Fasting or Feasting? April 20
Daily Reflections from Inside the Cancer Journey
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Written by David Gira
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NIV).
Many medical procedures, from routine blood work to major surgeries, may require fasting. Your doctor may instruct you not to eat any food after midnight until after the procedure. This typically means missing breakfast, maybe lunch, too.
Medical fasting can be hard and unpleasant. Most of us aren’t used to skipping any meals. Our stomachs can be big bossy babies. “Feed me! Feed me now!!” One person I know, when forced to give up her daily cereal and banana breakfast, came unhinged, as if she might starve to death!
Jesus intentionally fasted for forty days and nights in the desert, all alone, being tempted and tested by the devil and threatened by wild animals. He emerged from the experience even more holy. Our meals get delayed five minutes, and we get “hangry”!
During Jesus’ fast, the devil tempted Him to turn stones into bread, something well within Jesus’ powers. Jesus answered, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Bread is necessary, and Jesus would eat bread again, but in these forty days of fasting, His goal was to be totally sustained by His Father.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline that has been practiced by people of faith for eons. The Bible records the Jewish people fasting in times of war, disasters, and personal struggles. “Declare a holy fast … cry out to the Lord” (Joel 1:14 NIV). They abstained from food to pray more intensely for God’s help, draw closer to His presence, and find peace. Fasting reminded them they could trust God to provide everything needed.
Fasting one day a week remains common for many Christians today. Abstaining from food for breakfast and lunch makes for a twenty-four-hour fast. Drink plenty of water and don’t overexert yourself. Tell only those who need to know. For a more detailed how-to, I highly recommend Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline.1
Fasting works only because it is God’s idea, and through it He will be present and active in us by His grace. While we are giving up food, God’s loving presence is at work in us—increasing our awareness of His presence, filling us with His love, speaking to us, inspiring us to worship, assuring us that He will sustain us, and making us more like Jesus. He will satisfy every hunger. For this reason, some would say fasting is feasting!
Fasting for spiritual rather than medical reasons should be freely chosen and kept between ourselves and God. Cancer may demand times of medical fasting; we are free to turn each one into a spiritual fast. Why not give it a try?
If you feel led, ask your doctor if fasting once a week for twenty-four hours would be okay for you. If it’s not, you might choose a partial fast, maybe skip one meal or abstain from sweets one day a week. If giving up food is off the table, give up watching television and devote that time to reading God’s Word.
Pray: Lord, when I fast for medical reasons, help me make it spiritual, as well. Use these times of abstaining to draw me closer to You and experience Your presence and abundant love. Help me listen to and be sustained by Your Word. Amen.
Your Turn: What would it mean for you in your cancer journey to be totally confident that God will always sustain you? Ask God for that assurance. Worship our faithful God as you listen to “Enough,” by Chris Tomlin.
1. Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth (San Francisco: HarperOne, 2018).
Michael David Gira, Jr., Cancer Survivor
David was an ordained United Methodist Pastor and graduate of Duke Divinity School. He and his wife, Amy, lived in Raleigh, North Carolina with their three children. In 2017 he was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. In his book, How Cancer Cured Me, he shares many ways he experienced God’s healing. After a 7 year battle with cancer, David is now joyously singing praises in God’s glorious throne room. His legacy lives on through his writing for Cancer Companions, as he continues to proclaim Christ’s hope and healing power to others experiencing cancer. https://www.davidgira.com/how-cancer-cured-me
Jay Senn
In honor of my husband, Jay Senn, whose birthday is April 20th.
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