“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.” Mt. 5:6

          Fasting is such a simple, yet incredibly profound way to draw nearer to the Lord. It has become a “lost discipline” in the church today. In the early church, and for hundreds of years following, fasting was a normal part of a Christian’s life. It does not seem to be so today, primarily, I believe, because people just don’t understand it, and are therefore full of fear concerning it. Through fasting, the Lord has transformed me (and Jody, and some very dear friends) in ways that I’m not sure I could even capture in words. I could probably spend the next 6 months blogging about all the things God has taught me while I have fasted. I probably won’t, but this is at least one truth that has changed the way I pray for people…

          While primarily a “spiritual” journey, fasting also – obviously – has many physical ramifications. (It is, by the way, one of THE healthiest things you can do for your body!) Your body goes through quite an interesting process – not always terribly pleasant – a white tongue, bad breath (both signs of detoxification), weakness, fatigue, body aches, headaches…hunger! However, in an extended fast (longer than 7 days), believe it or not, your body actually gets to the place where it no longer “feels” hungry and you actually feel GREAT! That is no lie!!  We truly are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139)! (During one extended fast, I hiked White Oak Canyon on Day 19!)

          In fasts that last 21 days or more, hunger pangs usually return, because you’ve entered “true” hunger. I’ve experienced that, but I’ve also experienced otherwise – when I didn’t feel hunger at all. In fact, I didn’t want my fast to end. So, while my body was literally wasting away, I felt fine. I wasn’t even hungry! So, here’s what the Lord showed me…

          How many people are walking around – seemingly living very productive, active lives – who are starving to eternal death, and they don’t even know it?! They don’t even feel hungry! They don’t even know that they’re dying? We, as Christ followers, are to be the “aroma of Christ” to all those around us (2 Cor. 2:14,15). So, here’s my thinking…you would think that for someone who hasn’t eaten in several weeks, the smell of a 4 course meal would be overwhelmingly tantalizing! But I wasn’t hungry! I didn’t want to eat!! You would think that someone living far from Christ, when they encountered (smelled!) someone who was truly living a sold-out life for Christ would be irresistibly drawn to the person, and, by default, Christ Himself. But they’re not hungry. They’ve filled themselves so full of other things – “junk food” – that they don’t even know they’re starving to death. Is that not incredibly alarming to you?! It has been for me!

And so, I’ve changed the way I pray for most everyone I know – including those who have already placed their trust in Christ. I pray all the time for God to MAKE ME MORE AND MORE HUNGRY AND THIRSTY FOR HIM – for God to make my husband and children hungry and thirsty for HIM – for God to make those in my church family hungry and thirsty for HIM – for God to make those in my sphere of influence who are not Christ-followers hungry and thirsty for HIM…

“O, Lord, may I never hunger or thirst for anything more than I hunger and thirst for You! You are supremely satisfying, so fulfilling – you are the Bread of Life and the Living Water! I have tasted and seen that You are good!! Thank You, Lord, for filling me up with You!”

Are you hungry today?