I want to talk to you today about fasting. Growing up in the Methodist church, we gave things up for Lent. We fasted. I never really understood it when I was younger but now it's completely different. This portion of scripture talks about Jesus being tempted in the wilderness after the man had been fasting for 40 days and nights. A lot of us can't even think about fasting for more than a day because food is amazing. The first verse says that Jesus was lead BY THE SPIRIT into the wilderness.
I would challenge all of us to be listening to the Spirit when we think about fasting. This year I had decided that I was going to give up red meat, bread, pasta, and soda. I did this 2 years ago and lost 60 lbs but I also exercised. I was talking with God last night on my way to get our valentines dinner and he lead me to give up something more sacrificial. Something I didn't think I could live without.
Fasting isn't about giving up something for a portion of time to make yourself look wicked awesome for your benefit. Fasting is about sacrifice. It's about making your body give up something that you are familiar with and think you "need." Obviously, what I was planning on giving up wasn't something that was sacrificial enough.
When Jesus had fasted that's when Satan decided to try his hand at tempting Jesus. Jesus was fasting from food, period. You can imagine how weak he was. I get shaky after a day. Jesus was strong and didn't give into Satans mind games. We might not be so successful when temptation comes knocking at the door. Jesus told Satan to get going and leave him alone because he was only going to serve God. Satan went away and Angels ministered to Jesus.
Have you ever been faced with temptation so strong that you had to fight really hard at overcoming it? How did you feel when you were successful at overcoming that temptation? We have the strength to overcome whatever is in our path. We have to make a choice to walk away sometimes. And it's hard. As you go through Lent, if you decide to give something up, remember Jesus example in the wilderness. He continued to tell temptation no. And trust me, it will come.
Happy Lent everyone!
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