I saw a programme about a month ago which had a guy on it who raced camels, like how people race horses. They go really fast. I would put a picture here to show you but we all know that's not going to happen! So search on google images and you'll get the gist. But that's not the "fast" about camels I mean. I mean how they have humps full of fat on their backs that mean they can fast, as in go without food, for ages.
So how's your fast been this year? Have you survived your 40 days Lent that finish on Saturday? Did you go all out and give up food completely or did you only give up, say, chocolate, or some other nicety? If you're anything like me, which I suspect most of us are, then Lent will have passed with you barely missing a single meal.
Unless you're part of the Anglican, Catholic or Orthodox church then fasting is not something we talk about much. We use those verses in Matthew 6:16-18
"When you fast, do not look sombre 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.
And based on this verse, we say that we shouldn't let people know we are fasting or have fasted and we shouldn't talk about it or do it even as a whole church. Or maybe that's just my experience? These verses aren't talking about how we shouldn't let others know that we are fasting or that fasting should be an individualistic thing. After all, the verses before tell us to pray in a closed room. The point there is that our prayers shouldn't be 'showy' and the point here with fasting is that our fasting shouldn't be 'showy' either. So instead of looking deliberately rough when fasting we should look our best, because we don't do it for glory in the site of men, but for God.
It's something it's assumed we will do:
"When you fast". It's something tied to prayer. But why do we do it? What is accomplished by fasting? How does it benefit me or God? These are questions on which the Bible is pretty much silent. I can't find any answers to these questions from the Bible. Can you? The answer I was given growing up was that fasting gives us more time to pray, and therefore that we can fast by merely not watching TV or something. I think there's a small amount of truth to that but I think limiting it to that is undercutting what fasting is.
So since the Bible remains quiet, that means we have to figure it out by experience. I've only fasted four times, ever, a total of, check me out, six days! One of those occasions wound up with me getting chased by 25 bullocks, but that's another story! So here's some thoughts (not at all exhaustive) from my experiences as to what the benefits of fasting are.
It expresses a devotion to God: Acts of devotion aren't in fashion at the moment. But fasting is one of these things. It expresses to God our commitment to him, that we are willing to go without our most basic needs for God. It's not that God needs us to actually do anything as such for him to see our commitment, but then God asks us to pray even though he knows what we will ask.
It highlights our weakness: When you're feeling weak, miserable and starving, you realise how pathetic you are. The fact that you need to rely on food to keep you alive shows what you are before the self-existent God. In a small way, you face your own mortality.
Food and life is shown as secondary to God: Food is something we expect. It's easier to have a meal than it is to take a bite out of God's Word. When we fast, the tables are turned. We are more ready to go to God and his Word since we can't have a meal anyway. God is physically shown as being more important to me than even my food. It's an obvious means of self-denial.
Those thoughts are not exhaustive, as I said, so if you have more experiential wisdom about it then please share in the comments.
If you've been inspired to have a go and have never done it before then start where you can. Try fasting for just a day or two. Or even just miss a meal. If you're feeling hardcore then why not actually try the 40 day fast. It is possible. I know Jesus was God so he was bound to last the 40 days, but many others have done it. Here's a
website with tips on how to fast even for 40 days, as well as more discussion on the matter than I can give. It's not about how long you can last but about your heart as you fast.
WARNING: If you've got medical conditions or are not generally fit and healthy, be wise and check with your doctor first.
