For many Christians, the season of Lent typically includes some kind of fasting. These fasts usually take the form of abstaining from all food throughout a given 24-hour period or certain kinds of food for the duration of the forty-day season. In place of or in addition to a food fast, Christians sometimes commit to give up a pleasurable activity or dedicate themselves to almsgiving. Focus on prayer and devotions are also especially emphasized during Lent. But even though our Lord recommends and comments on the Lenten disciplines of fasting, helping the needy, and prayer in His Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:1-18), these practices can easily become legalistic rituals that are centered inwardly on the self rather than outwardly on Christ. If Christians choose to give up something or increase charitable giving during Lent as a way to proclaim the salvation Christ has won for all by His suffering and death, then such activities are God-pleasing sacrifices and are to be encouraged. However, it is essential to remember that nothing we do through self-denial, good works, or prayer can ever earn God's forgiveness or repay Him for what He accomplished for us. Lent is not about our giving up something to please God. Lent is about what Christ gave up to pay the penalty for the sins of the world -- His holy and innocent life.
http://www.stpaulskingsville.org
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Oz's thoughts.....
Fasting:
Fasting means we feel hungry. And when I am hungry, suddenly a plain loaf of bread tastes really yummy. Suddenly the temptation to snack is soooooooo hard to resist. I am even painfully aware of my resistence. So fasting builds mental and spiritual resilience.
Fasting can also be from bad habits. Eg. I like to scold. It seems the easiest way to solve problems and irritations. So open mouth and scold! Now fasting from scolding is hard. Control, control, control.....usually it helps to pray before the person that you want to scold arrive.
Prayer:
Prayer could be talking, listening, giving thanks, petition, intercessary.
Prayer is also about making one's life an offering to God.
A friend once posed me this question, "If you come to the end of your rope and God says let go, what would you do?"
Almsgiving:
The call to give is very subtle. One year, it came in the form of a missionary's petition. This year it is in the form of a price tag of something that I like very much....I'm still waiting to hear where to give it to.....Well, if the call is spiritually real, then the answer will be equally real. So personally I am waiting for the aha moment.
You know those priests or organisations that show up in our church to ask for donations? Sometimes it is a fine line between giving out of guilt, giving out of a spiritual high, giving out of generosity.....I do question my REAL intention of giving. Do you question yours?
When you drop the money into the donation box, do you feel urg.....regret?
Aha....painful huh?
Good.
I read about how a poor boy once gave up 3 days of not eating sugar so that he can give it to Mother Teresa. And MT said that was a bigger gift than the million dollars she gets from rich businessmen.
Maybe it boils down not to the WHAT you give BUT the HOW you give.
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A friend's blog sums it all up. Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, do you encounter Jesus?
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