A Life of Fasting

Psalm 13 reminds me of the complaints people have about fasting. There is a difference. David is not talking about fasting from food, but a fast from God’s presence. The fast is not something David has taken upon himself. Rather, David feels very far from God. David’s enemies are all around him ready to gloat because of their victory over David, but have David’s enemies really won? David’s enemies do not just want to see David defeated. These enemies want to see David broken in spirit. David faces this challenge by choosing to put his faith in God. Instead of feeling sorry for himself, or selfishly longing for the things which will make him feel better, David chooses to rely on God. David chooses to remember who has provided for him again and again.

David is not talking about fasting, but fasting is supposed to prepare us for these kinds of times. Fasting is about denying ourselves something we really want so we might better learn to rely on God during those times when life is really hard. When we fast we are not supposed to gloat or brag we are fasting. People who brag about fasting often come across as condescending, or as outright jerks. Fasting is not about being better than anyone else. Fasting is about learning to rely more fully on the grace of God to sustain us through difficult times. I love David’s words in verse three.

“Consider and answer me, O Lord my
     God;
light up my eyes, lest I sleep the sleep
     of death.” (Psalm 13:3 ESV)

While David could certainly be talking about physical death, there is another death – the death of credibility. I know I cannot be credible in my walk if I do not turn to God to “light up my eyes” when I do not feel like being good, or when I get stuck feeling sorry for myself. When I rely on God, when I ask for His light to shine through me, and then allow it to shine; others can see the fruit of my fasting.

New Years Resolutions

This morning I've been reading Psalm 12. King David portrays a world without truth; where everyone lies, and spins the perceptions of reality to support personal agendas. David says the reason f or this psalm is the poor are taken advantage of, and the groans of the needy just trying to survive can be heard in the streets. As I consider these words, the groans of the needy must be really loud for the king to hear them in his palace. Imagine if our presidents heard the cry of the American poor in the White House. It is a scary thing to consider when all too often the body of Christ cannot hear the groans of the needy within the church; much less out side of the body of Christ. The Psalm moves on to say the Lord will arise and tend to the poor and the needy, and they shall have the safety they are seeking. As I read Psalm 12 I wonder what does it mean when it says God will arise? Can God come down and provide a place for all those who are poor, sick and needy? Absolutely! Could the Holy Spirit rain down peace and blessing for those in greatest need? You Bet! Jesus Christ certainly cared for the sick, the poor and the needy during his earthly ministry. My next question is also pretty obvious. Is God going to intervene in that way today? I think He does. I think God through Jesus' example and the power of the Holy Spirit works to intervene today. God is continually pouring His love into each and everyone of us. God is calling us home, and calling us to love people as God loves each and everyone of us. However, we are attacked on every side by temptations, and so much busyness we are distracted from even seeing the poor, and the needy. We cannot hear the groans of those who need safety. We do not see the poor and homeless begging for food on the side of the road, and their are those who would take advantage of the poor and homeless's situations. My New Years Resolution is daily to pray God would grant me a look through His eyes; to be able to hear with His ears for just a moment; to be able to feel compassion for all those around me - not just the ones I like; the way God does. "On every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted among the children of men (Psalm 12:9)." Please Lord, rise up among us that the wicked would tremble at Your love for all of us.