Fasting - Application

I call for a fast as a group application to Esther 4.

Fasting, in and of itself, we already said has no value. In essence, it is a discipline of self-denial; food being among the most basic human necessities. Humanly speaking, loss of appetite is natural when grief, sorrow or other emotion is so all consuming. There is nothing inherently spiritual about this but the depth of emotion it communicates. For the Christian, there is only one relief for sorrow, and that is God Alone. A voluntary fast, therefore, seeks to communicate the same desperation and need for God above all else. Using the time redeemed from such abstinence allows us an extended time to seek God. Therefore, fasting is ALWAYS accompanied by prayer and seeking God.

“Fasting is the school that teaches us to let go of things seen to lay hold of things unseen.” – Ps Vincent’s sermon 18 Jan 09.

So I call for a fast for this reason, to set aside food, and spend the time seeking a deeper experience of God.

What is fasting? How to begin? Some Pointers: (with reference to Growing Deeper in God by Ps Edmund Chan)
• Not a badge of spirituality (fasting is an act of humility, not an occasion for pride or boasting)
• Does not make God beholden to you
• Partial (1 meal) fast
• Normal (24 hours or more) fast
• Supernatural fast (40 day)
• Fast from food – avoids consumption of everything except water, avoid large meals before and after fast, the sudden changes can shock your body. In fact it is recommended you take a lighter meal before and after, like soups or porridge.
• New fast – abstaining from TV, computer games, computers, mobile phone or other pursuits that engage us even more than food does (cf Matt 9:14-17)
• The time recovered from abstinence should be devoted to extended time with God
• Begin with confession (Read Isaiah 58) and end with thanksgiving

Matt. 9:14-17
Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” 15 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. 16 “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment, for the patch will pull away from the garment, making the tear worse. 17 Neither do men pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins, and both are preserved.”

The purpose for this fast is communion and consecration. I would like us to learn to better identify the voice of God and listen more deeply to Him (John 10:27), and purposing to set ourselves apart for Him this year, not just when troubles come like in the case of Esther. Here are some suggested themes:
• Focus on praise and worship – seek a loftier vision of God that would capture your whole being in praise – Isa 6
• Surrender – Phil 2
• Rest – Joshua 14 & 21, Matthew 11, Hebrews 4
• Lectio Divina
• In addition (as part of the time but not the majority of the time), you may take time in intercession for areas that especially burden your heart. eg, I will take time to pray for my family, for each of the E-group, Vietnam, etc.

Do blog your experience and insights on this.
Many blessings,
Wen-Wei