Prayer and Fasting

The title starts with prayer.  As believers, as disciples we recognize the importance of prayer.  Prayer touches everything in our spiritual lives,  It is our connection with God.  Jesus prayed.  Prophets and kings prayed throughout the Old Testament period.  Without thinking about it, I realized I was moved to write this as we begin Lent.  Just last night, I was at the Wednesday night gathering at the church where I am connected.  While worship and prayer go on in the auditorium, small groups meet in side rooms.  When I got back to the apartment building where I live and I mentioned being at church, one of the residents said, “Oh, for Ash Wednesday.”  That was not a thought all day or night.  In the particular church I was at, it was ironic that Ash Wednesday was not mentioned but someone brought king cake which was a delicious coffee cake.  That is made as part of Mardi Gras, that very earthy celebration, which originally meant something else.

Without apology or criticism of others, I have never followed the practice of Lent.  I found it outward.  I have practiced following Christ, taking up my cross, and suffering loss of self.  If anything, I have erred into self-effacing habits, harmful ways, forgetting the mercy and grace of Jesus.  He loves me, He loves us, and gave Himself for us that we might live and walk in a way that attracts others to this awesome, beautiful Christ.  Keith Greene wrote words to a song that said, “Make my life a prayer to You.”  Some might say that is too nebulous but I those reading this understand Keith’s prayer.  Prayer is communion with our Father.  That is part of what Jesus came to bring us.  It is an essential part that He modeled perfectly.  Our prayer life grows and matures.

Jesus lived a life of prayer and fasting.  Consider that Jesus walked this earth for about 33 years before He raised the first born of a new creation.  For 30 years He was preparing for a ministry that in three years changed the course of history.  God so loved the cosmos, that means the entire universe, the entire creation.  In His resurrected form He was not readily recognized by Mary in the garden or by the disciples when He later met them on the beach in Galilee.  You will have to search out your Bible to read these accounts carefully.  The same was true on the road to Emmaus.  The resurrected Jesus Christ was new, so new He was not readily recognized.  Now we know Him by the Spirit.  Develop a life of prayer and fasting.  He wants to spend time with you and enjoys you spending time with Him.