Wednesday begins the annual observance of Lent in the Western Christian Church. I am especially looking forward to this season. I think the Spirit of Christ is leading me into this season as Jesus was led into the wilderness (Mark 1:12). Traditionally, people have observed the season of Lent with fasting. Sometimes, people are really intense about their fasting (bread and water diets and such). Others (like me) choose certain things that may seem trivial to others (chocolate, carbonated drinks, and french fries).
The discussion and discipline of fasting is a tough one. Lots of different perspectives and pathways. I had an awesome conversation with Scott Crawford last week on this issue. He reminded me, 'fasting doesn't have as much to do with food as you think.' At the end of the day, I think that everyone has to be on their own journey when it comes to fasting. We can not just rely on a book about fasting to teach us about it. We have to press into the Spirit and individually come to terms with whether or not God is calling us to faste and what exactly that means for us, in this season and at this time. For one person it could mean food, for another it could mean shopping and for another it could be some mental action. What's really exciting is that you'll never know what it'll look like if you don't ask. Have you asked God lately, 'should I faste?'
In a desire to help those who are reading this fair, I just have a list of thoughts and scriptures that have gone through my mind as I pray and contemplate how I will observe fasting and the season of Lent this year. Hope you'll find it helpful.
- Isaiah 58:1-14
- Mark 2:18-22
- If I said to myself 'I can not function without this', what would I be referring to? (coffee, alcoholic beverages, consistently critiquing others, etc) This may be a clue as to what I should fast.
- What activities are cluttering my ability to hear God's voice? Can I remove any of that for 6 weeks?
- Instead of figuring out what I could give up, maybe I should add a discipline to my life for 6 weeks (bible study, prayer time, scripture memorization, etc).
Praying that God will use this season of Lent to grow and strengthen us all on the inside. Be well, dream big and love you life!
Derrick,
The fact that you posted this is amazing simply because I was having a dicussion (me on one side of the argument, him on the other) with someone at the office today about fasting and Lent. The Lord has really been pulling at me this year as we approach the season. Thanks for your thoughts and scripture relevent to this decision-You are a blessing!
Posted by: Emily Howard | February 24, 2009 at 08:34 AM
Just as soon as posted my latest blog, I read two other blogs of folks that seem to be moving in the same direction. Check them out.
From Anne Jackson: http://blog.christianitytoday.com/outofur/archives/2009/02/the_social_netw.html
From Carlos Whitaker: http://www.ragamuffinsoul.com/
Totally interesting...
Posted by: Derrick Scott III | February 24, 2009 at 09:30 AM