|
|
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Today's Frontline Devotion Monday, March 1, 2004 And Then I Met a Woman Who Fasted |
A daily |
FRONTLINE DEVOTION FOR MONDAY, MARCH 1, 2004, by Fritz Foltz
Bible text:
Matthew 6: 16-18
Every Ash Wednesday I ignored Jesus’ admonition to fast in secret. I thought it
was not worth mentioning, because nobody fasted for spiritual reasons anymore.
The only fasting I noticed were very public power plays, attempts to force
people to do something by embarking on starvation diets.
Of course, there were also starvation diets that did not have any purpose at
all. While my family was sailing down the Thames River in London, the guide
directed our attention to a glass cage suspended high above the waterfront.
“That’s David Blane, the crazy American”. The guide’s words summed up what I
used to think of people who fasted. They were crazy.
Then I met a woman who fasted, my secretary and dear friend. After a serious
encounter with death, she enhanced what had always been a very religious life
style. And she included fasting.
She reported her first experience was wonderful. Fasting opened her mind so she
could discern God in all life. That time she spent the days alone in prayer,
contemplation and reading. She was on vacation, and her husband was away for
several days.
Her second time was not so good. She tried to fast while still going to work and
performing her normal chores. She put aside time for meditation and reading, but
her normal schedule got in the way. It just did not work.
On the basis of those first experiences she decided fasting is a Sabbath, a time
off that enables us to reflect and get perspective on our normal lives. We can
set aside several minutes daily and a morning every week, but every once in a
while we should take more time. That is when we might want to fast, to witness
clearly that “we do not live by bread alone, but by every word from God’s
mouth.”
Some of us might not be attracted to restricting our diet so radically.
Nonetheless, we can make sure we make a retreat from our normal schedules and
rethink what we take so much for granted. Lent is a good time to do that.
Let us pray: Holy Father, stop us in our tracks this Lent. Help us as we
struggle to repent, to rethink our life styles. And give us the courage to
change as we discover what you call us to do here and now. We pray in Jesus’
name. Amen.
 |
All are welcome to join and share in our Devotional Ministry on the "Frontlines" of the world. Frontline Devotions are sent via email daily. Sign up by clicking on the box to the left. Pastor Dave welcomes feedback. Contact him at pastordave@goodshepherdonline.org. |
Visit the |