Pag-Aayuno 2018 ✍️

Fasting is part of a spiritual discipline when one is walking with Christ. The word fasting is mentioned in the Bible 70 times, and it is not a choice given to us but a command as believers and followers of Christ.

We do fast to declare in full humility the importance of God in our lives. Prayer and fasting help us develop self-control, since we restrain ourselves for the time being from acquiring anything we think is necessary to live but, in reality, isn’t. Fasting enables us to set our priorities right and align them with God, and yes, as we pray and fast, we place our complete dependence on God.

While there are things we can choose from in abstaining like social media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, Netflix), gadgets, and TV, the people living in remote places that don’t have wifi or technologies obviously cannot have these objects for fast. What, then, is the utmost sacrifice we can make in the observance of getting closer to God? All kinds of people, whether wealthy or lacking, children or adults alike, crave food. Hence, considering that food and water is a basic need in human life, I believe, these weighs the most value to spare when fasting (just as Jesus did in Matthew 4:1–11).

It’s our church’s mid-year fasting time again. And because I knew my body was different from that of a woman in her twenties or thirties, so I was hesitant to join the corporate prayer and fast event. Age-related changes are beginning to occur in my body, including lightheadedness, what more if I will not eat?

Shame on me. My kind of thinking reveals the little faith I have. Entertaining "what-ifs" in my mind shows that I am still based on self-reliance, counting on my strength and capacity, and trusting myself and not God. I felt ashamed of God, that while I exhort people to be strong in the Lord, yet here I am, having doubts about whether to fast or not. Eventually, I found myself avoiding eating dinner and not drinking coffee either, which is my addiction. I also decided to refrain from watching TV.

Furthermore, I aim to realize what God wants me to do and His purpose for my life, and I will never discover His hidden blessings for me unless I let go of all of the anxieties that are holding me back from fasting. So I took the chance, pushed aside my negative thoughts, and decided to physically attend the church (with my husband and children) to formalize and seriously have my/our ‘pray and fast.’

Some days at breakfast, admittedly, I was tempted to eat the choco mousse cake in the fridge (especially when my tummy grumbles) or at least sip a cup of coffee when we returned home after worship at the church. Thank God that I was able to resist giving in to my fleshly lust.

And when the six days of fasting are finally over, I feel like, "Wow!” Seeing how God sustained me throughout that period is incredibly great. As we were being deceived by the god of this world into believing that food and other material possessions are what keep us alive, let us reject Satan’s lies and acknowledge the truth that our life depends on God and God alone. If we only trust God, He will provide all our needs, and even more, He truly sustains us. Our Jehovah Jireh, indeed, He is!☝️ Glory.









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