344 – Fasting isn’t about lack of food

#faithbites #faithjourney fasting

Tomorrow I start prepping for a colonoscopy. It’s not fun and more than just a little pain in the butt. Pun intended. The hardest part, and I just found it out, is you need to fast for a full 24 hours before the test. Sure you can have liquids and sugars but nothing solid. I get hangry when I eat so me and fasting don’t go together well. 

Fasting in this case is to let the medicine work to clean out the colon so they can test you and make sure you are ok. Since my dad died of colon cancer, I will do anything to not have that happen, even missing my work Christmas partly because of the fast and medicine. If fasting makes sure the test is good and I am healthy, I am game for it. 

We also fast for religious / spiritual purposes. In the cases, it isn’t about the hungry but to cleanse our bodies and prepare us for the Lord. It allows us to be open to what he has for us. Yes it stinks and we feel the pangs of hunger, but our minds are focused on Him.

Scripture

• And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed. – Acts 14:23
• I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks. – Daniel 10:3
• And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward – Matthew 6:16

Reflection

The Bible is filled with countless Old and New Testament stories about fasting. From Moses to Jesus to the Disciples and everywhere in between there is fasting. In some cases it was “ordered” while in others it was a choice. In all cases though it was to become more in tune with God and prepare for forgiveness or prayer or a message from God. 

I have fasted for Yom Kippur before becoming a Christian. I felt the pain of being hungry but then I felt a calm. I was being filled by something other than food. I know tomorrow is going to be rough as I’m not eating solid foods and am only on a clear liquid diet. I will try to remember that while I am cleaning my colon for this test, it is also an opportunity to cleanse my soul and listen to God.

Charge

Have you ever fasted voluntarily? Have you taken the time to turn away food not for earthy gain but to be closer to God? It is not easy as we are accustomed to eating regularly. Try to give up a meal or two and reflect on it. Reflect on the hunger and see what message God may give you.

Lord, help my tests to go well tomorrow. While I am fasting from solid food, help me to be closer to you. Let me use this experience to empathize with others who don’t have food and let me focus on you.