How can fasting deepen our understanding of Christ's presence and absence in our lives? Setting the Scene: The Bridegroom and Fasting - Luke 5:35: “But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast in those days.” - In this picture Jesus is the Bridegroom, His disciples are wedding guests, and fasting is linked to the period when He is “taken from them.” - The wedding feast imagery highlights joy in His presence; fasting marks the ache of His physical absence. Fasting and the Tangible Sense of Christ’s Presence - Fasting sharpens spiritual perception much like turning down background noise helps us catch a soft voice. - While abstaining from food, we: • Redirect bodily hunger toward a deeper craving for Christ (John 6:35). • Create margin to meditate on passages that celebrate His nearness—John 14:18, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” • Watch the Spirit heighten awareness of His indwelling presence (1 Corinthians 6:19). Feeling His Absence: A Hunger That Leads to Hope - When meals are absent, we experience lack; that lack mirrors the world’s brokenness and our longing for His visible return (Revelation 22:20). - Key texts that speak into this longing: • Psalm 42:1-2—“As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for You…” • Romans 8:23—believers “groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for … redemption.” - Fasting joins bodily sensations with these truths, enabling honest lament while anchoring hope. Practical Steps to Fast with This Perspective 1. Choose the period: a single meal, sunrise to sunset, or a 24-hour fast. 2. Pair fasting with focused Scripture reading: Luke 24:13-35 (Hearts burning, eyes opened) or John 20:11-18 (Mary meets the risen Lord). 3. Replace meal prep/eating time with: • Thanksgiving for moments you sense His nearness. • Confession of ways you ignore Him. • Intercession for those who have never tasted His presence. 4. Close the fast by breaking bread, recalling Luke 24:30-31—He was “made known to them in the breaking of the bread.” Promises to Hold While We Hunger - Matthew 28:20—“I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” - Hebrews 13:5—“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Revelation 22:17—“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’” Our fasting joins that cry. Closing Reflection Fasting is not mere self-denial; it is a tangible rehearsal of two certainties: Christ is present with us by His Spirit, and yet we await the day when faith becomes sight. Every growl of the stomach can remind us of His promise—He is the Bread of Life now and the returning Bridegroom soon. |
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