
Comment from Marie: It’s ironic, in a culture obsessed with different kinds of weight loss diets that deprive, including the recently much talked about intermittent fasting, that the idea of fasting for spiritual reasons can seem foreign. How necessary do you think it is to fast? Please share your thoughts on today's word.
2 Comments
The Bible talks about fasting many times, and so I thought I should give it a try. I researched what was recommended and settled upon a 24 hour fast once a week, eating nothing for 24 hours. The first week I did fine and my face was indeed cheerful during my day of fasting. However, when it came to the second week, after a few hours without food I was so grouchy and miserable that I broke fast and have never tried it again. I am curious if any of you do make fasting a regular part of your spiritual practice. I do feast on God's word as our author suggests, but somehow I wonder if we are missing something by not making fasting more a part of our spiritual practice.
Susan, like you I have had a hard time with fasting but I think it is worth the effort. Not eating meat on Friday was a fast I could do.The author, T. Hudson suggests not eating between meals as a fast. Whatever a person might choose I think God is pleased with the effort.