"Is that not the type of fast I require?"

Here in the Ukraine many people take part in the tradition of fasting something during the period of Lent. I say Fast but in reality it is actually a Diet that happens to occur at the same time as the traditional Lent period. Now being fair this isn't an easy fast, there is no dairy, no meat, fish only once a week however it does reflect some interesting ideas and thoughts about fasting that are present not only in the Ukraine but around the world [and that includes within myself]

The first reflection is that during the period of lent I often hear people talk about giving up something that is bad for them. This obviously isn't the right type of fast, after all if something is bad for you then you shouldn't consume/do it anyway. In fact if you only fast then this can lead to feelings of well being and that it is now okay to go back to your old ways and so the fast has no affect.

The second is similarly linked in to the first and that is about fasting and gaining something out of it. For example, fasting and then spending the money you would have spent on food on yourself for something else. Or fasting so that you get thin. It really does distract and defeat the purpose of fasting if really you are just gaining something out of it.

So what makes a true fast? How should we fast over Lent? 

¹"Cry aloud; do not hold back;
    lift up your voice like a trumpet;
 declare to my people their transgression,
   to the house of Jacob their sins.
² Yet they seek me daily
   and delight to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that did righteousness
   and did not forsake the judgment of their God;
they ask of me righteous judgments;
   they delight to draw near to God.
³ 'Why have we fasted, and you see it not?
   Why have we humbled ourselves, and you take no knowledge of it?'
Behold, in the day of your fast you seek your own pleasure,
    and oppress all your workers.
⁴Behold, you fast only to quarrel and to fight
   and to hit with a wicked fist.
Fasting like yours this day
   will not make your voice to be heard on high.
⁵ Is such the fast that I choose,
    a day for a person to humble himself?
Is it to bow down his head like a reed,
   and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him?
Will you call this a fast,
   and a day acceptable to the LORD?

 ⁶"Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
   to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?
⁸ Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing shall spring up speedily;
 your righteousness shall go before you;
    the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
⁹Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;
   you shall cry, and he will say, 'Here I am.'
If you take away the yoke from your midst,
    the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,
¹⁰ if you pour yourself out for the hungry
   and satisfy the desire of the afflicted,
 then shall your light rise in the darkness
   and your gloom be as the noonday.
¹¹And the LORD will guide you continually
   and satisfy your desire in scorched places
   and make your bones strong;
and you shall be like a watered garden,
   like a spring of water,
   whose waters do not fail.
¹² And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;
   you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
   the restorer of streets to dwell in

Interestingly enough in these verses, Isaiah tells us that the people were doing fast and from the sounds of it a lot! They were seeking God, they wanted his favour and reward and they were humbling themselves. So why isn't this right? Well their complaints tell us a lot "WE have fasted, have you not seen? WE have humbled ourselves..." It's all about what THEY have done and yet God hasn't responded to their acts. It's a classic case of the vending machine God where we insert 24hrs of fasting and then he owes us for what we have done. It is total self justification and nothing to do with Grace.

In fact this point is reinforced when God points out that they say they are seeking God's will and want his way and yet oppress their workers and fight. Hardly trying to become God like is it?

And so God points out the characteristics he want's in a fast, one where we are seeking his will and kingdom and what that will look like.

 ⁶"Is not this the fast that I choose:
    to loose the bonds of wickedness,
   to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
⁷Is it not to share your bread with the hungry
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover him,
    and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?

This is the effect of the fast that we shall see. One where we are moved with compassion and humility to help those who need it, where we are transformed truly into who God wants us to be.

Sure it is possible for this to come about from giving up bad things for us, but we should always give them up! sure it is possible to occur when we give up good things for a short period, like a particular food, but the reason can't be so we will lose weight, it has to be to seek his will and to be changed.

SO!

why have I written all this, well the long and the short of it is that lent is upon us tomorrow and I was considering fasting something. After a long reflection I decided it should be something I like rather than something I think is bad. This will remind me more regularly that I am fasting and as such it is more likely to have an affect.

As such I have decided to fast facebook and twitter During this time. I did contemplate blogging however I feel this serves more of a purpose [I actually create something when I blog] and I actually do Blog less often. If people want to contact me then you can do so via my email address, blog comments [which are all approved first], Vyou, Skype or maybe by good old fashioned post! I welcome any or all attempts.

If you have decided to give up or take up something for lent, why not leave a note bellow.