Celebration of Discipline- Fasting

If there is a discipline I am worse at I would be surprised. Fasting is difficult for me and it is not just the idea of giving up of food although that is still a valid reason. American culture is adverse to fasting because it is the idea of ridding ourselves of the distraction, of humbling ourselves to focus on the worship of our Lord. We need to learn to simplify to rid ourselves of the things getting in our way of the obedience of Christ.

Foster says their are "no biblical laws that command regular fasting." Is this why we dont focus on it that often? Just because we are not forced into something doesnt mean that it is not a good practice. Foster refers to it as an "opportunity."

Foster also says "we are accustom to cheap grace." In other words we are okay with the benefits of Christianity but avoid sacrifice, discipleship. The problem with cheap grace is that grace was never free. It was offered free to us through the cross but it was never cheap. It meant that Christ gave his life. Fasting will take sacrifice. It will force us to get out of our routine and change things up.

Foster uses a lot of quotes from John Wesley. Wesley was big into fasting and practice it every Wednesday and Friday. He took this practice from the Didache. Wesley was even known to only ordain anyone to the Methodist ministry who also took on this practice as well.


Tips from Foster on Fasting For beginners-
1. Start with skipping a meal.
2.  Begin with a partial fast of 24 hours, from lunch to lunch. Eat lunch, skip supper, skip breakfast than eat lunch again. Drink fruit juices. Try this once a week for 2-3 weeks.
      -most important monitor the inner attitude of the heart. pray, sing, worship.
3. After 2-3 weeks of #1, try substituting the juice with water. if water gets old use a teaspoon of lemon juice to help.
       -in ways the stomach is like a spoiled child, dont indulge the desires. It took many years for your stomach to be used to food at specific times. It will continue to want food at those times.
       - you can master your stomach
4. The more you do it the easier it will be.
5. Fasting is not just about skipping food but the connection we have with Christ. If there are other avenues that get in your way of connecting with Christ try giving those up for a period. i.e. tv, phone, internet, social media, etc
This can only enhance your worship. I will be starting to do this practice a little more often on a consistent basis. Every relationship takes effort on our part to connect. This is the same in our following of Christ. So try adding this discipline to your schedule.