peace . love . joy

Thus begins an old hymn that was based on Christ's temptation in the desert by the tempter as recorded in Matthew 4.

There are many interesting things about Lent, like the symbolic significance of the forty days, the colour purple typically used by churches to mark this period, how the forty days are counted in different cultures across the globe, and what the word "Lent" actually means. And if you'd like to know the answers to those questions, many books and websites available online will suffice to quench your curiosity.

But what I find interesting is the association of Lent with fasting.
Already I see some of us cringing at the very thought of fasting. That, I think is quite a natural and understandable reaction. Of course, coming from one who lives for food, and once associated fasting with food and only food.

Many people fast from a certain food, or even all food during the entire period of Lent or part thereof. The different types of fasting, from food in particular, can be seen strewn throughout the Bible. Examples and methods and types that we can follow.

A few days back, before the beginning of Lent proper with Ash Wednesday, I felt led to fast.

Lent is in essence an emulation, a repetition of Christ's fasting and withdrawal into the wilderness. It's a time, a season of quiet personal reflection leading up to the glorious and victorious celebration of Easter on Sunday, commemoration of the event where Jesus rose from the dead, proving once and for all that He is God, cleansing our sins, being the very manifestation of the magnanimous and undeniable and undying love of God the Father. It's a period where Christians, disciples, children, lovers of God remember the events leading up to the cruxifiction of Christ on the Cross; the tears like blood in Gethsemane, the trial and torture at the hands of Pontius Pilate, the excruciating walk up to Golgotha, the painful cruxifiction and dark death.

Fasting is an outward expression of self-discipline, one of the characteristics Christians strive to, and indeed are called to possess. But it is also an inward desire and product to train the eyes onto God alone.

You see, when a Christian fasts, he fasts not by complaining or voicing excuses of weakness during that period of time. No. He fasts by replacing that time used for say eating with a time of meditation and reflection. His eyes are fixed very clearly, perhaps even more so because of the fasting, on God.

Most don't fast from things they need not or can do without, like colour pencils for children with marker pens, or from using an ipod for youths who have the iphone or phones that are capable of storing music and pictures. Instead, many, if not all, fast from things that they depend on, or things that they practically cannot imagine life without, things they need, or are chained to or have become part of their being, like food or food stuffs, or smoking, or alcohol, or pornography, or like in my case a certain personality tendency. Sometimes, the forty days of fasting in Lent extend long after that year's Lent is over.

Why Christians fast?
Well, some fast from personal convictions, others from the word of God. Some fast in a response to God's instruction, others from longing for and pleading with God. Many reasons, but all include God in the picture. Indeed, God is in the very centre of the picture.

Fasting is not a selfish ambition. At the end, and also throughout the process of fasting, strict meditation and reflection and a constant remembering of why one is fasting in the first place keeps one's eyes and ears particularly attuned to God during that period. If it sounds easy, let me assure you it is not. Imagine going without your favourite gadget, or one you use regularly, imagine going without your favourite food that you eat very often, imagine giving up part of your character.. Not so easy now, is it?
That is why through fasting, we grow to see even more clearly than we ever did. We grow to see how much we've simply got to rely on God. We grow to see His power and might, His character, His perfect goodness and abilities and capabilities, His spot-on timing.
We depend on Him to sustain us, to daily give us strength to see the day through and surplus to bring glory to Him, to worship Him as He rightfully deserves, to not dwell on our myopic plights and discomforts.
We depend on Him even more than if we had not fasted. And we see it most acutely.

That is what fasting is all about.
It is not about bragging to your friend or your crush that you've got the ability to, the time to, or whatever.
It is instead about humility, knowing who God is and who you are. The dependant and the depended-on, the weak and the strong, the imperfect and the perfect.

What more beautiful and perfect way to lead up to wonderful Easter?
I cannot imagine any other but Lent.

To reflect, to meditate, to give thanks.

Grow strong in the Lord, dear ones.
Grow strong and tall and do not falter.
Do not hesitate to come to Him and ask for forgiveness.
Do not hesitate to come to Him and place your offerings at His feet.
Praise and adore Him for who else deserves such attention?

Reflect on your own life & be encouraged.
Remember the torture, the pain, the sadness and the cross & be loved.
Go out and encourage!

Forty days and forty nights
Thou wast fasting in the wild;
Forty days and forty nights
Tempted, and yet undefiled.

Sunbeams scorching all the day;
Chilly dew-drops nightly shed;
Prowling beasts about Thy way;
Stones thy pillow, earth Thy bed.

Should not we Thy sorrows share
And from worldly joys abstain,
Fasting with unceasing prayer,
Strong with Thee to suffer pain.

Then if Satan on us press,
Jesus, Savior, hear our call!
Victor in the wilderness,
Grant we may not faint nor fall.

So shall we have peace divine;
Holier gladness ours shall be;
Round us, too, shall angels shine,
Such as ministered to Thee.

Keep, O keep us, Savior dear,
Ever constant by Thy side;
That with Thee may appear
At the eternal Eastertide.