The decision

Over the past few nights, I have been debating with myself over what to fast from during the 40 day period starting this Friday. And so naturally, one would ask : why is that so important? Why is what you fast from important in a time of prayer and fasting?

The answer to that is, it is not actually WHAT you fast from that matters, but it is HOW it affects you that matters. We have gone over this in our housechurch discussions - fasting should not be seen merely as a means to induce suffering, (although to a certain extent it helps us relate to the suffering in the world, to connect with the less fortunate around us, to be able to feel what they feel and so on), to bring our flesh under submission and enable us to focus on our spiritual inner man (Again, not saying this is wrong, it does bring what we are fasting for into sharp focus throughout this period), but RATHER, is really just as simple as a failsafe, a clear reminder as to why we are undertaking this fast in the first place.

And choosing to fast from something which comes naturally to us (in other words, something which has become a common component of our daily routine, such as we often take it for granted and overlook it because we are just so used to doing it), will doubly ensure that our usual comfortable schedule is rudely interrupted at least once a day, and we are forced, like it or not, to reflect upon the cause of that interruption, ie the reason we are fasting FOR. For example, this is what someone fasting from meat would be thinking at every meal :

Aww breakfast. Hmm no bacon in the fridge. Why can't I eat bacon? Oh, I'm fasting from meat because we want to pray for something and someone together as a community.


Lunch comes around, and only vegetables and beans. Wait wait where's my meat? Ahhhh I'm fasting in order to commit something and something to God. 


Dinner! Finally! Time for a good meat stir fry. Ahh I've forgotten again, fasting for something and someone. Right.

Everytime you are reminded (sometimes painfully) of the fact that you are fasting from something, it also triggers a reminder in your head as to WHY you are doing this (This comes automatically; we always demand reasons from circumstances so we can 'understand' it). This way, no matter how cramped and how hectic your daily proceedings get, you can always rely on that little 'issue' to keep your mind on the subject of why you are fasting.

Also, something Nick brought up during our short meeting yesterday really stuck with me. He really put it very simply yet very powerfully. He hoped that during this period of 40 days, we would learn to talk less and learn to listen more, listening for God's voice speaking to us (through anything - thoughts throughout the day, conversations, readings, His word, songs - anything), revealing what He has in store for us. And that this fast was simply a means to open up space, to CONSISTENTLY and in a DISCIPLINED manner open up this space where we are focused on quieting our hearts to listen daily, and seeing what doors this space can open up for each of us. I believe that all of us (or at least myself in particular) are in desperate need of spaces like this (because otherwise I would not be determined enough to carry this out day after day), to instill a sort of diligence and discipline in us.

And I believe, as does Nick, that if we really set our hearts to it and commit to it these 40 days, God will move in a fresh and new way, in a way none of us could ever imagine.

Prayer : Dear heavenly Father. I pray for everyone of us undertaking this 40 day fast, that you open our eyes and ears to look to you and listen for your voice, and to set our hearts and minds on you. Help us dear Lord, to be disciplined, even as we open up this space daily to seek your face, may you use this space to mould us, to induce a change in us, to give us a fresh restart, all according to your will. And even as we struggle, as we will, keep us steady and grant us Your guidance; and as we fall, pick us back up onto our feet again. We pray for change dear Father, in us as individuals, and in the community as a whole. And keep everyone safe, including everyone back home in Malaysia. Amen.