IN PROGRESS [ matt broaddus ]

I’ve never really fasted.

I mean, not never. But kind of never. There was that time in youth group where we juice fasted & then went to a farm to learn about world hunger. My main takeaway from that was how gross the beans & rice were that they gave us to break our fast. Also that it would suck if I had to grow my own food. I might have missed the point a little. Anyway, let’s just say I felt like if I was going to not eat only drink juice for a day, there better be something in the huge-cheeseburger-and-fries food group at the end of that madness. 

I’ve also done the pseudo-fast. The I-gotta-give-up-something-but-if-you-think-I’m-not-going-to-not-eat-you’re-crazy fast. Like giving up TV or ice cream. I gave up Dr.Pepper one summer, which led to my insides not feeling so awful all the time (and eventually led to giving it up all together). But health benefits aside, I’m not sure any of those really counted. 

I definitely think there’s value in that kind of fast - in the discipline of giving up anything that’s a part of normal everyday life. I gave up something, but that’s only part of the point. I was mainly focused on the thing I was giving up, so I didn’t really experience anything spiritually significant. Not dogging on pseudo-fasters. I’m mainly trying to admit that I’ve never been man enough to give up the eating of regular meals, and that fasting isn’t a regular part of my devotional life. And I’m realizing that’s probably not okay.

Here’s the thing. I think Jesus assumed we would fast. At least that’s how I read it this morning in Matthew 6.

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.“ (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)

When. 

Not if.

When you fast.

I’ve always focused more on the instructions in that passage - don’t look sad about the not eating thing, don’t tell people you’re fasting…don’t use fasting as an excuse to completely abandon normal rules of personal hygiene. I could basically tell you how the Bible says you should fast.

What I missed was the built-in assumption that fasting is normal. Not something for super-Christians who know the secrets of this mysterious ritual. It’s for all of us who follow Jesus. When you fast. I hadn’t really noticed that before, and it caught me off guard.

Anyway, all of this is the long way to say I think I’m going to try to fast sometime during Lent this year. I’m going to give up something to get something. I’m going to give up some food at some point to serve as a reminder of how much I need Jesus, and hopefully my physical hunger will turn into a spiritual hunger that he will be gracious enough to satisfy.   

Here are some self-imposed guidelines I’m going to follow:

I’m going to prepare

My wife (rightly) says that I don’t ever realize I’m hungry, but she knows when I am because I get really grumpy. I think that relates to the “wash your face” thing. So I’m going ask the Holy Spirit to help me not be in a bad mood whilst fasting. It’s going to take a miracle, but I figure I’ll ask the one who can do anything.

I’m not giving up coffee :)

Listen, you may think I’m immature, not fully committed. Whatever. I get grumpy when I don’t eat. Coffee, however, is a whole other ballgame. Maybe I’ll grow up someday and try ditching that, too. Today is not that day. 

I’m going to have huge expectations for my time with God

But I’m not going to have any preconceived ideas about what he’s going to do. I don’t want to use fasting to get anything other than more of God. I could easily slip into expecting God to do something really specific because I’m going to take part in this spiritual discipline, so I’m going to do my best to just be available for whatever he is gracious enough to speak to me.

I’m not going to commit to writing anything about what happens 

That way. if it “doesn’t take,” I don’t have to talk about how nothing happened. Or if he does something really amazing, but it’s just for me, I can keep it that way. Maybe I’ll write about it. Maybe I won’t. That’s how I’m gonna roll!

So that’s about it. I’m sure I don’t have it all right, but those are my thoughts about it all today. Here goes…

What are your experiences with fasting? Anybody else want to try it with me for the first time during Lent this year?