We are currently in a series we have named – Resurrection Routines, where we explore characteristics and practices that marked the early church we read about in Acts and the Apostle Paul’s writings. This past Sunday Drew preached on the spiritual discipline of fasting. From the practice of fasting, Drew outlined four gifts we receive: humility, empathy, confidence, and gratitude.
Susanne Teegarden shared her experience of fasting during Lent, “I had never fasted before and I found it especially humbled me in the area of parenting. Specifically at 4:00 pm when I was feeling the weakest and they (my kids) were all fighting with each other and needing different things from me. No one was hurt in the process, but it took extra prayers and patience to get through the afternoon that day.”
Likewise, here is how Jarrett Jackson described her Lenten fast with her small group, “When we realized that our next small group meeting was going to fall on Ash Wednesday, we were interested in coming up with a way to observe the day together. We decided to fast all day and then break our fast together when we met that night. We fasted in different ways with some people giving up meat, or solid food, and others only drinking clear liquids during the day. When we met that night we all brought food to share, and as we broke our fast together we reflected on our experiences. Fasting was an idea that came from the focus on humility, of recognizing our own mortality on Ash Wednesday. One aspect of fasting was the need to eat and the hunger throughout the day serving as a reminder of the weakness of our flesh, our reliance on God, and a constant reminder to seek God in prayer for our strength and sustenance. This was also a way to enter into the larger fast of Lent and part of our conversation that night was about what, if anything, we were each considering giving up for Lent and why. We read scripture including Joel 2:12-13: Yet even now, says the LORD, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; rend your hearts and not your clothing. Return to the LORD, your God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love, and relents from punishing. I think this practice gave us the opportunity to step out in faith as a group and be intentional and vulnerable about what fasting or sacrificing as a spiritual practice could look like for each of us.”
What might fasting look like for you in the coming days or weeks? Could you use the gifts of humility, empathy, confidence, and gratitude? Here are a few suggestions to help you get started:
Types of fasting:
Food
Technology (Screens/Email/Social Media/internet news)
Specific food or drink (caffeine, alcohol, or meat)
Speaking
Using a car
Context:
With a small group
As a family
Around an upcoming or recent event, decision, stress point, or celebration.
Out of a desire to love someone else well (an individual, group)
To prepare for and enjoy worship
Challenges:
- Pick a day of the week for a 24 hour fast that is meaningful to you. Invite others to join you (perhaps your family or small group). Talk about what this experience was like and then celebrate together when it’s over.
- Fast from technology on Sunday as a sabbath practice. Choose another enjoyable activity to do instead (an outdoor activity, read a book, get together with a friend, play a board game etc.) Engage in this activity with a desire to be more open and present to God and the people around you.
- Fast from something you feel has a “pull” over you for a few days (or weeks). Replace this habit with a time of prayer or scripture reading.