Ruth Chapter 16: Fasting
God is amusing. I was in a discussion the other day with several friends. At one point this very prayerful friend suggests that we all fast on an issue. She strongly urges us to fast not just talk. She wanted an immediate decision. Well a stubborn and rebellious part of me says to myself, “I’ll fast when I am ready, when I feel called by the Lord to do so. Fasting is a personal thing.” So we continued the conversation without any real commitment to do anything but pray. A bit guilty, I came home and started the next chapter…on fasting… a simple yet profound chapter. The Lord had my attention. I have to admit that I have not read a lot on fasting just bits of information here and there. Lent is about all the fasting that I have done. I am not very disciplined when it comes to fasting. In this chapter I could relate to the idea that the “body and mind are constantly vying for dominance…..the body is ordering us around….” In each of the scripture examples given fasting was used to humble oneself before God. Jesus fasted in preparation for his mission. (What are our missions? Are we preparing ourselves?) …” Yick! I am entrusted with several missions, one pretty big. ……………Matthew stated ... "We fast to cultivate the inner life.” ….. “Some spirits can only be cast out by fasting.” “Some demons in our lives can only be cast out by prayer and fasting.” St. Augustine stated, “Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Give it two wings: fasting and almsgiving.” I reflected on the idea that in fasting “you assert the dominance of the spirit. The will is strengthened and the soul is a little freer.” Matthew talked about the history of fasting in the church. All this has called me to reflect on the call to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays year around. …So thanks to this chapter I have decided to set a few fasting commitments….just so that my mind has dominance over my body , so that my soul is able to better resist temptation and to give my prayers wings. Now let’s see if I have the discipline to follow through. Lord, help me to follow your lead and to become a more disciplined disciple as I yearn to do your will.
- posted by Ruth @ 10:08 PM