The purpose of the spiritual practice of fasting, should lead us to a greater hunger for God.
We can look back on the lives of the Israelites, as they were led out of captivity in Egypt into the wilderness and God allowed them to feel hunger. Reflection on their journey gives us greater insight into the discipline of fasting.
Before Moses was about to die, he gives this big speech reminding the people of Israel of the wholehearted commitment that God was calling them to. He overviewed all that they had journeyed through together, detailing how God provided for them in so many ways – even in their time of hunger. “Yes, he humbled you by letting you go hungry and then feeding you with manna, a food previously unknown to you and your ancestors. He did it to teach you that people do not live by bread alone; rather, we live by every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.” – Deuteronomy 8:3 (NLT)
God provided them with this miraculous thing that they had never seen before. Mana – which literally means “What is it?”.
When they were humbled by the frailty of their bodies and felt the ache of their grumbling stomachs, it was then that they ate the food of angels, in abundance. (ref. Psalm 78:24-25) Bread from heaven was their satisfaction that God used as a means to teach them that their total dependence is on Him and fulfilled through Him alone. Whether we recognize it or not, our lives are also completely dependent on Him as well.
It’s through self-denial, we may recognize what is controlling us at our core. Because we often try to replace the hunger for God at our core, with other things; it’s in the times that we deny ourselves something, that we learn fairly quickly how much we actually depend on it… perhaps even how much we worship it.
God alone is our provision – a revelation often only understood in times of need. So, as we desire to seek Him with our entire heart, soul, and mind, fasting is a way for us to get really honest with what’s going on in our hearts.
If during this Lent season, you’ve chosen to take the adventure of committing to the spiritual discipline of fasting, may we lay down all other appetites that are hindering our closeness with God, and stir up a hunger for Him that reaffirms our steady foundation on His Word and Truth.
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