The discipline of fasting

I learned a bit about Yom Kippur recently, the annual Jewish day for repenting of sins. As a Christian, I am guilty for not paying attention to what the various Jewish holidays stood for, or taking the time to educate myself on their meaning. And I have to say, I think this day holds a great lesson for non-Jews. Dedicating oneself to confessional prayer, and making an effort to reconcile with those wronged by your sins makes so much sense. Christians and other non-Jews could learn from this practice.

Just recently I've begun a regular routine of fasting. On a weekly basis, I fast from Sunday evening until Tuesday morning, a period of about 36 hours. When I first began this practice, it was a challenge. The focus of my mind was on my hunger, my desire for food...and on the growling of my stomach! It wasn't so much that I was starving, obviously, but it was the psychological impact of going without food, snacks, munchies, etc. It was as if food was my security.

As my experience has continued, I have begun to focus on God during times of hunger. I pray to God, grateful that I actually have a choice to fast, where so many in the world experience hunger through no fault - or choice - of their own. I realize that hunger is simply a distraction, something that takes my attention from God. As a result, I speak to Him more during my fasting days than I do on other days. When I sense that craving begin, I immediately shift my focus to God, knowing I can lean on Him to carry me through.

For Christians, the discipline of fasting is all too often ignored. I suppose some of this is the result of the times in which we live, where stick-thin models are more often taken to task for their dietary habits than they are admired. However, scripture calls us to fast, and I encourage you to begin a regular habit of fasting, whether weekly, monthly or annually.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus spoke of fasting. In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus instructs his disciples in how to fast.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%206:16-18;&version=31;
He says it's important to not bring attention to yourself, but to fast with a positive demeanor. Doing so honors God, as opposed to earning some sort of religious points in the game of salvation. As my brief experience has taught me, it brings focus to your relationship with God.

There is a subtle message contained in the passage. Notice Jesus says "When you fast,", not if. Jesus is assuming all of his followers will fast, and knows there is benefit in doing so. How many of us miss that point? Later in Acts (13:2-3), God communicates with the apostles. He calls for Saul (Paul) and Barnabas to be set apart.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=acts%2013;&version=31;

Did you notice he did so while the apostles were worshiping and fasting? I can't help but believe that the Holy Spirit was better able to communicate with the apostles as a result of their commitment to the discipline of fasting.

If you have ever considered fasting as part of your spiritual discipline, but have never done so, I would encourage you to do so. Start with an 18-hour fast (lunch to breakfast), then a 24-hour fast (breakfast to breakfast), and maybe even to a 36-hour fast like I engage in (dinner to breakfast). You'll begin to learn more about yourself, and more about your relationship with God. I think this is one reason Jews fast - it brings focus to their relationship with God, in addition to the wonderful benefit of reconciliation with those they've wronged in the previous year.