But God is compassionate, slow to get angry March 5, 2024
Psalm 103:8 The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.
Litany of Penitence 5
For our self-indulgent appetites and ways,
And our intemperate pursuit of worldly goods and comforts;
Lord, have mercy upon us:
For we have sinned against you.
The Lenten discipline of fasting is transferable: it can teach us self-control, equipping us to say no to temptations that can hurt us or others. We say no to physical satiation so we can be filled with God’s unfailing love. If you listened to Kevin Antlitz’s sermon from February 25, recommended in my last post, this statement will sound familiar to you.
The Lenten discipline of fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual purposes. Not everyone can fast from food; perhaps you, like me, need to fast from something else. But here are guidelines for food fasting from Adele Ahlberg Calhoun’s Spiritual Disciplines Handbook (thanks, Kevin):
- Don’t fast if you are in a hurry and are fasting for immediate results regarding some decision. Fasting is not magic.
- Stay hydrated. Always drink plenty of water and fluids.
- If you are new to fasting, begin by fasting for one meal. Spend the time with God that you would normally be using to eat.
- Work up to longer fasts. Don’t attempt prolonged fasts without guidance.
- If you decide to fast regularly, give your body time to adjust to new rhythms of eating. You may feel more tired on days you fast. Adjust your responsibilities appropriately.
- Begin a fast after supper. Fast until supper the next day. This way you miss two meals rather than three.
Fasting benefits us, not God. We don’t do it to earn his approval or favor, but to grow in character like his. He’s not a mean, angry person just waiting to punish us. He wants our best, just like we desire for our own children. We reap the benefits over the long term. Spiritual disciplines are a marathon, not a sprint. In that way too they are counter-cultural. We need to train for them and build our tolerance and skills slowly, finding joy along the way.
Be still, my soul Shutterstock: Eva Pruchova
Debra Kornfield 