During this time so often I hear of those fasting "something" for lent. What does that actually mean? Why are you doing this? For whom are you doing this for? I will go out on a limb here and be bold. I think most of the time the act of fasting is being done for the wrong reason. Especially what is being fasted from. Sugar, or chocolate, or soda, or alcohol, or snacks, or some other luxury that doesn't really matter in our lives. Does that really glorify Jesus? Does it really bring us to a place of intercession and prayer? I doubt it.
You see when Jesus asks us to fast it is usually because we need a deep cleansing from God, or we need something very specific and important in our lives, or perhaps we need healing. One thing I know we all need is forgiveness. Yes, forgiveness. Because none of us are perfect and blameless until we go to be with the Lord for eternity.
In my opinion, and I repeat, my opinion (yours may be different), fasting from sugar or chocolate or alcohol isn't going to bring me to a closer place with Jesus. What Jesus wants is when we fast to spend that extra time with Him in prayer. For the hour you may fast from your favorite TV show, He wants us to pray. That is how we get to that closer place to Jesus.
The lenten season is about us digging deep into our hearts and searching for cobwebs that need cleaning out. It is about us finding a renewing of our spirits from Christ Jesus. It is about us walking in integrity with the Lord.
I know Jesus desires that more intimate relationship with us. But it is up to us to take those steps and dig deep. It is up to us to call out to Jesus and ask for His redeeming love and mercy over us.
Jesus already did the hard part. He walked that road, being mocked, being ridiculed, being spat on, being beaten, being nailed to that cross, suffering the most horrible death on that cross, all for loves sake. All for our sake.
He then rose from the grave, and went and snatched the keys to hell, defeated the devil, all for loves sake. He then rose to heaven, in victory, and sent His Holy Spirit to be our comforter, our counselor, and to be with us always. We are never alone.
So let me ask you, why are you fasting, if you do? Why are you celebrating Easter, if you do?
Do you remember what took place that Easter week almost 2000 years ago? Do you remember why?
I can think of many reasons to fast and pray. Desperate reasons. But the most important reason is for our relationship with Jesus Christ to be strengthened, and to be more meaningful in our lives. That is the most important reason. Without that we have nothing.
I encourage you faithful readers, this Easter season, search your hearts, search the Word of God, search and seek more of the Holy Spirit in your lives. Pray for more of Jesus in your lives. I know you will come away from that being so much more enriched, feeling so much closer to Jesus ,and feeling so much more loved from Jesus.
That is priceless! That is worth fasting from something more important than sugar. It is worth every moment spent in prayer, and every moment spent worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalm 26:
Prayer for Vindication
1 Vindicate me, Lord,
because I have lived with integrity
and have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
2 Test me, Lord, and try me;
examine my heart and mind.
3 For Your faithful love is before my eyes,
and I live by Your truth.
4 I do not sit with the worthless
or associate with hypocrites.
5 I hate a crowd of evildoers,
and I do not sit with the wicked.
6 I wash my hands[a] in innocence
and go around Your altar, Lord,
7 raising my voice in thanksgiving
and telling about Your wonderful works.
8 Lord, I love the house where You dwell,
the place where Your glory resides.
9 Do not destroy me along with sinners,
or my life along with men of bloodshed
10 in whose hands are evil schemes
and whose right hands are filled with bribes.
11 But I live with integrity;
redeem me and be gracious to me.
12 My foot stands on level ground;
I will praise the Lord in the assemblies.
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