Conclusion of Lenten Fast

Well, the 40 days have passed...now what?  Before I get to that, I want to sum up how this Lent fast turned out for me.  Success or failure?  I guess the answer lies in the perspective.  If by success you mean adhering perfectly...then failure.  But if nothing is a failure if lessons are learned, then success!  And if it is all about the goal, then I would call it a success too.  My goal was to deny self in order to check who is my master, to seek God more and to encourage others to seek Him also.  And to this end I believe I was successful...by the grace of God!

The first lesson I learned was that I bit off more than I could chew (fasting pun intended). ;)  I tried to fast from too many different things at once and found it hard to focus enough on any one of them.  I also at times would forget one and realize later I had "cheated".  This was a good lesson for life in general where we tend to get distracted by too many activities, desires, etc.,  even though they may all be good things.  I guess I was a Martha faster, instead of a Mary.

The second lesson I learned was about living aware.  I realized that when I am conscious of my actions, I can say no when I need to.  I don't have to say yes to everything, nor would it be good for me to.

The third lesson I learned was that I do have a burning desire to encourage people, to share in their joys and sorrows and to spread the Word of God.  The above reasons were the only reason I missed Facebook.  I don't need to know every one's business, but I do want to share in the things that matter.  And people matter, because they matter to God.  He created us for fellowship with Himself and each other.

I know that God has blessed the past 40 days and I have no doubt more blessings are to come in the days ahead.  I will continue to pray for courage and motivation to finish the race God has called me to run, and to make fasting part of the training.

The Tree Of Life

So why such an emphasis on prayer and fasting?  Because I need to...we all need to.  Sure, we might think we can get along fine on our own, but that is but a deception from the very pit of hell.  We need prayer and fasting to return us to dependence on God; to return us to God's original intent. 

In Eden, Adam and Eve were given a choice.  They could eat from the Tree of Life and live in dependence on God's life in them, or they could eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil and become independent.  They based their choice on the deception of desire and wisdom (Genesis 3:6).  James 1:14-16 warns us of this deception saying, "¹⁴ but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. ¹⁵ Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.  ¹⁶ Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters."  Neither did they know that, " the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength." (1 Corinthians 1:25)

What tragedy befell the human race.  The very thing that was thought to bring our exaltation was really our undoing.  But praise be to God, who has not left us without a Kinsman Redeemer!  Before we were even created God had a plan.  That plan is His Son, Jesus.  He is the one who came, died and was resurrected that God's original intent might be fulfilled.  In John 15:4-5 Jesus told the disciples, "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.  I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." 

We again have a choice.  We can continue on our way of independence and foolishness, or we can hand over our old nature to death and accept, by faith, the life of Jesus in us.  "For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body." (2 Corinthians 4:11)  Watchman Nee puts it this way, "Origin determines destination, and what was 'of the flesh' originally will never be made spiritual by any amount of 'improvement'.  That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and it will never be otherwise.  So anything for which we are sufficient in ourselves is 'nothing' in God's estimate...It is only what comes from above that will abide." 

We can crowd out the life of Jesus in us, with our own independence.  Rather, let us humbly come before our God in repentance, prayer and fasting, depending on Him.  For He who promised is faithful and He rewards those who seek Him.

²³ This is what the Lord says:

“Let not the wise boast of their wisdom
    or the strong boast of their strength
    or the rich boast of their riches,
²⁴ but let the one who boasts boast about this:
    that they have the understanding to know me,
that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness,
    justice and righteousness on earth,
    for in these I delight,”
declares the Lord.

Jeremiah 9:23-24