Centre Church

So there’s another 21 day fast coming up at Centre Church and a little bit of pre-buzz happening out there. Some of you are getting pretty excited about what has become our bi-annual Daniel Fast. Some of you are new kids on the block and this will be your first go-around with fasting, or at least fasting for this amount of time. But I wonder if some of us greet the fast with a little bit of dread… after all, it is not designed to be an easy time.

First of all, it’s okay to admit that fasting is difficult and that it is not the most eagerly anticipated time of the year for you. This does not mean that you are immature or “unspiritual”. It only means that you have a sober view of what takes place during a time of fasting. The body becomes a bit discombobulated as it is cleansed or detoxified from our (let’s face it) otherwise unhealthy dietary practices. The flesh and the spirit absolutely go to war against one another – it’s so easy to go to food for relief from boredom or stress or depression, but that solution is unavailable during a time of fasting. The enemy will be active, particularly in your thought life, encouraging exorbitant amounts of sleep, grouchiness, or moments of breaking the fast.

But keep in mind that the fast is two-fold in nature. Thank God it is not only in the physical! If it were, such difficulty would never be met with great reward.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.  So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. II Corinthians 4:16-18

I am grateful that God allowed me to see the scene in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus wrestled in anguish with his impending death. The reward of Jesus’ obedience is yours and mine and his. He is glorified forever and we will share with him in that inheritance. Talk about light and momentary troubles -depravation of food – versus an eternal glory outweighing all else! No, the reward of obedience obliterates the complaints of the flesh.

Fasting is not for the faint of heart. It is not for the baby who still requires milk and will spit out or turn his head against anything “untasty”. When we are young children, we are not capable of focusing on the needs of any but our own. Food, sleep and play are all scheduled or dictated by others and punctuated by fits of selfishness. Growing up is all about learning to lay down those claims to self. Fasting is all about growing up.

Take some time this week as the 2012 fast is introduced to study the help sheet we will give you and to pray about the fast God desires you to undertake. Spend some time investigating suggested web sites and talk with others who have undertaken the fast before. Prepare your heart, asking God as you respond in obedience for the gift of the same strengthening he has given millions who have gone before you, as well as the same revival.

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.  James 4:6-10

Happy fasting? It can be, and we will pray that your testimony at the end of this month will be one of joy and complete satisfaction in him!