ADVENTure Day 18 –

Christmas is a time of feasting, one of my favorite things about the season!  In the midst of the potential gluttony, it is good to remember the practice of fasting.

Isaiah 58:6-7 (NLT) – “No, this is the kind of fasting I want; free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you.  Let the oppressed go free and, and remove the chains that bind people.  Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless.”

Fasting is one of my least favorite things, so I rarely do it.  If done how described above, I can see how it can have very positive results.  First, the money and food saved during a time of fasting can go to feed and help others.  Second, I believe that it can break spiritual bondages in two ways.  It can help to free you from addictions that hinder your spiritual life when you focus on fasting from them.  It can also break down the barriers to effective prayer that your prayers may be more effective. 

I am no deep theologian so I won’t attempt to expound upon that except to challenge both you and me to give it a try.  The “Rediscovering the Christmas Season” devotional from which I am getting these topics suggests a one day fast before Christmas.  As I will be travelling over the next couple weeks, that is not practical for me, but you may want to try it.  It also suggests trying a 21 day fast to start the new year.  I suggest that you pick something you like and abstain from it for 21 days.  Use that time to cultivate your communication with God (prayer).  As you go through it, set aside the money you would spend on that from which you are abstaining and give it to a charity that helps the needy.  I will do the same and let’s compare notes at the end.