One morning when our oldest daughter was about 5 she came home from school and said someone on the bus had told her “the F word”.
I gulped and thought, “Ok, here we go…”
“Yep,” she continued, “It’s ‘fart'”.
There are several “f words” that are off-limits in our family, but for me the worst one I haven’t written about yet. It’s “fasting”.
I am ashamed to admit it, but I am a terrible faster! When I think of “fasting” I think of food. And when I fast from food, instead of opening a door to more lovely space with Jesus, it seems to opens a door to the dungeon of my soul where angry cranky-pants me is not positively disposed to talking to Jesus.
This unpalatable word has come to my attention recently because, well, Lent don’tcha know, and all the talk about what we’re going to give up in order to make more space for Jesus and identify with His suffering.
Plus, I received this from our adopted “son” who is just finishing medical school in Uganda and wants to go back to serve his people in a rural area that needs a clinic. Here’s what he wrote:
“For now 10 days, I have been praying and fasting. I have sought for God’s intervention in all ways I can. I have prayed from the mountain. I have prayed day and night. I have visited all His Holy sanctuaries praying and crying in quest for His faithfulness. He has been there for me since I was born. I have seen His glory manifest in my life on many instances. I trust he’s got my back on the construction of the clinic too. Now I’ll continue to pray and wait for his faithfulness.”
When I read this I was both inspired and ashamed. I must not really love Jesus if I’m not fasting in this way, dependent on Jesus.
This led me to talk with my spiritual director who encouraged me to remember that the purpose of spiritual disciplines is to bring greater Christ-likeness and joy, not resentment.
As I’ve reflected on the type of fast that truly will make space for Jesus, I’ve landed on two:
- Fasting from my phone and technology as part of my Sabbath practice. Some call it a “digital Sabbath”. For awhile I tried to rationalize a partial fast (because I do EVERYTHING on my phone), but it has been delightfully freeing and has invited me into more intimacy with Jesus.
- Fasting from words as part of my morning time with Jesus. This means committing to silence and Centering prayer before talking at Jesus. My desire is to listen more (or at least as much) as I talk to Jesus. If this interests you, there is a Centering Prayer app that is helpful.
Fasting is certainly not a magic charm to get Jesus to do what you want Him to do, but any time we make more space for Jesus, I believe our will is brought more into line with His and we’ll pray with fresh eyes and faith.
The fast that is helpful for you, may be totally different! I’d love to hear your experience regarding Lent or fasting! To leave a comment, if you receive this by email, just click on the title and scroll down. If you’re leaving a comment for the first time it won’t show up right away, but don’t worry! It will soon!
Fasting from words to make more space for Jesus. I love this idea and will give it a shot! As for fasting from my phone? 1 out of 2 ain’t so bad. 😬
Baby steps for all of us, right??! 🙂
Laura- good words as usual. We have been challenged to reframe the “f” Word to “laying down-” and “picking up”, so as to create a place for intimacy with God on a deeper level during Lent.
You are very courageous with what you “layed down!” I chose to lay down Facebook and Instagram…. and pick up “Seeking God for the City” prayer app. It has been significant- as this app focuses on “revival for the City” and extends to the world- praying specifically for different countries and their needs.
When I look at fasting from the perspective of “laying down”, I find myself more able to do this, and excited to know that the prayersfor each day are being prayed by hundreds of others, to God for His help.
Thank you so much for sharing this, Janet! I saw the name of the sermon series, but haven’t listened yet. I will! This is a helpful perspective and I’d love to check out the prayer app too. Sending love.