Fasting, pt. 1

Fasting can turn from a burden to a delight. I hope to share a few reasons for this in the next few posts. 

First, nothing about fasting requires you to isolate yourself from the world. You’re still a part of your local community. You can fast anywhere and anytime. 

While still in the community, you will watch others have the basic survival necessities you go without. Alternatively, you will see other people like you who are also without food and drink. In either case, serve like you usually would, but now you are putting their needs above yours in a deeper way. Give them what you yourself want.

This is crucial for true discipleship.

“He who seeks to save his life shall lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake shall find it.” (Matthew 5:7)

Fasting cannot, and should not, be separated from serving others. If it is, we’re missing out on a fuller way to experience it. Hence why, we read in Isaiah that fasting and helping people experiencing poverty go hand in hand:

“Is it such a fast that I have chosen? . . . Is it not to deal your bread to the hungry, and that you bring the poor that are cast out to your house? When you see the naked, that you cover him, and that you hide not yourself from your own flesh? Then shall your light break forth as the morning, and your health shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then shall you call and the Lord shall answer, you shall cry and he shall say, Here I am.” (Isaiah 20:7)

Don’t isolate yourself when fasting. Instead, serve more.

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