Lent traditionally was a time of fasting. I find fasting to be a spiritual discipline that is nearly lost among mainline church members. One PD Lenten suggestion is to consider fasting once a week and giving the money saved to relieve hunger in your community. The Presbyterian Church is encouraging a similar 40 hour fast to help raise money to relieve hunger in the Sudan. Fasting on Good Friday to focus your attention upon Christ suffering can also be an extremely meaningful experience.

Why Fast?

I have done a variety of fasts and have found that it helps me learn to surrender to God more readily, sharpens my prayer focus, puts me in touch with what is truly needed versus desired and helps broaden my general comfort zone. I always find myself a bit humbled by every fast. I realize just how much I am driven by immediate gratification and how fickle my will can be. I find myself turning more fully to God when I realize how much I need his grace and strength to deal with my own petty cravings. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at what a formative experience fasting can be. It is biblical and that should have given me some clue, but I find it to be nearly a lost art. I am not sure I have ever heard a sermon on fasting or had a Sunday school lesson about it. If you are considering fasting, but don't really know much about it, you will want to observe at least the following three tips.

First, fast with a purpose.  Biblically, people fasted to show grief and repentance over sin. Sometimes fasting is done for the purpose of discernment. Some people fast in order to be in solidarity with the poor so that they are more mindful of the needs of others and the blessings in their own life. Whatever your reason for fasting make sure that you have a reason beyond just trying fasting. Without a purpose you can expect to get little more than hungry. I typically fast on Good Friday. I use the fast as a tool to focus on Christ's suffering. Whenever I find myself during the fast either reflexively reaching for food or thinking about how hungry I am, I use those moments to recall Christ's suffering. I find this practice draws me nearer to God and makes Easter all the more amazing. 

Second, prepare. If you clean up your diet prior to the fast you can greatly limit some of the physical discomforts of fasting. I find that if I decrease sugar and caffeine several days prior to my fast and increase my water consumption, that my fast is physically far easier to endure.

Third, rejoice. When fasting don't draw a lot of attention to yourself. The pharisees were prone to exploiting their fasts to draw peoples' attention toward themselves by looking all pained and morose. Don't complain. Instead, be joyful for the opportunity to be wholly focused upon God with your mind, body and spirit.

PD reader Sue Ellen of Texarkana, just shared with me recently links to several great documents on fasting. (Thanks Sue Ellen) The first is specifically information about the Sudan Hunger project of the Presbyterian Church. The other three are great brief documents on fasting basics. I would encourage you to read them, if you are considering a fast and have never done one before. 

• March Fast with Sudan Focus
• Fasting 101: Concrete Considerations When Preparing to Fast
• Fasting as Solidarity
• Fasting: A Spiritually and Socially Transforming Practice

If you have other questions or concerns regarding fasting, please contact me. Many blessings to you during the Lenten Season from the Practical Disciple

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One Reader's Creative Prayer

PD Reader, Susan, in North Carolina, used the creative prayer tip from a recent post and came up with the following that she graciously has allowed me to share.

A pair of scissors...God prunes us, but we are better off for it.  He knows EXACTLY what and how much to cut away.

A pencil...God gives us the words to say and will erase our errors

A phone...we need to LISTEN for God's message.  He is always available to talk to us.  (He's always in our area code)

A computer...God is ALL WISDOM...(way more than a computer)

A staple remover...God will never give us more than we can handle.  He'll remove thorns in our side, unless they're bringing glory to Him.

Thanks Susan for sharing.  I would love to see more prayers that people have created using the creative prayer technique.  Please email them my way at thepracticaldisciple@gmail.com or share them as a comment.  Blessings.

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URL for the Lenten Devotional Site

As I reviewed recent posts the other day I realized that while I had set up a subscription service for anyone wanting to receive the Lenten devotional excerpts from Christian classics, I failed to list the address for those who might just want to visit.  So, here it is:  http://lentenmeditations.blogspot.com or just click here.  My apologies.

Blessings, from The Practical Disciple

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New Lenten Options Posted

If you are still looking for a Lenten discipline option I have just posted three more suggestions at the Practical Disciple Lenten Resource Page.  Specifically, I have posted handouts that you can view or download with instructions for writing notes of encouragement and thanks, fasting and contributing the money you save to help the hungry, and a top 40 list of bible passages.  I hope these resources are helpful.  Once again, thank you for reading the Practical Disciple and may God bless you on your Lenten Journey.

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Subscribe now, Lent begins tomorrow

The first Christian classics excerpt will be released tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, February 25th.  Subscribe now if you do not want to miss receiving any of these devotional thoughts during the season of Lent.

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Blessings to you from The Practical Disciple

Lenten Suggestions

I love Lent.  Lent is an opportunity for us to take major strides forward in our discipleship if we pick a truly meaningful discipline.  The last three years have been particularly significant for me.  One year I purged 40 bags of stuff from my life.  Another I wrote 400 words every day to bless someone.  Last year, I prayed an hour a day.  If you would like some suggestions click here.  I will be adding more possibilities between now and Ash Wednesday.

The link above will take you to one corner of what will soon be the new home of my blog. The site isn't quite ready yet but feel free to bounce around in it.

Lastly, a number of readers enjoyed receiving by email a daily devotional during Advent.  I am offering that same service during Lent.  The focus will be readings from Christian classics.  Each day during Lent I will send you an excerpt from some of the giants of Christianity, folks like C.S. Lewis, Teresa of Avila, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, St. Augustine, Evelyn Underhill and many more.  I hope these readings will be a nourishing addition to your day.  Subscribe by clicking below.

  

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Blessings to you from The Practical Disciple

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Creativity and Prayer

One of my favorite activities with youth to get them talking about what they believe about God is to hand a small group of them an envelope full of random objects.  Their task is to go through the envelope and share how each item reminds them of God.  For example, someone might pull out a paper clip and say, "This makes me think of how God clings to us." or "God has a way of binding things together."  

Those of you still struggling with praise can do a similar exercise just to get your mind moving.  Praise in many ways at its essence is not much more than acknowledging the reality of who God is. So just for fun, grab some random objects take a moment and generate a list of how those things remind you of God.  I am going to do it right now, share my results and then compose a prayer with it.....

                    ...I am running around the house grabbing random items...

...okay, I'm back.  So, here are my items.

1)  A basket.  I look at the basket and think of the time Jesus multiplied fishes and loaves and afterwards they had heaping baskets full of food left over because our God is a God of abundance.  God exceeds our imagination.  I also think about the passage where we are told not to put our candle under a bushel.

2)  A pair of socks.  God comforts me.  In many ways God clothes me.  I think of robes of righteousness and revelation.  Which makes me think of God's grace for eternity.

3)  An old hard shell eye glasses case.  God protects me.

4)  A printer cartridge.  Makes me think of text and letters.  God is the alpha and omega.  God gives us the word.  He gave Moses the ten commandments and we have the scriptures.  

5)  A coaster.  Coaster are a protective barrier.  They prevent damage from happening.  God protects us so that whatever is put upon us will not damage us.

6)  A duster.  God cleanses.

So, here is my prayer of praise from these random items.  

I love and praise you God, because when you intervene miracles happen.  You exceed our imaginations in ways that really don't make sense.  You are a God of great abundance.  You comfort me.  You cloth me in righteousness which makes me ready for all eternity.  You protect me so that no matter how hard I may fall, I will not be broken.  You give us your word and have for years and years.  You protect and preserve me.  No matter what is placed upon me I can bear it without harm if you are there.  And even when I fall, you are there to prevent me from being harmed.  I praise you Lord for cleansing me.  You are an awesome and amazing God for these reasons and many more.  Amen.

You see, some times we just need something to prompt our imaginations.  Give it a try right now.  This is kind of a fun exercise.

Peace and Blessings to You from The Practical Disciple

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