Fasting

Fasting 3

We are members of a society where many just live for today and worry about tomorrow. If it feels good, do it – and if you want it – take it. These comments are all too often heard from those around us, whose only concern seems to be for their own self-interests and well-being.

If something happens in our life that is not to our liking, many winge and blame the government, for they have grown up in an era where discipline and self-control has not been strong points in their life education.

Maybe we need to experience some form of self-discipline to realise the value of denying ourselves something we enjoy.  Fasting can be a gentle way of enabling us to understand what it is like not to get everything we want, when we want it.

Fasting can be a form of prayer which many Christians practice, particularly during Lent, the period prior to Easter.  It is a tangible way to seek the Lord’s forgiveness for past indiscretions and to acknowledge the suffering Jesus underwent for each one of us. Its origins go way back in time and in Scripture we often see the words ‘prayer and fasting’ linked together.

Fasting does not have to be an enormous personal sacrifice to be effective.  It is an opportunity for us to realise and be thankful for past blessings. As a prayer it can assist us in looking forward with hope to the future and realise the globe won’t stop spinning if for once we don’t get everything we want.

I’m Peter Mack and that’s faith.

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