Christian Fasting – What is it?
       What is Christian fasting?  Biblically, fasting is abstaining from food, drink, sleep or sex to focus on a period of spiritual growth.  Specifically, we humbly deny something of the flesh to glorify God, enhance our spirit, and go deeper in our prayer life.

Christian Fasting – Focus Deeper on God
       Christian fasting isn’t some kind of a “work” that’s commanded by Christ or required by Scripture.  However, that doesn’t mean that fasting isn’t recommended as a part of our spiritual growth.  The Book of Acts records believers fasting before they made important decisions (Acts 13:4; 14:23).  Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33).  Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food.  However, the purpose of fasting is to take our eyes off the things of this world and instead focus on God.  Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God and to ourselves that we are serious about our relationship with Him.  Although fasting in Scripture is almost always a fasting from food, there are other ways to fast.  Anything you can temporarily give up in order to better focus on God can be considered a fast (1 Corinthians 7:1-5).  Fasting should be limited to a set time, especially when the fasting is from food.  Extended periods of time without eating are harmful to the body.  Fasting is not intended to punish our flesh, but to focus on God.
       Fasting should not be considered a “dieting method” either.  We shouldn’t fast to lose weight, but rather to gain deeper fellowship with God.  Yes, anyone can fast.  Some may not be able to fast from food (diabetics, for example), but everyone can temporarily give up something in order to focus on God.  Even unplugging the television, computer, or phone for a period of time can be an effective fast.
       Yes, it’s a good idea for believers to fast from time to time. Fasting is not required in Scripture, but it’s highly recommended.  The primary Biblical reason to fast is to develop a closer walk with God.  By taking our eyes off the things of this world, we can focus better on Christ. 

       “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).

Christian Fasting – A Lifestyle of Servant Living
       Christian fasting is more than denying ourselves food or something else of the flesh – it’s a sacrificial lifestyle before God. In Isiah 58, we learn what a “true fast” is.  It’s not just a one-time act of humility and denial before God, it’s a lifestyle of servant ministry to others.  As Isaiah tells us, fasting encourages humility, loosens the chains of injustice, unties the chords of the yoke, frees the oppressed, feeds the hungry, provides for the poor, and clothes the naked. This concept of fasting isn’t a one day thing – it’s a lifestyle of servant living for God and others.

From the Gospel:

John 14:1-14  –  Jesus is the way                  John 21:15-19  –  Jesus and Peter

Jesus’ Teaching:

John 10:11-18, 27-28  –  My sheep hear my voice          Matthew 28:16-20 –  The last word

Epistle Teaching:

James 3:14-18  –  True Wisdom                                   Ephesians 3:14-21  –  Prayer for deep wisdom

Psalms:

Psalm 121  –  God our faithful guardian

The most basic definition of prayer is, simply, a conversation with God.  We directly engage God in prayer, whether the mode of communication is spoken language or silent meditation.  Importantly, prayer is a dialogue, which means that listening is necessarily involved.  For prayer to be truly effective, we must be willing to still ourselves and hear what God is trying to do in our lives.  Unfortunately, many of us have a tendency to bubble over with requests and complaints.  It is important to realize that conversation is a two-way street.

Prayer is not just an ordinary conversation.  It is a special mode of communication, because it is reserved for and given wholly to God.  Yes, God is always present.  But through prayer, we place ourselves deep within that presence by turning our full attention to it.  During the conversation of prayer, we surrender to the moment and rise above limited notions of time and space.  Everything else takes a back seat to the very important discussion with God.  As a result, a strong relationship is formed.

Some Resources:

Prayer:  Finding the Heart’s True Home by Richard Foster

Space for God:  Study and Practice of Spirituality and Prayer by Don Postema

The Way of the Heart:  Connecting With God Through Prayer,

Wisdom and Silence by Henri Nouwen

Daring to Draw Near by John White

Jesus Man of Prayer by Sister Margaret Magdalen

Contemplative Prayer by Thomas Merton

Experiencing the Depths of Jesus Christ by Mme. Guyon

True Prayer by Kenneth Leech

The Celtic Way of Prayer:  the Recover of the Religious Imagination  By Esther De Waal

Seek My Face:  Prayer as Personal Relationship in Scripture  By William Barry

What’s All This About Apportionments?

            It’s not all about apportionments but also about our ability to do ministry.  In a nutshell:  the United Methodist Church is a connectional church—that is—all the churches join together to resource our local, national, and worldwide ministries that none of us could do alone.  Our share or portion (so the word apportionment) is figured on our expenditures so the amount is fairly portioned out to the churches according to their ability.

            Now here’s the deal:  As we stand now our pledges and anticipated income falls short about $50,000 of what we need to be fully budgeted.  So what do we do, we don’t fail to pay bills, we don’t fail to pay salary, we don’t fail to do repairs, but are failing to carry our share of the mission ministry of the United Methodist Church.

            For the size of our church and budget $50,000 is not an insurmountable amount.  Perhaps you heard Ed Odom explain that it comes out to around $7 a week from our supporting members.  I have responded to this need by increasing my pledge $100 a month toward the General Fund and $50 a month to the apportionments.  I have also determined that I need a spiritual discipline of stewardship that will include setting aside $1 every time I eat lunch—not so much for the $7 but for the discipline I should have to be a good steward.

            I hope you will prayerfully join me, first in creating a spiritual discipline of stewardship in some way and secondly prayerfully helping comes reach the point where we’re not worrying about keeping our commitments but are assured we can.

• HOW TO MEDITATE

A. Find a quiet time and place…

•  
  1. For Isaac, it was in the field at evening – Gen 24:63
  2. For David, it was in bed during the night watches – Ps 4:4; 63:6;119:148 –
  3. A time and place free from distraction

B. Contemplate something of value…

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  1. David focused his meditation on three things:  
  2. The Lord Himself – Ps 63:6
  3. His wonderful Works – Ps 77:12
  4. His revealed Word – Ps 119:15, 23, 48, 97-99, 148
  5. Paul mentioned things that possess virtue and are praiseworthy – Php 4:8
  6. Whatever is noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report
  7. Which could include devotional writings by uninspired authors –
  8. A subject or object worthy of mindful contemplation

C. Let the Bible be your primary focus…

Read it contemplatively every day – Ps 1:2; 119:15

Read it with a prayer in your heart – cf. Ps 119:18

As you read, occasionally read it aloud to yourself

The Hebrew word in Ps 1:2 for meditate means “to mutter”

Reading slowly and audibly helps to focus one’s mind on the words

As you read, you might ask yourself the following questions:

Is there some truth I should know from this verse?

How does this passage affect a previously held conviction?

Is there something I should stop doing in light of this verse?

Is there a practice I should change?

Is there a habit I ought to begin? 5. You might end with a prayer such as David’s – cf. Ps 119:10 –

“Hold the Word of God in your heart until it has affected every phase of your life…this is meditation.”

Renewal of a Personal Discipline
     Those of you who were in church last Sunday saw a tin church bank that was at my meal place in my grandmother’s home from my earliest days there.  In it I placed a penny at each meal to help feed the needy through its contribution to our church.  Sunday Carol Kreamer told me that there are many places in the world where seven of those pennies would provide a meal.
       Ed Odom did the math and showed us that if each of our giving families would share seven dollars a week more we could pay our apportionments in full thereby assisting all to whom the United Methodist Church ministers.  His discourse set me to thinking that I need to renew the spiritual discipline my grandmother had so loving taught me.  So….
       I commit to Webster Hills and the United Methodist Church through her apportionments to set aside one dollar every time I eat lunch and that I will pray for the wellness of those who, though unknown to me, are also children of God and who will be touched by this additional gift.  This I do in addition to the $50 a month additional commitment I made to the apportionments last Sunday.  I hope you’ll join me in this spiritual discipline.  If you do, would please tell me so we may share in the joy of this kinship?