A Nonfood Fast
Week 30, Wednesday
Liz Traylor
So the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths, and served the Lord only. . . . And they fasted that day, and said there, “We have sinned against the Lord.”
1 Samuel 7:4,6 (nkjv)
Giving up food for a period of time was easy. Well, it was easier than the next thing the Holy Spirit impressed upon me to fast: television, movies, and secular music . . . for a week.
I knew it was a challenge from God because it was so against my desire. However, I thought it would be a cinch. Stop watching TV for a few days. Skip the popcorn. Turn off Alison Krauss, Vivaldi, Enya (I have very eclectic taste). I can do this! No problem!
But then I remembered I was going to Dallas for a women’s conference and would be alone in the evenings, staying all by myself. No husband, no ESPN, no news, nothing. I could devour cooking and decorating shows to my heart’s content. I could watch chick flicks galore!
Oh, Lord, why now?
Because I had allowed entertainment to become precious to me. It was too important, almost mesmerizing.
When I entered the hotel room, there it was—the big, beautiful, blank screen. The remote called out, “Pick me up! Press the buttons! Relax! You deserve a break today.” I grabbed the devilish thing and shoved it in a drawer.
For four nights I had nothing for company except my Bible and some Christian music. There was nothing to hinder my focus on the Lord. I struggled, but I persisted. I read Scripture. I prayed and confessed. I sang. Personal worship took on a new meaning and God was so near. Praise flowed. Rest came.
God may not ask you to give up food. He often requires me to fast what I have tended to make an idol, to remove whatever lures me away from absolute worship of Him. Like the Israelites, I have to confess that diversion as sin.
What have you allowed to assume Baal-like qualities in your life? Shopping, gossip, electronics, stinky attitudes, Sudoku? (Yep, I had to give that up for a while too.) Anything—inherently sinful or not—can replace God as life’s nucleus. If He asks, am I willing to fast in order to restore Him to preeminence?
Father, I will give up anything You wish for as long as You require in order to worship You alone. Amen.
I understand about the tv; I tend to use it as an escape after a hard day. The thing the Lord spoke to me about was sitting and surfing the channels, looking for something acceptible to watch, while having to see bits of unacceptible shows, suggestive commercials and worse. That’s when we decided to turn off our cable and use only Netflix. We can choose what we want (and there are christian programs and movies) and if we are offended in any way, we simply turn it off and pick something else. We can limit how long we watch and not feel CHAINED to the set. Then we still have time to read a good book, do a Bible study or just have a good old fashioned conversation! I feel so much better, knowing that I’m not filling my mind with junk that will creep back in when I least expect it. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Phil. 4:8) and that is my offering to Him!
My husband has preached and I have heard others preach about this nonfood fast. The sad thing is I really don’t know what I would choose and what is sadder is my “Baal” changes constantly. I’ve gone to youth camp for a week, week without tv, internet and I know that I can go without those. I know that there is something in my life that is hindering me from a closer relationship, and I pray that God will show me what that is.
I fasted before for a period of time on Friday night . It was great that I didn’t felt the hunger at all and my body was warm. It was a time between me and God and my mind was on spiritual things or people’s needs.
The morning time really set the tone of the day and when I can afford to be close to him. By reading His word & pouring my heart to Him, then my day seems to be full of God’s grace & protection so that I’m not deceived by the enemy and get distracted to other things. I know more than even for those that are in ministry, we need to put on the FULL ARMOUR OF GOD SO THAT YOU CAN TAKE YOUR STAND AGAINST THE DEVIL’S SCHEMES.(PHIL 6:11)