I was not raised on the premise of participating in Lent. In college I learned what exactly it was because my Roommate would always give up something. I, personally, have never given anything up for Lent
Until Now.
An ouR Squad member (thanks Nikki) challenged me by posting
So Ash Wednesday (aka the start of Lent season) is…well Wednesday…is anybody giving anything "up" or "adding" anything (ie:waking up an hour earlier each day strictly devoted to reading scripture/praying?)
Or what have people done (if anything) in the past?
At the beginning of the year I did some researching of my own on fasting. Growing up I was taught to fast, but never really knew why, as in the history of it. The meaning of it in history.
In the Old Testament when one was fasting it was a sign of mourning. You would fast when you were mourning. You would mourn when you were fasting.
Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered, I went about mourning
as though for my friend or brother
Psalm 35.13
In Matthew Jesus says
When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they
disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have
received their reward in full.
But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face,
so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting,
but only your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret,
will reward you.
6.16-18
Wow! What a change that had to be for those who knew the tradition of how fasting had always been! In Acts it says
Paul and Barnabas had appointed elders for them in each church
and, with prayer and fasting,
committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.
14.23
That is what it is for me. For me to fast for 40 days from something that overtakes my mind. Consumes a part of my daily life. Overwhelms me even though I know that God is in control. I have committed my trust to God and know fully that He will provide for me, but it daily consumes my mind:
My World Race Account
When I first started this journey I said $15,500 is a lot of money! But not unreachable! Since day one I have had complete peace about God sending me to reach “the least of these.” I know this is His call for this time in my life. I know that because I am His and He is mine that He makes all things work together for my good. I know that this account is not in my hands.
I do not doubt that God will provide the money for this, yet it has consumed me. Every Monday I would check my account to see what had been put in from the weekend. Every week day I'd see if anything new would go in…sometimes multiple times a day. Thats when I knew, thats when I heard
“Give up your account that you have given to ME with complete trust”
It has been such a huge blessing (and its only been 12 days (I still don't look on Sundays, even though they are exempt by Lent “rules”))!! In making calls to churches they ask how far I have to go, and I tell them I honestly don't know! Haha Its amazing!
I am not expecting my account to be paid in full. I am not NOT expecting it to be either. What I do know is when my Maker gives His loving and gentle commands, how can I not obey!?!?!
