Fasting is Fun

As we get ready for the start of our fast I wanted to write what will hopefully be an encouragement to all who are considering joining us on our fast but yet have that hesitancy that is distracting them. Let's be honest, undertaking a week of denying yourself food, or any comfort for that matter will not be easy. I wonder who said life was going to be easy anyway? James said, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds ...". Now I know what you are thinking, but these trials are self inflicted. We could endure the trials of our faith being challenged by a co-worker, or the trials of being different in our family for Jesus' sake. But when we are inflicting the trials on ourselves it is a little different.

I read an article in the January edition of Charisma (click here) which was very encouraging. The article (if you didnt follow the link) was entitled 'Start the New Year with Extraordinary Prayer' and describes a 21 day fast that one church is undertaking, but the length of time of the fast doesn't matter - you don't get more brownie points in heaven the longer you go without food. The key thing is the attitude you take into the fast and the way you spend your time when you are on the fast.


The piece that struck me was the reason they gave as to why they fasted at the beginning of the year. They were three-fold:

1. You set the course for the rest of the year by how you start the year. If you begin the year with prayer and fasting then you set the rest of the year up to be successfully dedicated to the Lord. Just like praying at the beginning of the day often sets the rest of the day up and covers anything that may occur, so fasting at the beginning of the year sets up the whole year. Maybe we should carry that on into other areas of life - like giving God the first part of the day, giving God the first part of the week (Sunday), giving God the first part of our income (offerings and tithes), giving God the first consideration in every decision we make.
2. Blessings will occur because you set aside time at the start of the year to fast and pray. 
3. Fasting at the beginning of the year sets us in line with Matthew 6:33, "Seek FIRST the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." So if we seek Him FIRST then we should be expectant for ALL THESE THINGS to be added.

Wow! some simple truths that when we are reminded of them should change our attitude of a fast from something to be endured to something to be anticipated and enjoyed.

Let Your Kingdom come, and Your will be done O Lord.