My friend Michol shared a 21-day Spirit-filled devotion of prayer to start the year. The side note said “and fasting.” Like giving up something?
Like giving up something!
Yeah, I don’t fast. But I went to the additional resources provided and read through some reasons why and how I might want to fast, how I might consider giving up food or…
The material talked about self-control, explaining that fasting–the giving up thing–nurtures our readiness to embrace the things of God and the joy that comes with it.
But I don’t fast. I decided I’d nurture that giving up thing by giving up some extra prayer time each morning.
Halfway through my 21 days of prayer and devotion, I felt a tug. I went back to the additional resources and read through them again.
The materials conclude that “fasting is the intentional setting aside of self to focus on God and His presence and plans for us.” Yes, giving up.
Yes, giving up!
The next morning I skipped getting onto the scale. For most of the day I was physically ill. Yes, I was actually withdrawing from the flashing light of a black box in my bathroom!
I skipped the scale the next day too. And the following day. Instead I showered, brushed my teeth, and jumped into my Spirit-filled study and prayers. And soon I started feeling a lightness in my being, not something I could ever remember feeling. It wasn’t a weight loss lightness, but a freedom from giving up the stranglehold the scale had placed on me and my life.
For many, many years I have used the scale to decide my day: a pound down and I’m elated, ready for anything, a pound up and I’m disappointed, resolved to do better, be better.
It’s just a scale for goodness sakes, but without its verdict, I had a whole new peace to my day, a peace that surpassed all understanding (Philippians 4:7). The scale focused me on myself and without it, I was able to start my day focused on God, His presence and His plans for me. And that’s a good thing to come from giving up.
Where does God need you to set aside self? What might He want you to be giving up? Where does He want you to experience peace and freedom?
Deanna Nowadnick is a writer and speaker who loves helping women of faith connect our delightfully ordinary stories to God’s extraordinary love and faithfulness, so we can be encouraged and empowered knowing God’s been in the details–always has been, always will be.
