I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in His word I put my hope.
Psalm 130:5 (NIV)
Series: In Remembrance
When was the last time you paused to set your complete focus—body, mind, heart, and soul—on God? Perhaps you waited upon Him with your mind while your body completed a workout. Or maybe you centered your heart on following Him and sharing His light, while your soul anxiously entertained all the what-ifs. Stopping everything all at once to present our whole selves to God is difficult.
Our flesh runs to the earthly comforts that temporarily soothe and satisfy. From scrumptious foods to mindless grazing, getting likes on social media to endless dead-scrolling, a shopping pick-me-up to purchase addiction, working to provide for basic needs to financial fixations, substance abuse, attention needs, ego boosts, game dependence…the list goes on and on for how we seek satisfaction.
Things can get out of hand quickly and inconspicuously. What seems like a harmless indulgence can grow to consume our desire, attention, well-being, and time. Before long, our complete focus is on the one thing we think we need and we think will make everything better. But there is only ONE who satisfies, equips, empowers, refreshes, and restores.
We can turn to Jesus’ example in Matthew 4:1-11. In this passage, Jesus entered the wilderness and fasted for forty days and nights to prepare Himself to stand against the temptations of the enemy, the flesh, the ego, and the effects of desire, pride, and power. Moses also fasted forty days and nights as the Lord gave Him the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. God communed with Moses as he set himself apart and made himself available to fulfill God’s purpose.
Fasting increases our dependence on God rather than on earthly comforts, deepens our connection with Him, and consecrates ourselves to Him. It mirrors the fasting of Moses and Jesus—recognizing and practicing self-denial to connect with God and fulfill His purpose in our lives.
The prophet Joel shared God’s desire for His people to turn to Him with fasting. In Joel 2:12-13 (HCSB), the prophet wrote:
Even now—this is the Lord’s declaration—turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Tear your hearts, not just your clothes, and return to the Lord your God. For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in faithful love.
The prophet Daniel fasted to draw closer to God through prayer, humility, and spiritual discipline. Daniel 12:2-3 (NIV) says:
At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.
Fasting helps us grow closer to God by acknowledging our dependence on Him. As we deny our flesh of its every desire and remove the distractions the world offers, our reliance and focus shift to the Creator of all things. And, there is a greater purpose in our fasts than just self-denial and consecration. The prophet Isaiah shared these truths in Isaiah 58:5-10 (NASB):
Is it a fast like this that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it for bowing one’s head like a reed and for spreading out sackcloth and ashes as a bed? Will you call this a fast, even an acceptable day to the Lord? Is this not the fast that I choose: to release the bonds of wickedness, to undo the ropes of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke? Is it not to break your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into the house; when you see the naked, to cover him; and not to hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light will break out like the dawn, and your recovery will spring up quickly; and your righteousness will go before you; the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’ If you remove the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger and speaking wickedness, and if you offer yourself to the hungry and satisfy the need of the afflicted, then your light will rise in darkness, And your gloom will become like midday.
No person is an island. Our consecration helps us draw near to God, and it benefits others. When we fast, time and resources become available to serve and help others. As we continue through the season of Lent, may we look to Jesus and His example. In remembrance of Him, may we prepare our hearts, minds, bodies, and souls to fulfill His plan and purpose for our lives by denying the desires for the comforts of this world to fulfill His greater purpose.
Through the years, I have fasted from many different things. Giving up soda benefited my physical body. Fasting from social media provided mental clarity, nurtured spiritual connection, and freed up time each day. Fasting from carbs and sweets required strong discipline. All of it demanded reliance upon the Lord. And each sacrifice provided an opportunity to minister to and/or bless others.
Sacred pauses are purposeful and holy. They deny our flesh, our ego, and our wants. They demand our focus to be turned to the only ONE who satisfies. The Lord God Almighty comforts, heals, redeems, refreshes, and restores. Jesus. He is our All in all—the fullness of all we could ever want or need.
May we examine our lives this week and determine what we may be dependent upon for joy, peace, satisfaction, or fulfillment, and choose to remove those things from our demands so that we can look only to Jesus—the author, the finisher, the completer, the fulfiller of our hope and faith.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Maryann
Scripture References: Psalm 130:5; Matthew 4:1-11; Exodus 34:28; Joel 2:12-13; Daniel 10; Ezra 8:21-23; Jonah 3:6-10; Isaiah 58:5-10; Acts 13:2; Hebrews 12:2