The Lord reminded me this morning of something Jesus talked to me about many years ago as I dealt with PTSD and a burdensome heart from stalking, kidnapping, tortuous nightmares, and things I cannot speak of, yet. Holy spoke to my soul about the difference between fasting as in giving up and cleansing and an attitude of fasting as in giving it all to God. Read Isaiah 58 about the healing power of true Fasting.
God is not interested in you giving up food or a favorite activity for Lent, for example, if your attitude is “this will fix it, save me, or show the world I practice my religion”. True fasting is a giving up of self and giving your life over to God to deepen your faith and trust so as to navigate the injustices of this world that may scar your life forever without it. Your attitude is the difference between doing something for the sake of ritual or doing it with a lasting change in mind. God knows the heart of things. Holy will not be fooled.
And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. Isaiah 58:11-12
True fasting is laying it all down in travailing prayers at Jesus’ broken feet and nail scarred hands at the cross. Jesus knows suffering. He is mighty to save you from rhetoric of this world.
It all starts with your attitude. How is yours?