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Building a strong table of faith is essential to allowing God to do His work in our lives. The strength of our table is in direct proportion to what God will place on it and how well we will handle it. Will we fall down, damaged and broken? Or will we stand firm, bearing the weight of difficulty, responsibility and ultimately life.
Today we will talk about one of the legs on the faith table – the fasting leg. John Piper calls fasting the "hunger of homesickness for God." In today’s busy world how many of us can say that we are truly homesick for God? How can we even get to that point when we fill our days with activities, our minds with constant chatter and our bellies with more food in one meal than most people in the world see in a week?
So why fast? Fasting and prayer are tools God has given us to discern His voice and see His purposes.
Beware! Many today are touting fasting as a magic remedy to life’s problems. But that is not what it is for. Fasting is a way of turning off the distractions of life and listening for the voice of the Lord. He may give you an answer, show you a direction or reveal His purpose to you.
He may also remain quiet and you will end your fast with no change in your circumstances or your direction but that does not mean that He has not heard your prayers. It also does not mean that fasting is the end answer. Perhaps obedience and listening are what God desires most from you. Fasting is just the means to doing those things.
Consider the Apostle Paul. As Saul, he was going the wrong way in life, persecuting God's people. Then one day, the brilliant light of God stopped him in his tracks (Acts 9:3-6).
He didn't know which way to go next. "So he, trembling and astonished, said, 'Lord, what do You want me to do?' Then the Lord said to him, 'Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do'" (Acts 9:3-6, NKJV). (Obedience & Listening!)
Saul headed to Damascus and the Bible says, "he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank" (Acts 9:9, NKJV). When Saul didn't know what to do, he fasted for God's divine direction. After he had fasted for three days, God sent Ananias, one of the disciples of Damascus, to him.
"And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, 'Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit'" (Acts 9:17).
Saul became the Apostle Paul, one of the greatest teachers, preachers and evangelists of all time (Acts 13:9)! Through his fast he was given the direction he needed. It was the obedience and listening that changed his circumstances, not the fasting itself.
Fasting scares a lot of people. But it doesn’t have to. Start small. Fast for a meal, then try two. The best method I have found for practical fasting is to eat a well-balanced meal with lots of fruits and vegetables the day before you start a fast. Your body will react differently than if you stuff yourself with rich foods emphasizing what you will be missing.
Many people ask if it is ok to fast from something other than food like TV or the computer. Of course those are noble pursuits, but food is necessary for life, not a TV show. By relinquishing it to God you are saying that you put Him first, before your basic needs of sustenance and are willing to listen to what He has to say at the most base level.
One of the things that helps me get through the day when I am fasting is to think on Christ. He was nailed to a cross for me and then died. In light of that I can get through the day without food to hear the voice of the Father.
God wants to do great and mighty thing in each of our lives. Opening ourselves up for the blessing is what fasting is all about.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact me. I am happy to help you start this new practice and live out your calling. You can also find some great resources on the saltandlight3.com site.
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