Friday, March 31, 2023
“24-Hour Fast”
Argh! It’s here. The 24-hour fast has arrived. No food consumption for twenty-four hours is the Challenge. All drinks are okay, but given that we won’t have any food on our stomachs, it would be wise to be careful with the drinks we allow.
One good thing about this Challenge is that it’s only 24 hours. Even if we’ve already blown it today, we can start at any time. The author’s suggestion is to begin at the final meal of the day, allowing one to be asleep for at least 1/3 of the time. (Assuming, of course, that we’re getting 8 hours of sleep per night. Haha. That’s a joke. Few of us are getting the proper amount of sleep.)
The purpose of the Fast Challenges, like all of our Lenten Challenges, is to demonstrate that we can do something special for God. Thus far during our Lenten Challenges, we’ve intentionally prayed for a variety of people. We’ve given up some free time to read Scriptures, tried to mend a fence or two with someone with whom we’re estranged, and we’ve tried to give out a “Thank You” to some of God’s special people.
Today, you and I are Challenged to withhold something that our bodies need. We’re not engaging in a fast to punish ourselves. Instead, it’s just the opposite. Too many people in this world don’t get enough to eat while we’ve almost always got more than enough to eat. If I wanted to press this Challenge even further, I might consider giving the money I’m going to save to a local food bank or to a local church for that purpose. Surely, I can make it twenty-four hours without something to eat, so that I may honor both God and someone else.
Is that plain enough? Let’s get it done! Take the 24-hour food fast (but all drinks are okay!).
“When you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18, NRSV)
