Growing with God 2013Growing with God 2013

The Spiritual Disciplines - The Spiritual Disciplines - FastingFasting

TheThe ‘Growing with God’ ‘Growing with God’ scheduleschedule January January PrayerPrayer A vital way to start the year A vital way to start the year FebruaryFebruary ConfessionConfession Ash Wednesday falls on Feb 13Ash Wednesday falls on Feb 13 MarchMarch FastingFasting Lent includes almost all of MarchLent includes almost all of March AprilApril CelebrationCelebration The joyous Easter seasonThe joyous Easter season MayMay Worship Worship May includes PentecostMay includes Pentecost JuneJune StudyStudy Coinciding with the end of schoolCoinciding with the end of school JulyJuly GuidanceGuidance Summer quiet for listening to GodSummer quiet for listening to God AugustAugust MeditationMeditation Kicking back and tuning in to GodKicking back and tuning in to God September ServiceSeptember Service The start of a new church yearThe start of a new church year OctoberOctober SimplicitySimplicity Stewardship time Stewardship time NovemberNovember SubmissionSubmission Creation begins its annual deathCreation begins its annual death DecemberDecember SolitudeSolitude Advent waiting for the Kingdom Advent waiting for the Kingdom

Two kinds of Spiritual DisciplineTwo kinds of Spiritual Discipline

The Disciplines of AbstinenceThe Disciplines of Abstinence

simplicity, solitude, submission, fasting.simplicity, solitude, submission, fasting.

Especially helpful for activists.Especially helpful for activists.

The Disciplines of EngagementThe Disciplines of Engagement

Prayer, confession, celebration, worship, Prayer, confession, celebration, worship, study, guidance, meditation, service. study, guidance, meditation, service.

Especially helpful for contemplatives.Especially helpful for contemplatives.

Look who’s talkingLook who’s talking ““Jesus’ teaching on fasting is directly in the Jesus’ teaching on fasting is directly in the

context of his teaching on giving and praying. context of his teaching on giving and praying. There is an assumption that giving, praying, and There is an assumption that giving, praying, and fasting are all part of Christian devotion. We have fasting are all part of Christian devotion. We have no more reason to exclude fasting from his no more reason to exclude fasting from his teaching than we do giving or praying.” teaching than we do giving or praying.” Richard Richard Foster 1978Foster 1978

““I would define fasting as abstaining from anything I would define fasting as abstaining from anything that fills the space inside us that God longs to that fills the space inside us that God longs to occupy. Any idols can be fodder for fasting: TV, occupy. Any idols can be fodder for fasting: TV, email, food. The heart of a fast is stepping back email, food. The heart of a fast is stepping back from life as it is and conceiving of life as it could from life as it is and conceiving of life as it could be.” be.” Heather Webb (?)Heather Webb (?)

““It's all about purification. My everyday It's all about purification. My everyday materialness is shed and my vision becomes materialness is shed and my vision becomes more fixed on what is important and true in my more fixed on what is important and true in my life.”life.” Rainn WilsonRainn Wilson

““WhenWhen you fast, do not look somber.” you fast, do not look somber.” Jesus, Matthew Jesus, Matthew

6:166:16

““While they (the apostles) were worshipping the While they (the apostles) were worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said … Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said … Acts 13:2Acts 13:2

““Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each Paul and Barnabas appointed elders in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord.” them to the Lord.” Acts 14:23Acts 14:23

What is Fasting?What is Fasting?

The self-denial of normal necessities to attend to The self-denial of normal necessities to attend to God in prayer.God in prayer.

Something every Jewish person, including Something every Jewish person, including Jesus, did regularly.Jesus, did regularly.

Not necessarily refraining from eating:Not necessarily refraining from eating:

- “Fasting is an opportunity to lay down an appetite - “Fasting is an opportunity to lay down an appetite – for food, media, shopping etc. This act of self-– for food, media, shopping etc. This act of self-denial may not seem huge, but it brings us face denial may not seem huge, but it brings us face to face with the hunger at the core of our being.”to face with the hunger at the core of our being.”

Dangers of fastingDangers of fasting

Thinking it is dangerous or unhealthyThinking it is dangerous or unhealthy Eating disordersEating disorders PharisaismPharisaism LegalismLegalism Thinking it will twist God’s armThinking it will twist God’s arm Doing it to lose weightDoing it to lose weight Talking yourself into failureTalking yourself into failure Starting out too ambitiouslyStarting out too ambitiously Never getting to the place of pain Never getting to the place of pain

So, why do it?So, why do it?

We become more aware of our own humanity We become more aware of our own humanity and our inadequacies.and our inadequacies.

It shows how dependent we are on small It shows how dependent we are on small comforts.comforts.

It changes things in the spiritual realmIt changes things in the spiritual realm It helps us keep nonessentials in their placeIt helps us keep nonessentials in their place It reminds us that we live ‘not by bread alone, It reminds us that we live ‘not by bread alone,

but by every word that comes from the mouth of but by every word that comes from the mouth of God’.God’.

Jesus did it.Jesus did it.

What to expectWhat to expect Your stomach to lie to youYour stomach to lie to you IrritabilityIrritability ColdCold HeadacheHeadache DiscomfortDiscomfort SadnessSadness EmptinessEmptiness AlertnessAlertness New perspectiveNew perspective Accept suffering more easilyAccept suffering more easily Answered prayer Answered prayer

Some tipsSome tips Take medical precautions – get your doctor’s Take medical precautions – get your doctor’s

advice if in doubt.advice if in doubt. Don’t do it if you cannot spend the time in an Don’t do it if you cannot spend the time in an

unhurried way.unhurried way. Stay hydrated.Stay hydrated. Begin with one meal – spend the saved time in Begin with one meal – spend the saved time in

prayer.prayer. Chew (sugar-free) gum. Chew (sugar-free) gum. Build up to a 24-hour fast – from supper to Build up to a 24-hour fast – from supper to

supper (2 meals).supper (2 meals). Break your fast gently.Break your fast gently.