What We Do

Zechariah 7:5-6

(5) "Say to all the people of the land and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth month and in the seventh, for these seventy years, was it for me that you fasted?

(6) And when you eat and when you drink, do you not eat for yourselves and drink for yourselves?

This reminds me of a passage in the New Testament as well:

1 Corinthians 10:27-31

(27) If one of the unbelievers invites you to dinner and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience.

(28) But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience--

(29) I do not mean your conscience, but his. For why should my liberty be determined by someone else's conscience?

(30) If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that for which I give thanks?

(31) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

The context of the New Testament passage is a bit different because it is talking about matters of conscience. However, the point is that whatever we do it is to be for the glory of God. That should be the overriding focus of our lives.

This passage in Zechariah really condemns those who were not living with proper motives. It's easy to take care of the externals. Going to church each week is pretty easy if you get into the habit. Tithing is not difficult if you change your attitude a little bit. However, doing these things for God is a lot harder.

I think of this with my diet and exercise. I fought a long battle with gluttony and laziness. Yet through it all it was easy to get caught up in doing it for myself. God would get the credit for helping me, but I really was just glad to be losing weight and getting more fit. I still struggle with that.

Ultimately our fasts should be for God's glory. We may reap benefits from them, but they need to be God-centered. I take fasting to go beyond just food as well. It could be abstaining from anything good in the pursuit of Someone better.

Who do you fast for?

Good Friday

First of all, I want to apologize for not writing in a week. We were in Florida from last Friday-Tuesday and I am just now digging out of that. It was tough to have the long drive home on Tuesday and then class the past two nights. Amanda wasn't crazy about that, but she said that things went as well as they could.

I realize that I am turning into something of a spiritual wimp in an area that I am supposed to be leading. Specifically, I don't fast much anymore. I am carrying on the tradition that Amanda started in 2002 of fasting on every Good Friday. I went into today with a sense of dread. As I go through the day I feel cold, weak, and dizzy.

The funny thing is that I used to fast regularly when I was still doing the eating plan for The Lord's Table. Many of the people who serve under me also fast regularly. I have used the excuse of my exercise routine as the reason why I can't fast more regularly. Frankly, it kind of wipes me out so I don't do it much anymore.

Good Friday is different though. Today is the day when I want to really reflect on what Christ did on the cross. So maybe I am uncomfortable. Have all my friends left me? Nope. Have I been put through several unjust trials? Nope. Have I been beaten and scourged? Nope. Have I had a crown of thorns jammed on my head? Nope. Have I been nailed to a cross? Nope. Have I had to suffer from the loss of an intimiate relationship with God? Nope.

A little hunger is a good reminder, I think. I commend the practice to you.

A Real Breakfast

I had to break my fast at lunch today. When I got home from my small group I felt kind of funny. I wasn't exactly dizzy. I wasn't lightheaded either. I just felt kind of strange. I went to bed hoping that it would go away after having more juice today.

I had a glass of juice when I first woke up, a smoothie for breakfast, and more juice in the morning. I still felt pretty weird. The best way to describe it is to imagine balancing a baseball bat on its end in the palm of your hand. I felt like the bat. I talked to Amanda about it as well as another experienced mentor and we decided that it was good for me to break the fast.

I don't think I have anything else to prove. I have done this twice before. I was looking forward to the spiritual benefits that come from being really broken over this, but I guess those will have to wait. Amanda kept making the point that she needs me to be as close to 100% as possible. I certainly feel much better after eating a salad for lunch. I'm looking forward to our pizza for dinner.

Plodding Along

One thing I considered this morning is that fasting makes the days go by slower. However, this is a good thing because my classes start on August 22, which will be my first day of solid food if all goes according to plan. I really should be savoring these days. I need to keep reminding myself that I need to get the focus off of me and my discomfort and on to the cross.

In this week's teaching Mike Cleveland asked us to share a verse that encouraged us. Here is what I wrote. I hope that it is at least somewhat encouraging for you.

1Sa 22:1-2 ESV
(1) David departed from there and escaped to the cave of Adullam. And when his brothers and all his father's house heard it, they went down there to him.
(2) And everyone who was in distress, and everyone who was in debt, and everyone who was bitter in soul, gathered to him. And he became captain over them. And there were with him about four hundred men.

This refers to the people going to David when he was fleeing from Saul. However, as I read verse 2 I am reminded of:

Mat 11:28-30 ESV
(28) Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
(29) Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
(30) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

I love it when I get a fresh glimpse of Christ while reading the Old Testament! Certainly this is not a perfect picture, but I do see it as a "shadow". Notice what happened to those who went to David. They came to him in various forms of distress, but he became captain over them and joined him. That certainly reminds me of coming to Christ in the distress of my sin and having the honor of Christ becoming my "captain".

Holding Fast

I am going through the Setting Captives Free juice fast for the third time. I am currently on day 4 of 20, which means that I'm actually on my second full day of nothing but juice (out of 16 total). It really isn't a lot of fun, but I look forward to the spiritual growth this will lead to.

I've been trying to explain this to Lily. She keeps saying that she doesn't think it's a good idea, which is a sentiment her grandmothers would probably echo. This morning she said, "I don't see you going up to heaven". I had to explain that it is a closeness in my heart, not really going to God.