Joel 2:12 (ERV)
This is the Lord’s message:
“Now come back to me with all your heart.
Cry and mourn, and don’t eat anything!
Show that you are sad for doing wrong.”
Don’t fast half-heartedly, by rote, out of duty or because everyone else is doing it. To start, have a short, honest conversation with God. Without a spiritual purpose, fasting from food is simply a diet.
Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.
Fasting isn’t some magical method to get God to do what you want. It tunes your ears to hear His plan.
It’s not what we give up. It’s what we go after.
“Prayer is reaching out and after the unseen; fasting, letting go of
all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepens, confirms the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God.”
Andrew Murray. (1828-1917)
Lent starts this Wednesday–40 days (not counting Sundays) before Easter. A season of preparation. A time of prayer and fasting.
Yes, fasting.
What do you know about fasting?
Fasting is less about giving something up and more about connecting with God. Are you ready to improve your connection? Let Lent begin!
Coronavirus in China. Locusts in East Africa. These twin disasters bring to mind the plagues in the book of Exodus. Both have the attention of the United Nations.
Regarding the virus, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the Director-General of the UN World Health Organization stated:
“We still have a chance of preventing a broader global crisis, WHO will continue working night and day with all countries to prepare them.”
As to the locusts, UN News quoted Mark Lowcock, the UN humanitarian chief:
“I’m calling on the countries concerned, the international community, the donors, to step up and to step up now. There is a risk of a catastrophe. Perhaps we can prevent it; we have an obligation to try.”
While the United Nations looks to the wisdom and wealth of man to solve these problems, let us look to God.
Mighty God, have mercy!
We started the week with Washington’s wisdom. Let’s end it with more of the same:
“It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge
the providence of Almighty God to obey His will,
to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly
to implore His protection and favor.”
George Washington (1732-1799)
Wise words, written in hard times:
On principle I dislike an oath which requires a man to swear he has not done wrong. It rejects the Christian principle of forgiveness on terms of repentance. I think it is enough if the man does no wrong hereafter.
Abraham Lincoln, 1864
(Note to the Secretary of War)
Repentance, not denial–still a good idea.
Short but true:
“The rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.”
President John F. Kennedy (1917-1963)
As the presidential campaign gets ugly, we’d do well to think like Lincoln:
“My concern is not whether God is on our side;
my greatest concern is to be on God’s side,
for God is always right.”
Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)
Here in the United States, it’s Presidents’ Day, spun off from George Washington’s and Abraham Lincoln’s February birthdays. With this generic title, it recognizes all US Presidents. How do you feel about it?
Let’s look to our first President for wisdom:
“It is to be lamented that great characters
are seldom without a blot.“
George Washington (1732-1799)
Bless their imperfect souls. And yours.
