I’m hungry! I’ve opened the refrigerator three times and unthinkingly reached for snacks twice and it’s not even 10:30.

Today is a day of fasting here at Bethany as we prepare to kick off our search for a new discipleship pastor.  As elders, we recognize the need to be prayer dependent.  In fact, prayer is one of our church values.

Prayer Dependent: Every idea, effort, and decision is dependent upon God, as expressed in humble, reliant prayer.

So many times, we make decisions based on common sense, good business principles or what appear obvious to us and then ask God to bless our plan.  I know I do.  But that’s just asking God to consecrate our great ideas.  Instead, at the onset, we want to stop and ask God to reveal his perfect plan to us.  We want to be available for God’s purposes, not the other way around, especially on such monumental decision like calling another pastor.

So, today, many within our church family are abstaining from food and putting in some extra time in targeted prayer. It’s not really that big an ask. I mean, 2 billion Muslims have been fasting for Ramadan for the better part of a month now.  One day shouldn’t be too hard, should it?

I’m hungry!

Did I mention that I stopped by Shady Maple Smorgasbord today to make a reservation for a church group later this summer?  The smell of bacon wafted through the air as I stepped out of the car.  Do they do that on purpose? It is, after all, the biggest buffet in the nation. And right now, the team from Lighthouse Vocational Services is in our church kitchen preparing lasagna dinners for some needy families in New Holland.  Ahhh… the smell of ground beef being sauteed with a little bit of onion and garlic.

What is the purpose of fasting anyway?  Is it some ancient magical ritual that gives you a hotline to the gods? Does Jehovah look at our self-sacrifice and reward us with goodies from heaven?  No, certainly not. Instead, it’s an ancient spiritual practice that helps us focus.  What do I mean by that?

The Bible says, “draw near to God and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8). Now, God is always with us. As believers, the Holy Spirit indwells us, and nothing can change that.  So, in a very real sense, we can’t get any closer to God than we already are. But experientially we are often all over the page.  We get so busy locked into our normal patterns of life. We surround ourselves with noise and activity and then wonder why God seems distant and we can’t hear the still small voice of the Father.  Fasting helps that. It disrupts our day and creates space for us to listen for and talk to God.  We can use each pang of hunger or each unthinking reach for a snack as a kind of spiritual alarm clock.  “God is here. He is the true Bread of Life.  I need you; God more than I need food right now.”  Instead of eating, we can take our lunch break or time we would normally be eating to read the Bible and seek God. Or in our case, pray that God will direct, sustain, and bless our church family as we work through the many months of the search process.  God answers prayer, so let’s take the time to actually bring our specific requests to him. As we draw near to God, he draws near to us and we experience a closeness and intimacy that only comes when God has our undivided attention.

When Jesus fasted (for 40 days!) and was tempted to make bread, he said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  And that’s a reminder we all need to hear.  Normally, I eat three meals a day plus snacks.  I am very committed to my daily bread.  What would happen if I was similarly committed to Jesus, “the true bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world” (John 6:32-33)?  Maybe I’m not growing the way I’d like because I’m starving myself spiritually.  There are more important things than food and fasting helps us maintain perspective.

So, let the pangs of hunger come.  I won’t die.  I have more than enough in the pantry. I’m not experiencing famine in Africa or hunkered down in Ukraine wondering where my next meal is coming from. Maybe I’ll appreciate a bit more all the abundance that surrounds us here in Lancaster County.

Tonight at 7 about 40 folks from the church will be gathering to break our fast together.  Our midweek prayer group is hosting a simple meal of soup and bread.  I bet it will taste… fantastic.  And as I take my first spoonful of that delicious soup, my prayer will be that God will create in me a similar hunger to know Him.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” Matthew 5:6