My first session with the brothers and sisters at Bellegrove church was a lovely time.
For those in my last class, the free online copy of Brother Lawrence’s Practicing the Presence of God is here. I hope you enjoy it. You will also find more resources for Lectio Divina here. Just type those two words in the search field, and BOOM–jackpot.
Fasting is the topic for next week.
Together, we’ll be covering the questions:
What is fasting?
What does it involve?
Who fasts; or who should fast?
What’s the point of fasting?
What are the benefits? What are the drawbacks?
How and when has it been used in the Bible, and throughout Christian history?
What kinds of fasting are there?
Should I fast, and for how long?
Guidelines, explanations, and interaction this coming Sunday, January 23rd, and 10 a.m. Bellegrove United Methodist Church, Anneville, Pa. (Worship service, with Pastor Dave Alderson, begins at 8:45a.m.) We hope to see you. The previous post with more details, here.
For those who can’t make it, I’ll post some notes on the lesson, next week. Or, if you’d like to set up some sessions with your group, of 5 or more, contact me.
Have you ever fasted?
Please, share your last experience with fasting, here.
Thank you for reading.
FUN!
Yes, I have done a few fasts…and actually, when directed by the LORD they have been quite exciting.
And, interesting – right now in our School of Ministry we are in a 5 week class on prayer and fasting….
But, I just finished baking a batch of chocoate chip cookies, so…I need to get them out of the oven :)..
Chris, you’ll have to give us some highlights.
And–out of curiosity: Have you fasted from something other than food?
One fast in particular that was directed by the Lord….a few years ago, He told me to spend some time away in the woods. The Appalacian train to be exact. :) I pack up my backpack with a sleeping bag, a tent, and my Bible. I spent 3 days out there by myself…spending time away from everything, alone…with no food except His Word and His Presence. He taught me many things about Himself and myself during that time.
However, when I would try and fast out of obligation – when I think I need to for whatever reason – and it’s not instructed by The Lord, all I find is hat I am hungry….and irritable.
Food – yes. I believe that is really the only thing according to scripture we can fast from. Sure, you can give up TV, sports, shopping, internet etc for a time – but it’s not a fast. Certainly, it is a sacrifice, and The Lord does honor that but there is no scriptural basis for believing that anything other than food is a fast. In a fast, you are giving up something that your flesh needs in order to grow and gain something in the Spirit. Your flesh doesn’t ‘need’ TV, internet, etc….to give those up is more emotional and/or mental “needs”…..
It has been said also – and I have found this to be true…the first two days of a food fast are the most difficult….most people don’t make it past the second. However, on the 3rd day (and there is plenty of scriptural correlation for the 3rd)….your digestive system somewhat shuts down and the cravings for food lessen….
Practically…going into a fast – prepare yourself. Don’t just cut off food cold turkey (no pun intended)….ween yourself up to the start of your fast. If you are a caffeine person, cut off the coffee a few days before – to avoid the headaches associated before you start your fast, avoiding the apparent double misery….
In coming off a fast – don’t break your fast with a smorgasbord. Start eating light….you’ll make yourself sick if you eat too much.
Perhaps I will jot some ideas down at my blog about fasting and send them your way….types of fasts, biblical references etc etc. it’s some really fun stuff. :)