Full and Forgetful
We've been announcing recently our upcoming quarterly More of God fast and prayer season (May 28, 29). If past history is an indicator it's likely that many have hardly given this event a second thought. So far the commitment we've made to corporate fasting and prayer has not caught on much, and it sets me to wondering why.
The reasons may be many:
Here's what I mean by suggestion #6. Hosea 13:4-6 is one of many Bible texts which warn us of the danger of becoming full and forgetful. Among other passages are Deuteronomy 8:11-19 and Proverbs 30:8,9. When people are experiencing material, physical, and I'd suggest even doctrinal fullness, they tend to forget their need for God and their desperate dependance on Him for more.
This was the Israel experience time and again. And it is ours too. One reason we do not pray more, and fast more, and then more often combine our prayers and fastings in corporate events is because we've lost our sense that we need more.
Ours is the complacency that comes from living in a culture that feeds us well physically and in a church that feeds us well spiritually. One reason why fasting is a good spiritual discipline is because it reminds us of what hunger feels like, and in so doing it reminds us to hunger more for God and for more of God.
Are you hungry? If so, please tune in in coming days as I review some thoughts on fasting. If not, may I ask you why you think that is? Do you really have all you want of God, or is it possible that you have been nibbling on so much of the stuff of this world that you've lost your appetite for God Himself? I leave you with a few thoughts from John Piper:
The reasons may be many:
1. People somehow have had (by an almost unbelievable series of providential circumstances) other unavoidable commitments every time we've scheduled one of these (I'm not suggesting that there not valid occasional scheduling conflicts; there are).
2. People forget to put it on the calendar (just to remind: with few exceptions, we plan these every time there is a fifth Friday in a month; go ahead and mark the calendar now for July 30, 31; Oct. 29, 30).
3. People really aren't that interested.
4. People have decided that they don't need these times despite the leadership of their pastors who have determined from Scripture that such events are important.
5. People prefer a more traditional approach to prayer meetings (by the way, one reason we have not gone the traditional route is precisely because we do not want more of the same; we want more).
6. People are full and forgetful.
Here's what I mean by suggestion #6. Hosea 13:4-6 is one of many Bible texts which warn us of the danger of becoming full and forgetful. Among other passages are Deuteronomy 8:11-19 and Proverbs 30:8,9. When people are experiencing material, physical, and I'd suggest even doctrinal fullness, they tend to forget their need for God and their desperate dependance on Him for more.
This was the Israel experience time and again. And it is ours too. One reason we do not pray more, and fast more, and then more often combine our prayers and fastings in corporate events is because we've lost our sense that we need more.
Ours is the complacency that comes from living in a culture that feeds us well physically and in a church that feeds us well spiritually. One reason why fasting is a good spiritual discipline is because it reminds us of what hunger feels like, and in so doing it reminds us to hunger more for God and for more of God.
Are you hungry? If so, please tune in in coming days as I review some thoughts on fasting. If not, may I ask you why you think that is? Do you really have all you want of God, or is it possible that you have been nibbling on so much of the stuff of this world that you've lost your appetite for God Himself? I leave you with a few thoughts from John Piper:
If we don't feel strong desires for the manifestation of the glory of God, it is not because we have drunk deeply and are satisfied. It is because we have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great (John Piper, Hunger for God).
Labels: Fasting, Prayer, Spiritual disciplines
posted by Tim Shorey at
10:03 AM
7 Comments:
I love how committed you are in sharing this information and you're devotion to God and His church and I do see the importance of Spiritual disciplines. When we (all of us at times) use assumptions of; the reasons may be many: I'm assuming it's a general understanding from Scripture and the human condition, which many of us "have nibbled so long at the table of the world. Our soul is stuffed with small things, and there is no room for the great" (John Piper, Hunger for God). I, like you have a desire to see myself and others committed to wanting more of God and by degree I think it is going on in our hearts as God has not been lax in sanctifying us but some have this habit of selective reasoning, not rebellion as they see it and so being we only have a 100 or so of us who are listening, ask us why.
Thank you "anonymous".
I agree--and I hope that my post didn't communicate too much otherwise--that God's people do want more of God, but don't always even recognize the things that get in the way of that.
It is going on in our hearts wonderfully by grace: God refuses to let us go! But we do need to be constantly stirred up to go even harder after God.
I'm pretty sure others have hearts like mine: I sometimes get so easily distracted by little things that I lose my way.
But we're in it together to help each other find the way back home to God--so we can be dazzled by Him.
And I hope we'll see in coming days that fasting and prayer are actually a part of that!
Thanks for tuning in.
We're planning to attend...
This thought occurs to me as I sit here wondering why I have mixed emotions about such gatherings...
Corporate prayer is a little like medicine; you're a bit reluctant to take it, but you know how good, and how necessary it is, and you're quite sure that the outcome will be beneficial... and so, you make yourself. The reluctance stems from a sinful self-awareness, or perhaps it's just a social awkwardness that keeps me from relishing these times of corporate prayer.
Well, sadly, I guess that says where I am, and just how much I really do need this "medicine." And it explains why I'm posting this comment as "anonymous."
Anonymous #2:
What I appreciate about your comments is the honesty about your struggle, but also the commitment to be there even though it is a struggle.
To say: "We plan to be there" even though it is not comfortable evidences much grace, grace by the way, which God will bless.
I hope the readings over the next several days will encourage all to not only be there, but to expect a blessing...
Stay tuned.
Grace.
Tim, Thanks for the encouragement to seek more of God. My default mode is to be lazy, forgetful, indifferent, selfish etc. Having said that, allow me to suggest some observations that have come to mind.
1. Many have perhaps tried fasting in the past and discovered an incredible, almost unbearable discomfort. The Muslim world puts Christians to shame when it comes to fasting. The entire Muslim world fasts 30 days prior to Ramadan, every year. I believe the reason many don't fast is due to a cultural ignorance in the American church regarding fasting. One addicted to coffee, tea, or other caffienated drinks don't realize that there needs to be a 3 to 4 day weaning off of caffiene prior to a fast. Further, one must remove all processed foods and red meats at least a week prior to a fast. Ones system doesn't really begin to fast or go from a metabolic state to a catabolic state until the 4th day without food. Simply attempting to stop the typical American diet for several days results in such painful caffiene and processed food withdrawl and distraction that the average fastor would deem it totally unprofitable and actually painful.
When proper preparation for a fast is observed, the experience will leave you longing for the clarity experienced in simple reading the Word of God and praying. I submit to you that we probably need some teaching on fasting. This is a foreign concept to most.
2. While we need to gather for special meetings from time to time, many of us are and will be providentially hindered as long as we have a job and live a distance from the church. I know that this is probably not the excuse of many who could make it. I would love to attend if my primary responsibilities didn't prohibit me.
3. In Calvins day, the people of Geneva met every morning at 6AM to hear the word expounded and applied. There were no cars, no phones, no electricity, but somehow, God and his Word found a priority in the hearts of most.
May God give us a common heartbeat after Himself.
JR
There are of course real and consistent reasons why some cannot make such events as ouor More of God times. I hope no one thinks that we are not aware of that. If I've implied otherwise please forgive me folks.
As for JR's other comments he certainly has touched on several important matters.
I think we can all begin to move in right directions in fasting and other disciplines by taking baby steps. Some can skip a meal and then spend a few extra minutes in prayer for example.
Maybe I'll get to some of the practical questions down the road in this series...
Thanks JR.
I am wondering if fasting necessarily has to be food... could it even be something as fixed in our lives but a huge distraction as television, internet, iPhones, iPods, etc? I think we are gluttonous of a vast myriad of things tht keep us "full" and distracts us from the feast waiting us in God's presence.
Gregory
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