From the Home Place

It’s 3:30 a.m. and time to begin my Sunday morning discipline. For nearly the past 40 years, the Holy Spirit awakens me at this time to practice solitude with Him. It’s my time to quietly sit before the Lord and listen to what He has to say about who I am, and about what I am to preach and/or teach as I gather with other believers to worship Him. So, I sit quietly and listen. Yes, there are times that I ask questions, but most often I listen, confess and correct.

During this weekly time of solitude, I confess all sin the Holy Spirit convicts me of, and then I correct the days sermon as to what He wants to say to His people. By the time Sunday morning rolls around I have already put in my study time. I have already made some notes as to what I think I should preach on. But on Sunday morning, the Holy Spirit often leads me to make corrections for said sermon, and I love Him for it!

Along with solitude, early Sunday morning is also a time of practicing today’s topic – fasting. Please note, fasting is not a way of getting more of God, it is a process by which God gets more of me. Fasting food, and especially coffee, at this time of the day causes me to ignore my growling stomach, and to tune my spirit to listening to the Holy Spirit.

I believe that it is a true statement that our flesh is the “greatest enemy” against our spiritual journey. During a time of fasting I refuse to open the refrigerator door so that the Holy Spirit can open the door to my inner most being.

Fasting also teaches us to be joyful even during a painful time. My fleshly body makes sure that I am the hungriest during a time of fasting. But I get to decide what I eat: earthly food or spiritual food. When I ignore earthly food, it gets painful. That pain is a reminder of just how serious my addiction to eating whenever I want really is. Fasting interrupts the fleshly cycle.

Follow the leading of the Holy Spirit as you fast. He may lead you to do without other elements of this world: television, internet, Facebook, a certain drink, sex, a routine, or anything that He reveals as a controlling factor. If the Spirit of the Living God isn’t in control of me, I need to be made aware of what is. Fasting has a way of revealing such earthly habits.

My recommendation is that you practice solitude and fasting at the same time. You may not be able to go all day, or days, during such disciplines, but you can practice both together for a designated time. Remember, when you fast food, continue to drink fruit juice and water.

Fasting is quite likely the most ignored of all of the spiritual disciplines our Lord practiced. He stated that when we fast, don’t make a production out of it. Perhaps you will need to let your spouse know that you are fasting so that big meal plans are not made, but then keep the process between you and your Lord. Oh by the way, not only do solitude and fasting go together, but it is a great idea to add Scripture reading and prayer. We will look at these topics on another day.

Learning Spiritual disciplines with you, Neal