Today, I wanted to give an update on my fasting. This month in my local church we’re doing something called OctoberFast. We we as a congregation are fasting every Friday this month. We are also having a time of prayer Friday nights. My personal decision has been to fast everyday until 12pm.
I wanted to add some more times of fasting where I can focus on my relationship with God. Where I could spend time in prayer also. Fasting without the prayer and concentrated time with God is just going without food. It is like a diet. The point of fasting is being able to shut out all the noise around us and focus on God and hearing from God. That’s what fasting means for me. I want my life to be a reflection of God’s love. For that to happen, then I need to make it a regular practice of mine to hear from God.
I think that it shows our hearts when we are willing to shut down food and focus on God. As everyone will tell you”God looks at the heart.” I’m not arguing that He doesn’t, but since he does look at our hearts we should check within ourselves to see what’s in our hearts. I wouldn’t want God to look at my heart and see no reflection of Him. For there to be no traces of His goodness, joy, strength or patience.
Fasting makes sure that I’m not driven by my emotions or what my physical body wants. As I’m writing this, my body really wants to eat some Doritos. I will not eat them now. These are some of the thoughts that come up when we’re fasting. Food that you normally wouldn’t eat, all of sudden sounds like the best thing in the world. Once I put my focus on God, those thoughts and desires will fall back. The key is to keep focusing on Him. We may think for a second and then go back to thinking about the food that we’re not eating. We have to think on His goodness, and developing a deeper relationship with God.
Joshua 1:8 (ESV)
8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
This is how we are supposed to put those thoughts and desires down. Think or meditate on God.
So how is my fasting going? There are mornings were I really want to eat. Times where I don’t feel like fasting. Those thoughts don’t drive me though. I’ve made a decision that I’m willing to do whatever it takes to get a deeper level with God. I want to truly be used of God. As much as I give myself to other things in my life, I’m willing to give the same to God. So the journey continues tomorrow.
