Fasting - Matthew 6:16-17
Fasting
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Reflection: Jesus continues with another important discipline that puts us in a place for maximum participation for God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Today the discipline he refers to is fasting, or purposefully not eating for the sake of focusing on prayer or other spiritual matters. Notice Jesus says,"when you fast", which shows this was a common practice among his disciples. The Old Testament prescribed certain fasts according to the Law, but there is no such prescription here of how long or specifically when to fast. But clearly Jesus acknowledges and is in favor of fasting as spiritual discipline.
So as we reflect on something Jesus found necessary for his own ministry, and something he urged his disciples to do, it makes sense for us think to think about how and why we fast. The reason we fast is similar to any discipline we undertake, to get closer to God and better understand His purpose for our lives. As we seek to live in His power we realize from John 15, "apart from Him we can do nothing". But on the flip side, Paul in Philippians says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So how does fasting get us more in tune with God and more aligned with His Spirit who lives in us?
First, fasting is denying a bodily urge, which is basic to our existence, which is eating. As I am fond of saying I never miss a meal. And yet while are bodies are good and created in God's image, Paul warns about being a slave to our bodily urges so that they come to master us. Meaning in the case of food we are no longer choosing it but it is choosing us. I.e. I just have to have it. During the month of January I have been experimenting with eating food according to the Daniel Plan, a holistic guide to total health. You can read about it but it is actually just eating natural food grown from a tree or from the ground, and avoiding foods we know aren't good for us like foods laden with sugar, fat, grease etc. I realized I had developed some bad eating patterns, and it was affecting me physically not to mention gaining some unwanted pounds. In the end it affected the energy I had for my family, ministry, sports, etc.
I just give you that practical example to show how a discipline like fasting can help you train your body so it is not mastering you. Technically a fast is no food, but we can also fast from things like alcohol, caffeine, or sweets if you feel like something is mastering you. Bottom line the only thing that should be our master is our Lord.
The other benefit of fasting is it can heighten your spiritual senses and help you be more in tune to what God is doing. We all know how dull we can feel after the Thanksgiving feast, and the opposite happens with fasting. Your mental energy is stronger, your spiritual senses are attenuated, and even physically one can feel better. Finally, again today Jesus teaches us to be aware of fasting to get the applause of others. Again today he says if we do this discipline pridefully we have received our reward here in full.
Jesus thank you for teaching us the benefits of fasting. May it lead us closer to You and the Father and better equip us to be useful for you. Amen.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Reflection: Jesus continues with another important discipline that puts us in a place for maximum participation for God's kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Today the discipline he refers to is fasting, or purposefully not eating for the sake of focusing on prayer or other spiritual matters. Notice Jesus says,"when you fast", which shows this was a common practice among his disciples. The Old Testament prescribed certain fasts according to the Law, but there is no such prescription here of how long or specifically when to fast. But clearly Jesus acknowledges and is in favor of fasting as spiritual discipline.
So as we reflect on something Jesus found necessary for his own ministry, and something he urged his disciples to do, it makes sense for us think to think about how and why we fast. The reason we fast is similar to any discipline we undertake, to get closer to God and better understand His purpose for our lives. As we seek to live in His power we realize from John 15, "apart from Him we can do nothing". But on the flip side, Paul in Philippians says, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." So how does fasting get us more in tune with God and more aligned with His Spirit who lives in us?
First, fasting is denying a bodily urge, which is basic to our existence, which is eating. As I am fond of saying I never miss a meal. And yet while are bodies are good and created in God's image, Paul warns about being a slave to our bodily urges so that they come to master us. Meaning in the case of food we are no longer choosing it but it is choosing us. I.e. I just have to have it. During the month of January I have been experimenting with eating food according to the Daniel Plan, a holistic guide to total health. You can read about it but it is actually just eating natural food grown from a tree or from the ground, and avoiding foods we know aren't good for us like foods laden with sugar, fat, grease etc. I realized I had developed some bad eating patterns, and it was affecting me physically not to mention gaining some unwanted pounds. In the end it affected the energy I had for my family, ministry, sports, etc.
I just give you that practical example to show how a discipline like fasting can help you train your body so it is not mastering you. Technically a fast is no food, but we can also fast from things like alcohol, caffeine, or sweets if you feel like something is mastering you. Bottom line the only thing that should be our master is our Lord.
The other benefit of fasting is it can heighten your spiritual senses and help you be more in tune to what God is doing. We all know how dull we can feel after the Thanksgiving feast, and the opposite happens with fasting. Your mental energy is stronger, your spiritual senses are attenuated, and even physically one can feel better. Finally, again today Jesus teaches us to be aware of fasting to get the applause of others. Again today he says if we do this discipline pridefully we have received our reward here in full.
Jesus thank you for teaching us the benefits of fasting. May it lead us closer to You and the Father and better equip us to be useful for you. Amen.
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