Fasting

“In the late 1970’s and early 1980’s Kathy and I were particularly touched by Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline that introduced spiritual practices.  As a result of the book and much conversation Kathy and I began to fast and pray for our young daughters who were just beginning school. 

We used the Jewish pattern of beginning the fast at sundown on Sunday night and ending at sundown on Monday.  Whenever we felt hunger or just thought about food, we prayed for the girls.  Our prayers were primarily for their salvation, faith development, future ministry, health, safety, schoolwork, friends, eventual spouses or whatever else the Holy Spirit put on our hearts.  Our prayers were pretty much about all the things a parent thinks and worries about for their kids.

We continued the practice for a number of years but didn’t talk about it with others.  If someone asked me for a lunch meeting on a Monday I politely declined.  I might say I had some work at my desk that I needed to complete.  If it was a meeting request, I would deflect the until later in the week. 

Our dinners on Sunday were usually a bit on the early side and on Monday a bit on the late side. That allowed us to generally keep with the sundown-to-sundown schedule.  The girls never really knew why our schedules were a little unusual on Sunday and Monday evenings.

Despite the occasional hunger pangs this was a spiritually rich time for us.  We took the verses about not looking gloomy when you fast seriously, in part because we were new to the practice, but also because we wanted to please God.

I highly recommend the practice not only for young parents, but for all who want to know God better and more intimately.  Over time it just brings you closer to our very loving creator.  It is a blessing that you will never forget.”