AUTUMN SERIES: FASTING - "What is The Point?" 10/6/21

Throughout the Bible, acceptable sacrifices were the best, the precious, the valued—not the unwanted, the least, and the blah.

By: Virgil Lee
​October 6th, 2021

​Today, we'll focus on FASTING..."What is the point?".
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Intro and explanation: Our hope is that this guided time of reflection and devotion will be powerful, but simple enough that you can replicate it for the remainder of your life. We'll begin each post with the scripture passage as well as the practice of slowing down, allowing our savior to speak to us through His word.This "slowing down" is based off of a form of reading, prayer, and meditation that has been around for centuries called Lectio Divina. This simple, yet powerful way of reading scripture (and meditating on it), is helpful for connecting us to the word of God. Then, we'll move on to a video and devotion written by an Exago staff member. Let's get started...

​SLOWING DOWN: Before we begin today, a reminder...Today and next Wednesday are both on the subject of Fasting. We encourage you to consider joining us in fasting from something today. If you didn't already start, pray and consider starting now or tomorrow.

1. Breath in, slowly, for 5 seconds.
2. Hold it for 5 seconds. Try to hold that breath as you focus your attention on the Lord. 
3. Breath out, slowly, for 5 seconds.
4. Repeat this as much as you would like, always thanking the Lord for whatever He puts on your heart, or brings to your mind.

SCRIPTURE OF THE DAY:

• Our body is the Lords. Our mind and heart is the Lords. Let's open our hearts to how the Lord is speaking His truth over us about sacrifice.
• Slowly, read the scripture three times before moving on.

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service." Romans 12:1 (NKJV)

• What is the Lord revealing to you today in this passage? Take time to write it down.

DEVOTION OF THE DAY:

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By: Virgil Lee
October 6th, 2021

Fasting… It’s become somewhat of a buzzword over the past few years, with many people adopting Intermittent fasting as a dieting and healthy lifestyle choice. On the other hand, fasting is a part of multiple religions around the world, from Islam to Buddhism to Christianity; you pick a religious background, it most likely has some form of fasting involved. But what is the point of it… to starve myself for a certain amount of time to get God to move on my behalf? Sounds a bit like a child holding their breath until a parent gives in and allows the child to get what they want. That doesn’t seem to make much sense. Or it is to prove how spiritual we are by the greatness of our suffering. That doesn’t sound much better. From a spiritual standpoint, fasting gets a bad reputation not because of its purpose but from people's perceptions of fasting. Let’s take a few moments to look deeper into the point of fasting as a follower of Jesus.

Over the years, I have done short fasts (1-3days) and longer (14-21 days), and even two 40 day fasts. I have found that during a fast, far more is revealed to me about me than it is God doing what I desire. I believe the ultimate point of a fast is about choosing to sacrifice something to focus one’s energy and time upon the Lord. Yes, sometimes there is a quantum shift, and a miracle happens in the natural, but many times the shift is about you and your mindset. We are getting in alignment with God and His plans.
There are many things’ people can fast; the most common is food, but it can be anything that you put your time, treasure, and talent into. And you step away from it for a time to pray in a more intentional way to hear from the Lord and experience His divine intervention in your life. In truthfulness, as a believer, a fasting lifestyle is a powerful thing and not something to be dreaded but celebrated. Not for the pain of the fast, but the gaining of the deeper relationship and walk with Christ. 

There are many verses about fasting in the Bible, and the entire chapter of Isaiah 58 speaks about a holy fast that the Lord honors. I encourage you to go read it. Instead of focusing on a verse about fasting, I want us to think about Romans 12:1 (NKJV)12 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 

What does that have to do with fasting?...everything. 

If your mentality about your life isn’t centered on being a living sacrifice for the Lord, you will fall into the trap of trying to get God to do things your way or that you are better than another person when it comes to fasting. What are you willing to fast (sacrifice) for a season to grow your relationship with Jesus deeper? It’s not just about food. Some people are unable to fast due to physical reasons or their lifestyle. But we can all choose to fast something that has value in our lives. For you, it might be fasting your favorite tv show, social media, a hobby, caffeine, chocolate, snacks, soda; the list is endless. I would suggest asking the Holy Spirit to show you what it is that you should fast and have someone you trust help hold you accountable to it and not give up. Also, it is beneficial to write down a goal for the fast; what are you hoping to get out of it? Be honest with yourself. It might not happen, but at the end of the fast, it's always interesting to see what the Lord does during a time that is dedicated to Him. Along with that, remember, when you fast, it needs to be you giving up something that matters to you. 

Throughout the Bible, acceptable sacrifices were the best, the precious, the valued—not the unwanted, the least, and the blah. 

One last thing, fasting is never about the show. When you fast, do it with the right attitude and heart. If you cannot fast with correct motives, it will not be a benefit to you. I believe that fasting can have HUGE benefits for your spiritual life; it will avail profound moments between you and the Lord if you will just take the step and try it. You don't have to start with a 40-day food fast, but maybe fasting one meal a week to pray and read your Bible, or it might be fasting media for an hour during which you go for a walk and pray and spend time with Jesus.

​The point of fasting is intentionally giving something up to gain something great...a deeper understanding of the heart of God.