I just read Lisa Borden's fantastic article on the 24-7 website about fasting. I share her reluctance at fasting food and though I've tried to incorporate it more into life this year I still struggle with food fasts. Her words reminded me of reading Richard Foster's chapter on fasting in the Celebration of Discipline, his understanding and perspective on why we fast totally blew my mind...
Now when I try to fast two things are on my mind, the first is "God I want to feast on you". Sadly this is the one I'm still struglling with as I find it much easier to focus in prayer on a full stomach. The second is sin in my life floats to the surface when I remove something as simple as the satisfaction of my tastebuds and tummy.
Lisa discribes crashing her car and not being very compus mentous, I find myself more impatient and thinking about myself a lot. I also get stressed a lot easier. In one sense it's logical, on another I know they are parts of me often masked by comfort and it's good to know what's there to ask Jesus to help me deal with it.
Hmmm... I'm typing all this from Seville. I'm sitting in the Seville communities shop front reading stories on the 24-7 site, catching up on emails and getting a few jobs out of the way before the busy week ahead. The rest of the team arrive tonight and I'm looking forward to sitting around a table and eating tapas with some of my favourite people. xc