day three of my fast

Day three:

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18)

Fasting is a strange thing. The denial of the most basic thing your body can have – food – is in some ways going against nature. After all, you have to eat to live. But you have chosen not to eat. Not forever, of course, but just for a while.

Because of this, you tend to feel a bit strange. On the 20th day of a 30 day fast several years ago, I was walking through a grocery store. I was cooking for a lot of people each day, and even though I didn’t eat, I still had to get food for the others.

As I was standing there looking something on the shelf, it dawned on me that I was more than likely the only one in the entire store who had gone for 3 weeks without eating. That, being a grocery store, people had eaten and were getting things to eat again.

It gave me a peculiar feeling akin to complete isolation or exile. In one sense, I was totally alone in a crowded store. Even though I was physically present, I was, food-wise anyway, completely absent. I was, for a little while, completely aberrant, different, strange.

Those around me knew I was fasting. I told them and made no secret about it. But what I didn’t do was to make a big deal out of it. They knew I hadn’t eaten, and they came to my place (we were living in our store front church downtown after the burning of our house) and ate and in general acted normally.

The point of the fast was not for everyone to see it, but for God to see it.

In Jesus’ day, those who would fast would do so loudly, with special clothing and long sad looks on their faces, the poor sad fasters, going without. They are so hungry. Look how righteous they are, holy unto the Lord.

Jesus said they got their reward when everyone looked at them and admired their religiosity. They didn’t do it for God, they did it to be seen.

The key is to go about your day normally. What you do, you do for God not others.

That is not to say that you keep it hidden. There is a certain amount of witness involved in fasting and praying. When others see you doing this and keeping yourself like normal,, it shows them your belief in the power of God. That is good.

But remember, you serve God and are fasting towards that service. Act normally and be aware of the fact that God will see you and hear you.

Today we pray for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the church (that a fresh Pentecost results in the release of an emerging generation).

Father God, today we pray for a fresh outpouring on the church. Fill us with your Spirit and with you Holy Breath. Empower us to do what we need to do, to have the strength we need, to boldly proclaim your grace and your will to a lost and dying world. Fill me fresh, Father, that I can more power in my life and that I can have the wisdom to do what I need to do. Amen