By Charlie Fuller
Ever since Jesus’ resurrection people have worked to find ways to connect the spiritual world and the physical world. One of the names we use for these activities is “spiritual practices.” You may not realize it, but you’re engaging in a spiritual practice this morning by participating in corporate worship.
During Lent this year, we will be highlighting some specific spiritual practices during our Sunday morning worship. We’ll be looking at and thinking about the experiences of fasting, stillness/prayer, study, forgiveness, sacrifice, confession, and celebration.
This morning we’re focusing on fasting. What comes to your mind? Monks in brown robes? Being constantly hungry? The idea of fasting is a stretch for most of us, especially when we’re inundated with commercials for burgers, tacos and pizzas almost 24/7.
Let’s face it. Most all of us have never truly experienced hunger. We’ve experienced cravings, but not often have we experienced true hunger. In addition, most of us have never experienced a lack of any other genuine need. We have enough food to eat as well as shelter and clothing. All our basic needs are being met.
Yet, the commercial media culture that surrounds us is constantly blaring the message that we’re not all we can be if we don’t have a new house, the latest model of car, eat at the nicest restaurants, or cook the coolest dishes. We’re drowning in messages of consumption, consumption that, if we’re honest, distracts us from God.
This is where fasting comes in. Fasting isn’t just the denial of food. Fasting is an intentional act of defiance to these messages of “less than.” Fasting is a way to rebel against the prevailing culture and say “enough!”
Fasting doesn’t have to even be about food. We can take a media fast and limit the amount of time we spend watching our screens. We can fast from fast food, from social media, from spending money, from our connection to things. I recently read about fasting from complaining.
The point of fasting isn’t denial. The point of fasting is to remove something — either partially or fully — that distracts from one’s focus on God. We fast to make more room for God in our lives.
Think about what you might give up during this season — or maybe permanently — to make more room for God in your life.