What would be truly liberating to leave behind? Short of an addiction, have I become dependent on a particular food, drink, substance, or activity? What would be truly challenging for me to give up during Lent? What is Jesus asking of me? Think about a whole fast, too A whole fast is not abstaining from food for all of Lent, but rather the practice of skipping meals for a specific amount of time. Then skip breakfast and lunch the next day, breaking your fast at dinnertime that evening.
Share this:. God bless you too, Lillie! Glad our little article was helpful to you. For the grace to keep our worship and walk with God in sincerity and truth and not tarnished by malice and evil.
For power to overcome temptations of sin, particularly sexual immorality. For self- control for those who are unmarried, that they overcome temptation. For those who are married to recognise the equality of conjugal rights between husband and wife, thereby having consideration for each other. For marriages to be built upon Christ and sustained and equipped by the fruits of the Holy Spirit, thereby limiting the risk of divorce or separation.
For broken relationships to be repaired and restored. For wisdom and understanding for brethren married to unbelievers; grace for them to win their spouses over to Christ. For grace to endeavour to obtain the crown which awaits us at the end of our race of salvation.
For endurance to overcome trials and temptations. That we receive grace to escape the wiles of the devil. For confidence to trust God in his faithfulness to be with us.
That we will not by any means, expose ourselves to demonic defilement; the efficacy of the body and blood of Jesus which we receive during communion, must not be depleted by our exposure to demonic activities or materials. For wisdom and grace to recognise and do only that which is helpful for us and edifying to our neighbours. That we are not self-centred but have consideration for others.
That whatever we do brings glory to God. For obedient hearts that will not be contentious regarding His instructions. That we worship Him with the reverence He deserves. That, which we receive from His table will not bring judgement upon us. That the church will be equipped with the gifts of the Holy Spirit as God wills that these gifts be made manifest for the common good.
That we remain humble, not seeking self-glorification as the gifts work through us but in a spirit of unity, complement each other to build the church. That the Lord will sharpen and sustain whatever gifts of the Holy Spirit you already have. For our lives to bear the characteristics of love — patience, kindness, not envious or boastful, arrogant or rude; does not insist on our own way, not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrong, bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
For the fruits of the Holy Spirit to complement the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us. That the Lord will bestow His gifts upon us, according to His perfect will for manifestation of the gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues and interpretation of tongues. That through them, the church be edified and built up, unbelievers convicted, fear the Lord and acknowledge that He is in our midst.
That our gifts will be kept sanctified in the truth — no adulteration. That we are not influenced or confused by those who lack the knowledge of God. For grace that we be found worthy to be raised to meet Christ when He returns — when the last trumpet sounds.
That our mortal nature receives immortality. That through Christ we gain victory over sin and the law, and over death at the end of time. For wide doors for effective evangelism to be opened and we be equipped for such. Thank you so much for sharing this piece of valuable information. It has honestly helped me understand and I feel ready to start my journey this lent God bless you!
This is a very concise explanation of the how and why. I have always heard about this within the Catholic Religion. I appreciate how you have allowed us to get better acquainted with this practice and how we can use this to get closer to our Lord. Thanks, Ben! Your email address will not be published. Christian fasting is not: A way to suffer for God A spiritual practice that demonstrates how pious or devout you are Righteousness i. Fasting from media or entertainment : cell phone, TV, streaming video, radio, music, email, computers, video games, etc.
Fasting from habits and comforts : shopping, looking in the mirror, makeup, elevators, parking in a spot close to the store, finding the shortest checkout line, reading online, following sports, etc.
What would be truly liberating to leave behind? Short of an addiction, have I become dependent on a particular food, drink, substance, or activity? The point is to steer your attention away from temporary satisfactions so that you are better able to concentrate on God. All of this stems from multiple references in the Bible to the benefits of fasting. In Matthew , for example, Jesus fasted for 40 days in the wilderness during which he was greatly tempted by Satan. While fasting was often used as a spiritual tool in the New Testament, in the Old Testament it was often a form of expressing grief.
The tradition of fasting during Lent has long been held by the Roman Catholic Church. The rules do not apply, however, to young children, the elderly, or anyone whose health may be jeopardized by a change in diet. To a limited extent, they can be modified by the conference of bishops for each particular country.
The Code of Canon Law prescribes Canons :. The law of fasting refers to "those who have attained their majority," which may differ from culture to culture and country to country. In the United States, the U. Conference of Catholic Bishops USCCB has declared that "the age of fasting is from the completion of the eighteenth year to the beginning of the sixtieth.
The rules for fasting and abstinence in the United States are:. If you are outside the United States, check with the bishops' conference for your country for specific fasting rules. The rules can differ from church to church, though, so it's important to check with the governing body for your particular rite. Some of the strictest rules for fasting are found in the Eastern Orthodox Church.
During the Lenten season, there are a number of days when members are encouraged to severely restrict their diets or refrain from eating altogether:. Among the many Protestant churches, you will find a variety of suggestions regarding fasting during Lent. This is a product of the Reformation, during which leaders such as Martin Luther and John Calvin wanted new believers to focus on salvation by God's grace rather than traditional spiritual disciplines.
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