Learning to Say NO to ME

Last Sunday, while talking about our need to "hunger and thirst for rightousness", we brought up the idea of fasting. The Jews in the Old Testament were well acquainted with the practice of fasting, and Jesus spoke several times of it's place and practice. But for most of us it seems, it's not a very easy thing to practice- afterall, it's not a REQUIREMENT for ALL followers of Christ is it?

Throughout scripture, there are various reasons mentioned for fasting, i.e., seeking God's grace/forgiveness, seeking God's answer to prayer, as an expression of total dependence upon Him, etc..

What's tough about fasting is that when it comes down to our basic comforts and conveniences, we choose to say no to ourselves- with no gun to our head, no threat of losing our salvation, or any other negative repercussion from God. So why do we choose to fast? It is certainly one of the ways we can show that we love Him- by choosing to identify with Him( Jesus fasted 40 days in the wilderness), and by letting Him know that He is way more important than my own comfort and physical satisfaction. It also reveals to us whether we are really hungering and thirsting for Him, as we hunger and thirst for our next meal. Fasting is also a great reminder that we are not of this world, that we belong to His eternal kingdom and we're not so tied to the physical restraints of this world.

It's not often easy to say no to ourselves, but it certainly helps us to remember to say yes to Him.