An Appetite for God

Life has its basic requirements: air, water, food, sunlight, shelter (and, some hold, chocolate).

Fasting is making God a basic necessity. It’s saying “I’m skipping the food. For this length of time, I put You ahead of what I need for survival. I count You more important than life itself is to me. I want You more than my daily bread. I make You my food. I make You my energy source. I make You my satisfaction. I feed on you in my heart by faith, and find spiritual nourishment for my soul.”

I may fast for devotional reasons – to get closer to God, to become re-aligned with Him. I may fast out of the anguish of my heart, bringing my personal concerns to Him. I may fast out of the need for His guidance, seeking wisdom for a decision or direction for action that must be taken. I may fast under a burden for a person or situation that needs divine intervention. I may do it simply because I want to lessen my hunger for things I can see and taste and smell and touch, and increase my appetite for God.

Whatever the reason, do you think God will ignore someone like that? Someone who wants to be with Him that much? Someone who values His instruction, who seeks His help, who is counting on His listening ear and helping hand? No, He won’t ignore anyone like that. He’s the one who promises the far-off follower, “Come near to God and he will come near to you” (James 4:8). He’s the one who promises the soul-starved, “Open wide your mouth and I will fill it.” He assures those who prefer Him, “You would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you” (that’s comfort food from Ps. 81!).

Fasting is making God, temporarily, a basic physical necessity. And it helps me realize that He is my one spiritual necessity – and He gives Himself to me gladly and freely and abundantly. That’s cause for celebration!

…but that’s next Sunday’s sermon : )