Fasting isn't very fast at all.

Fasting is unusual. It's different. I don't know if any of my really close friends actually do it. They never say if they do at least. But that's probably a good thing. I have fasted before but I tried not to tell anyone about it. I think that's also a good thing. It's also probably not the best thing to brag about your fasting. It' something between you and God. It's not something to be boasted about. No one wants to hear how much better you are then them! However we do want to know about what God is doing in your life. It's kind of complicated.

Anyways, fasting is interesting. What good does it actually do? Does it do any good at all? It sounds pretty selfish to me. I think Americans in general struggle with the idea of fasting. We struggle with the idea of self discipline. To tell ourselves no to something is to deny one's self and that doesn't make any sense. Why not just give yourself everything you wanted? My heart and sinful nature knows what is best right? A wise man once said the heart is deceitful above all things. A slightly less wise man said, "Whenever I’m about to do something I think, would an idiot do that? And if they would I do not do that thing." One of these men correctly understood how our hearts work. 

This week I did a little fasting. My college group decided it would be a good idea to go down and hand out sandwiches to the homeless people in Grand Rapids. I'm not bragging I'm just stating a fact. This happened. This was also really out of my comfort zone. It wasn't actually about the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, it was about sharing the gospel. The sandwiches were just a conversation starter. But anyways, I decided it would be a good idea to fast. These people were hungry so I was going to be hungry too. I was trying to put myself in their position, hoping God would make me understand and feel the same way they did. Also it reminded me of why I was there and gave me focus. I wanted a PB&J so bad by the end of it. I could sympathize with those who asked for three. These people were out on the streets and needed help. I could only partially relate to that. This experience opened my eyes greatly. 

I think fasting is good for two things. One is putting all your focus on God and taking it off of yourself. With a constant reminder of hunger, we can realize how much God gives us and how much we owe him and can't repay. This act should be worshipful of God. It's putting away your selfish desires and taking up selflessness. 

Secondly, fasting is about being disciplined. People really struggle with this. Taking away the idol of yourself and replacing it with the glorification of God is the most important thing a Christian can do. We are constantly struggling against our sinful nature. We are inherently evil and trying to change that is what Christ wants for us. He ultimately wants us to be saved from ourselves. Only God has the power to truly change us from evil and fasting is an example of how we are changed. It is an image of what Christ did in the desert. He fasted for 40 days. He has given us a good example to follow.

Thanks,

David