Prayer & Fasting

OH YEA! I want to talk about FASTING!

Of course there are people in third-world countries that have
never eaten a hot-fudge chocolate brownie sundae ... its true!
In fact, many in those places go without food for long periods
of time. So the fact that our bodies CAN go without food for
extended periods is well documented. But somehow we
'civilized' people are above all that. And we can't 'stand'
missing a meal. Except for a few nutritionists who are into
homeopathic treatments for the body, its unthinkable among
most Americans in the 21st Century. Sadly, that goes for the
church as well.

Throughout recorded history, believers in God have
recognized spiritual benefits of fasting. Biblical characters
of the Old Testament abstained from food to commune with
God. And Christ taught his disciples that some spiritual
conflicts could only be won through prayer & fasting combined.
Other heavyweights in a more recent times like Martin Luther,
John Calvin, and John Wesley made it a reoccurring part of
their personal disciplines. I remember reading that Mother
Teresa, known for her tremendous humanitarian work in of
Calcutta, required nuns serving in her convent to take a vow of
poverty - including certain dietary limitations.

I'm not a nutritionist, and don't pretend to be. But I have read
some on the subject, and know that most would name several
benefits of going without a meal or two - especially when
accompanied by drinking plenty of water. And God knows
many Americans could stand to lower their caloric intake for a
while. But physical benefits are not what interests me.

As a pastor and follower of Christ, I am interested in the
spiritual value associated with fasting. In times of intense
physical hunger God speaks to me in crystal clear tones.
And the deepest need of my soul is satisfied in Him.
There is something about denial of basic need that helps me
be better focus. And THAT kind of intensity with God yields
big spiritual dividends.

From this pastor's perspective, our churches need the fresh
wind of God to blow. We need the collective affect of His
undeniable presence. So if fasting makes God more real to
us (in a sense), why the aversion to it among believers today?
I'm thinking maybe we can't handle the intimacy. Maybe we
don't want God speaking AT ALL! I hope its not true.