Sermon On The Mount: Diets Of Deprivation, a.k.a. Fasting
Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father Who is in the secret place; and your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:16-18 (NKJV)
Fasting and diets of deprivation and fasting have 2 SPIRITUAL things in common:
1) The hungry soul is denied its desire. Comfort, energy, and satisfaction must come from a wholly different source.
In the case of dieting without God, we think it comes from our own willpower. (That's a weakness waiting to be exposed.)
In the case of fasting to worship God, we’re aware it comes through His Power. (That's a strength waiting to be discovered.)
If you haven’t heard my weight-loss story, I used to be an enormous woman. At 36, I weighed 10 X my age, as in 360+ pounds. How I lost almost ⅔ of my size is a God story: my life’s 2nd-greatest transformation.* So I get all the hardships of diets.
2) Neither in dieting to lose some weight– nor in fasting to gain focus on God… should we advertise our experience.
Our latest diet should not be discussed. But too often the opposite happens: we whine or brag about our eating plans.
Fasting to gain God concerns communion. When we close our mouths to physical bread, we’re more open to spiritual Bread.
God puts it this way:
'Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the Mouth of God' (Matthew 4:4).
'I am the Bread of Life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst' (John 6:35).
Actors, models, and talent for Christ: In diets or fasting, act normally. You may feel empty for a little while. But if you stay quiet, God will fill you! He will strengthen you!
Recall “The Woman at the Well” story… when the 12 disciples came back with food and wondered why Jesus wasn’t eating: 'I have food to eat of which you do not know' (John 4:32).
When our Father feeds us, we’re satisfied. He also gives us a special promise, IF… we respect His privacy program, 'Your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly.'
To me, that reward means public success!
Sermon On The Mount: Fasting (Part 19)
* Finding and committing to Jesus is the greatest transformation of my life (or any life, for that matter.) I’m also familiar with biblical fasting.
NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.