Nobody likes to be told no. Anyone with a toddler knows this. And if we’re honest, we don’t much like it either.
As I consider the spiritual rhythm of fasting this week, two things rise up as primary revelations.
First, fasting from food reveals my great need for God’s provision. Just as I am constantly in need of his provision for my physical needs, I become aware of my constant need of his provision for my spiritual needs. My soul is weak and frail and prone to do selfish, prideful, hurtful things. I’m needy and hungry for his righteousness.
Secondly, fasting has made me painfully aware of the fact that I don’t like the word no. Not when it comes to my next meal, my next Amazon purchase, my next Netflix episode, or my next snooze in the morning.
It has reminded me of when my kids were younger and they sometimes just needed to hear the word no.
Inevitably after a season of lavish giving: maybe on a vacation, or a trip to the State Fair, or even just a birthday celebration, they’d begin to feel entitled. We’d come home from a waterpark and they’d ask to have friends over. We’d go out to dinner and they’d ask to stop for ice cream. Asking for more. Expecting more. Expecting every next answer to be yes.
When that attitude started trending, my kids would often hear me say, “You’ve been hearing too many yesses. You need to hear the word no for a bit.”
For kids and for grown-ups, once we grow accustomed to having all of our needs and also most of our wants met it’s easy to take it for granted. Easy to feel entitled.
Fasting reveals that ugly heart in me. I want what I want, when I want and I don’t want to be told no. I need to be the parent in my own life, willing to discern when I’ve been hearing too many yesses.
Telling myself no isn’t natural, comfortable, or in any way easy. But that’s exactly why I need to give myself a firm NO on a regular basis. As part of my regular spiritual rhythms.
What has fasting revealed to you?
“‘Even now,’ declares the LORD, ‘return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning'” (Joel 2:12).
Hungering and thirsting for righteousness,
This is right on. At this stage of my life, I don’t hear no too often since I am the adult. But I have staarted saying more no’s to the things that cross my path. And we are starting up fasting again. I know I will gain much more with the Lord than what I give up. But for right now, my body is having a temper tantrum.
Amen! 😂