What Fasting Reveals We are looking at the discipline of fasting, and in particular the power our physical hunger has over us. Turn to John 4 again. In verse 32, Jesus tells His disciples He eats “food” they don’t know about. And they still don’t get it. Finally, in verse 34 Jesus spells it out for them. I can say in my life that, by far, the most satisfying things that have happened to me are those moments when I sensed I had done as the Lord wanted me to do. When I attempt to satisfy self apart from doing the will of God it is inevitably not just a frustrating and empty thing, but even a very discouraging thing. I want to draw your attention to Deuteronomy 32:15. “But Jeshurun . . .” Jeshurun is a term that means the people of the Law. It was like a nickname for the nation of Israel. This is God’s people. “But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked . . . Then he forsook God who made him and scoffed at the Rock of his salvation.” There is a sense that physically satisfying myself in some way keeps me from needing to find satisfaction in God. So we’re left with this question: Am I satisfying myself with that which is not bread and that which is not meat, as well as other things that really don’t fill my soul? Is anything hindering my hunger for God? Identifying those hindrances is the purpose of fasting. We have to recognize our enslavement to food, or anything that deadens our hunger for God. 1 Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.” When we fast, enslavement to things of the flesh is broken and we are freed to focus our hunger upon what we really need. Fasting reveals the things that control us. It humbles us and shows us our true selves. Prayer – Father, help me to fast, and use it to show me the things I am unaware of that control me. I want all of my hunger to be focused on You and satisfied only by You. In Jesus’ name, Amen. “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. (John 4:34 NIV)
Posted on: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 18:55:02 +0000
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