Fasting is not one of the gifts that Paul mentions in his writings, but I have learned that those who have been able to use fasting as a part of their faith disciplines, well, these people view fasting as a gift.

What is fasting? I think we all have some idea of what we might think it entails. In the Lutheran Church, there has been a movement that many churches have participated in called the “Thirty Hour Famine”. Under the title “Go hungry to help hungry kids”, students grow closer to Christ and each other as they fast together for 30 hours and raise funds to fight hunger.  It allows students to be part of something bigger than themselves by experiencing hunger in a different way.

That is one way our students can experience the issue of hunger, but a spiritual discipline of fasting is completely different. Fasting, is going without food and/or drink for a period of time. The practice of fasting is mentioned numerous times in the Bible as a reaction to various circumstances. Fasting was an act of repentance, as when the king of Nineveh ordered a fast after the preaching of Jonah (Jonah 3:5-9). Fasting was also a reaction to intense grief, as when the bones of Saul and his sons were buried (1 Samuel 31:13). We also find people fasting when G-d’s deliverance was needed, as when Jehoshaphat was approached by a large invading army (2 Chronicles 20:3). So, typically fasting was practiced for religious purposes like of focusing our energies and minds on G-d, but in this day and age, sometimes we need to refrain from both food and drink for health reasons as well, like if you have a medical procedure or a surgery.

Fasting is not easy, especially if you do it for an extended period of time.  However, it may prove to be a temporary discipline that can challenge you in this season of Lent as you take time to refocus your attentions on your relationship with G-d. As always, if you choose to try fasting, be sure you do not have medical conditions that would preclude you from such a discipline.  After all, we all want to be closer to G-d, but not to the point where we cross the threshold between life and death before our appointed time.

Pastor Dave

In this season of Lent, it is good to talk about Spiritual Disciplines. The practices in Lent cover several different topics. All of the disciplines have the purpose of seeking a deeper life in Christ and a closer relationship with G-d. We call these “spiritual disciplines,” but the activities are physical, not spiritual. They are bodily activities that can engage and effect our whole person: “I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of G-d, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to G-d, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world,[c] but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of G-d—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”   This is what Paul has to say in Romans 12:1-2. So a more accurate term for the exercises might be “disciplines for a spiritual life in Christ.”

To excel in anything in life requires some level of discipline. This is true for athletes, musicians, accountants, electricians, and disciples of Jesus. Effective discipline should not be looked at as drudgery. Of course, training has difficult aspects, but the hard work pays off to facilitate a more faith-filled life. Just watch a master pianist and you’ll see that he or she is not straining to do well but enjoying the music.

From the website “Soul Shepherding: For You And Your Ministry”  by Bill Gaultiere, I am listing some disciplines.  He puts them into two categories:

1. Disciplines of Abstinence
2. Disciplines of Engagement

Disciplines of Abstinence are ways of denying ourselves something we want or need to make space to focus on and connect with G-d.

Solitude: Refraining from interacting with other people in order to be alone with G-d and be found by him. (Solitude is completed by silence.)

Silence: Not speaking in a quiet place in order to quiet our minds and whole self and attend to G-d’s presence. Also, not speaking so that we can listen to others and bless them.

Fasting: Going without food (or something else) for a period of intense prayer — the fast may be complete or partial.

Sabbath: Doing no work to rest in G-d’s presence; praying and being with G-d and others. (G-d designed this for one day a week. We can practice it for shorter periods too.)

Secrecy: Not making our good deeds or qualities known to others to allow our actions to rest in G-d alone.

Submission: Not asserting ourselves in order to come under the authority, wisdom, and power of Jesus Christ.

Disciplines of Engagement — are ways of connecting with G-d and other people, conversing honestly with them in order to love and be loved.

Bible Reading: Trusting the Holy Spirit-inspired words of Scripture as our guide, wisdom, and strength for life.

Worship: Praising G-d’s greatness, goodness, and beauty in words, music, ritual, or silence.

Prayer: Conversing with G-d about what we’re experiencing and doing together. (As we see in the Lord’s Prayer the main thing we do in prayer is to make requests of our Father for one another.)

Soul Friendship: Engaging fellow disciples of Jesus in prayerful conversation or other spiritual practices.

Personal Reflection: Paying attention to our inner self in order to grow in love for G-d, others, and self.

Service: Humbly serving G-d by overflowing with his love and compassion to others, especially those in need

I will take some time in Lent to look at some of these Spiritual Disciplines as I encourage you to take Lent seriously.

Pastor Dave