2016: Self-Denial #9
"If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me.” -Matthew 16:24

This devotion is designed to guide you through time with God in order to examine a specific category of self-denial. Reflect on the questions this category addresses. Examine Scripture to see what God has to teach on the topic and where he might lead you in transformative growth. Choose one or more exercises to practice this form of self-denial, and return at the end of the month to examine and reflect. Remember, the goal is not to give something up, but to grow in greater dependence and more deeply treasure your relationship with God.

WARMING UP: Before you begin, get in a comfortable position, relax your body, and spend a few moments in silence. Once you are ready, move to the exercise below.

THE TOPIC: Food

We went almost the entire year without hitting one of the main sources of denial in Scripture; the denial of food through fasting. Fasting was an important Biblical practice because the denial of food would have created ample time for prayer which is the primary purpose of fasting. Meal preparation and meal sharing was a large part of the day and their community, and its denial would have drawn them into prayer. How is the meal similar now in our culture? How is it different?
Along with time created for prayer, fasting from food in our culture can take on an additional element. Take a moment and think about the ways in which the abundance, variety, and accessibility of food is manifested in our culture. This reality is unique in human history. Fasting from food in any form reminds us that the majority world does not share in our abundance and also encourages us to be more grateful, more frugal, and more inclined toward generosity.

Prior to examining Scripture, reflect on these quotes from “Fasting” by Lynne M Baar.
-“Fasting at its core, is not a discipline of withholding. Fasting is a discipline of making space for God.”
-“God’s work in our world and God’s word in our lives are infinitely more significant than food. By voluntarily stepping into hunger, we affirm that truth. When we fast, we suspend our participation in one of the great joys of life – eating – in order to engage with a greater joy – God.”

-“Step back from our culture and cross the doorway into God’s presence. Fasting ushers us into a reflective place where we can listen to God and pray wholeheartedly for things that really matter.”

NOTE: A complete food fast should not be done by those who might have medical/illness complications or by those with past/current issues with dieting. There are other ways to practice food denial; please see the practice options below.

SCRIPTURE EXAMINATION

1) A majority of the references to fasting in Scripture simply portray snapshots of people engaging in the practice, not descriptions or rules of engagement. Choose a few of the following references and identify the reason for which the characters chose to fast and pray. How might fasting be beneficial in helping us focus on the attitude expressed in these situations?
2 Samuel 1:11-12, Nehemiah 1:1-4, Joel 2:12-13, Esther 4:15-16, Acts 13:1-3, 14:21-23

2) Read Matthew 4:1-4, 6:25-27. Here we see Jesus both teaching about our reliance on the father and putting that teaching into practice. In ch. 6 Jesus reminds us that our primary provider is God. God’s provision comes because of his great love for us, a truth that gives us peace. In ch. 4 we see Jesus put this trust into practice during his temptation in the desert. In what ways do you struggle with trusting God as provider? How might the practice of fasting help bring these teachings from Jesus concerning trust into focus in our own lives?

3) Read Jesus’ teaching on attitudes in fasting from Matthew 6:16-18. This teaching echoes those on giving and prayer given earlier in Matthew 6. What is the value of putting this into practice during a fast? How does the desired attitude during fasting conflict with how we might normally tend to present ourselves while practicing this type of discipline?

PRACTICE
Choose one or more of these ways to practice fasting from food throughout this month.

-Complete a one-day water/juice only fast. Traditionally, because the new day started in the evening, a one day fast involves no food after the evening meal and through the evening meal the following day, essentially skipping two meals. Focus on prayer when you would be cooking or eating and at any time you experience hunger.
-Choose to eat a more simple diet for a period of time (2 days – 1 week). Reflect on the difference between our abundance of variety and choice and the reality of food options for the majority world.
-Avoid eating out at restaurants of any kind for a period of time. Collect the money you save and donate it to charities that address food and water needs locally and/or globally.
-Deny yourself a certain food item for the month (caffeine, a favorite dessert, etc.). Similar to a food fast, spend time in prayer when you find yourself craving this item.

RETURN FOR REFLECTION
At the end of the month, spend time reflecting on your practice of self-denial.

-Did you learn anything about your general attitude towards food?
-Did you find that fasting of any kind helped increase your ability to devote yourself to God in prayer?
-Is fasting in order to increase time and intention for prayer a discipline you might consider practicing on a more regular basis?
-Consider doing more research on fasting as a practice. Read the chapter on fasting in Richard Foster’s “Celebration of Discipline” or a complete a book like “Fasting” by Lynne M Baab.