Who doesn't like to eat? Food for sure is necessary for physical nourishment, but also brings enjoyment and pleasure. The opposite is fasting, a common practice in ancient times for followers of Jesus, but not so much today. Yet Jesus said, "Love the Lord with all of your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all of your strength." (Mark 12:30 NIV)A relationship with Jesus is wholistic, requiring both our minds AND our bodies. And fasting is "one of the best disciplines we have to reintegrate our mind to our body, and offer our whole selves to God in surrender." (Comer) Fasting can help us to be with Jesus, to become like Jesus, and to live as he did. This week is part one in the Practice of Fasting: to Offer Ourselves to Jesus. "Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God - this is your true and proper worship." (Romans 12:1 NIV)

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Reasons for Fasting:

1. To offer ourselves to Jesus
2. To grow in holiness
3. To amplify our prayers
4. To stand with the poor

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Extra Credit:

Just do it! Start small especially if you are new to this practice. Pick a day that works for you and try fasting from sunrise until sundown, or just start with skipping breakfast. Then end the fast by eating a simple meal in gratitude.

Try also to do this together with a small community of your choice; this will help with encouragement and spurring one another on.

Spend the time praying, meditating, reading scripture or books by Christian authors, or journaling. See if God directs you to do something for Him in a situation or person you encounter in the normal course of that day.

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