I was all ready to take something out of the archives and write about the Magi and their role in the Christmas story. I was going to start by making an appeal for a year-end gift to my ministry. I will make the appeal later, but the Magi will have to wait until next year. I cannot shake the sense that I am to write about preparing for 2016 through a time of prayer and fasting, which I know you probably already know and do. I must be obedient, however, so in the midst of your holiday feasting, allow me to remove one letter from FEASTING and talk to you about FASTING.
Quite simply, fasting is going without food for a period of time. People often talk about a television fast, a newspaper or news fast, or a fast from certain foods, like desserts or meat. Sometimes people reduce their food intake to one meal a day, or only drink juice. While all those are commendable, they are not technically a fast. You may be abstaining, but you are not fasting - although I know some will disagree with me on that issue. No big deal if you do.
Fasting gives you a headache as your body goes through withdrawal from the sugar, caffeine, medicines, and other toxins that you regularly ingest. Eventually your body adjusts to the famine, and you can actually have more energy for a while than when you are eating - since you body is not exerting so much energy with the digestion process. Of course, you will also feel hunger from time to time, and no one should fast without consulting a physician. Moses and Jesus both fasted for 40 days, so that remains the standard beyond which no one should venture. You should never, ever fast from water, but actually drink more of it while you are doing without food.
Why should you fast? Besides the health reasons, you fast to send a message to your body and to God. You are agreeing with what the it says in Deuteronomy, which Jesus quoted when tempted by the devil: "Jesus answered, 'It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'" (Matthew 4:4). You are indicating your need for God beyond all else when you stop eating. And you try to bring your fleshly cravings under control for a short period of time.
It is advisable to reduce your activity level when you fast, and to spend some of the time in prayer and Bible reading that you would otherwise spend shopping for food, cooking it, eating the food, and cleaning up after you eat the food. You are fasting to hear from the Lord, but often, you will not hear while you fast. The word or direction can come during the fast, but often comes after the fact. You do not need a reason to fast, but if you set some agenda before the Lord, He will usually help you see the issues on that agenda more clearly.
I will stop drinking coffee on January 2 and then start my fast on January 4, probably going for 14 days. I invite you to join me during that time, although certainly you should follow your church's schedule if it is their custom to fast. There is nothing special about fasting in January, and you can fast any time you feel so inclined. I think there are times when God calls you to fast, and other times you decide to fast. Either way, you should count on God's help when you do. If you have never fasted, then start out with a day or two with one meal a day, then try three days without food, but make sure you drink a lot of water - like eight to ten glasses a day.
There are some who do a Daniel fast - eating only vegetables - and others reduce their meals to one a day if they have jobs that require high levels of sugar to the brain - like operating heavy equipment or surgeons. Yet don't dismiss your ability or your need to fast too quickly as you enjoy your year-end celebrations. Happy New Year, and I pray that 2016 will be a prosperous and purposeful year as you start out by putting the Lord ahead of all else - including food.
******************
I NEED YOUR HELP: I have shared with you this past year of my need for your help as I write, coach, travel, help orphans and widows, publish and broadcast the world over. Much of what I do is by faith. Therefore, I am asking you to stand with me financially as the year ends and during 2015. You can give using PayPal or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. Thank you for helping me help so many.
THE ORPHANS RECEIVED YOUR HELP: You can read a touching testimony from Kenya in response to money I sent over last week in today's blog update. Once again, you can give online or by sending a check to the address mentioned above if you want to help the poor in that country as I prepare to visit in February.
THE NEW YEAR IS ALMOST HERE: My daily devotionals make excellent gifts that keep giving every day of the year. Check out these titles and then order yours today:
Comments