Fasting? Really? 31-days of fasting… seriously?
Fasting, not something we talk about all that much, and probably even less practiced. Why? Well, it made sense in biblical times, but it’s no longer necessary in current times… right?
“And when you fast…” Matthew 6:16
According to Jesus, fasting would be part of walking with Him; a rhythm we’d establish in our relationship with God.
Beginning, Thursday, July 1st, GENESIS will be entering a season of fasting – 31 days to be exact. Fasting for one day, I get that, but why 31-days… isn’t that a bit extreme? There is nothing magical, mystical, or even biblical about the number 31. There happen to be 31 days in July and that’s why we’re doing 31 days.
Are we really not going to eat for 31 days?
Before I answer that question, let me briefly explain what fasting is, and what fasting is not.
In fasting, we communicate to God that ‘I Love you more than ______! (you fill in the blank) In fasting, we tell God that I desire you more than __________! (fill in the blank) In fasting, we tell God that He and not __________ (fill in the blank) is of supreme importance to us.
Fasting allows us to reorient and align our hearts, minds, and bodies towards God, and not the things that often play the role of god in our lives.
Fasting is NOT ‘extra credit.’ It might be impressive to others, but we cannot impress God with empty religious rituals. We don’t fast to get something from God. We fast in order to express our love to God. The reward in fasting is not getting something from God. The reward is God Himself – He is always.
So… are we really not going to eat for 31 days?
In way, yes. During the month of July, we are inviting you to ‘fast from something’ in order to ‘fast for something.’ For me, I will be fasting from three things – breakfast, sugar & TV. These things are not wrong, but in fasting, I’m declaring to God {and myself} that I want God more than I want any one of these things.
But not to be missed with fasting, the point is not to ‘cut something out’ but to replace something, with something even greater. So, when I wake up and want some Lucky Charms, or throughout the day when I’m craving something sweet, or when I get home and just want to veg out to some ESPN, I will turn those moments into moments with God.
Whether it be time with God in His Word or in prayer, fasting from something reminds me to turn towards God to receive something even greater than food in the morning, sweets throughout the day, and some ESPN in the evening – God Himself.
As I consider the past 15-months, there has been a lot of spiritual disorientation. For some, apathy has kicked in. I, along with the leadership of GENESIS, cannot think of anything better that we could do to reorient ALL of who we are to ALL of who He is.
TWO THINGS FOR YOU:
- PRAYER GATHERINGS – as part of our 31 Days of Fasting, we will gather as a community every Wednesday evening at 7PM for an hour of prayer. If you can join us for the whole time, great. If only for 30-minutes, that’s ok as well. As best we can, we want to enjoy God together by being in His presence together.
- DAILY DEVOTIONALS – every morning at 7AM during the month of July, we will be posting a short devotional on the GENESIS website to encourage you as we journey through July together.
Be prayerful as to what you will fast from in the month of July. Whether it be from a meal, or a certain type of food or habit that consumes your thoughts, please remember that in fasting we have the opportunity to communicate to God that we want Him more than we want this.
Looking forward to ALL the fresh stories we will have in the month of July as we seek to learn, whether for the first time or the hundredth time, the gift that is fasting.
