Chapter 18 - Fasting

Chapter 18 used 7 scripture passages to highlight the Biblical foundation of fasting as a useful tool in our spiritual life, as follows:

John 4:31-38
Matthew 9:14-17
Matthew 6:16-18
Luke 4:1-13
Exodus 34:27-28
Matthew 4:1-4
Luke 5:33-39

Prayer:

“I heard a godly man remark when asked if he got hungry while fasting. ‘Of course! But then I remember that I’m fasting for God and not for me, and the hunger goes away.’”

Hymn:

The hymn for Chapter 18 was “Fill Me Now” by Elwood Stokes. (If you are not familiar with the song, just Google the hymn name and you will get multiple sources to read and/or hear it, as well as its history.)

Meditation Selections:

The meditation selections included excerpts from the writings of Richard J. Foster, Tilden H. Edwards, Ponder Gilliland, Rainer Maria Rilke, “An Anthology of George MacDonald” edited by C. S. Lewis, Andrew Murray and “the Message of the Wesleys” compiled by Philip S. Watson. (Googling their names may give you some insight into their backgrounds and experiences, if that's of any interest to you.)

Some of the interesting quotes from the meditations included:

· “One issue that understandably concerns many people is whether or not Scripture makes fasting obligatory upon all Christians. …Jesus was giving instruction on the proper exercise of a common practice of His day.”
· “My own and others’ experience leads me to recommend not a full fast, but a ‘juice fast’: vegetable juice (preferably freshly made) and especially fruit juice (which will provide more energy sugar) three times a day. …If you want to undertake a fast, it is easiest to do so with others.”
· “On the matter of prayer and fasting, all you need to do is to follow the inner promptings of the Lord. …There is no set pattern in all this. …It may be that God would only direct you to fast one meal. Or one day. …The important thing is not just the fasting, by why you are fasting.”
· “Prayer needs fasting for its full growth… . Prayer is the one hand with which we grasp the invisible; fasting, the other, with which we let loose and cast away the visible.”
· “Not that we are to imagine that performing the bare outward act will receive any blessing from God. If it be a mere external service, it is all but lost labour.”

What do any of these quotes (or any of the meditations in Chapter 18 not quoted) mean to you?
Please post your responses to the blog site:
(http://lhcndeeperlifeclass.blogspot.com/).

Thanks for your participation.
John