One area that stood out was the second spiritual discipline of fasting. In the post,
it is stated that fasting would be considered if “God calls me to it.” This writer
struggles with fasting as well. However, the reasons are somewhat different. This
writer struggles because God does call His followers to do it. However, the
struggle is that it is not a high priority because it is uncomfortable and throws off
daily routines.
e e e e e e e e e e This change can be a blessing. It is important to note the times in
Scripture that reveal fasting as a command, not simply a choice. Christ says,
“When you fast, do not look somber . . . when you fast, put oil on your head . . .
your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. (Matt. 6:16-18,
NIV).” Notice that Christ says “when you fast,” not if you fast. It is a command. He
calls all Christians to it. As Donald Whitney writes, “Jesus expected His followers
would fast.”[1] Mark 2:18-20 gives an example of Jesus explaining to the
Pharisees that once He is gone, His disciples will fast. Jesus is pointing out that
the Pharisees do it for the wrong reasons. Joel 2:12 also provides an example of
the Lord asking His children to return to Him with fasting. This writer struggles
with prioritizing fasting, but if you have yet to undertake fasting to connect with
God, please try it! Some of the greatest breakthroughs are found through fasting
(Matt. 17:21, KJV). Great post, Amanda!
It makes sense that things should be taken to God through fasting and prayer
before difficult situations rather than as a result of one. I really need to focus on
fasting as well. The way I was introduced to it many years ago caused me to shy
away from it. The experience was unpleasant, and I really did not understand the
purpose. It felt as though we were fasting “just because” and the rationale was
never explained to me.
Whitney asserts that, “Believers should fast according to biblical teaching and with
purposes that are God-centered. It is voluntary in that fasting should not be
coerced. And fasting is more than just the ultimate crash diet for the body; it is
abstinence from food for spiritual purposes.”[1] Had that been explained to me
long ago, my attitude towards fasting may have been different. Instead, I was
taken through an unpleasant experience that impacted me for many years. e You
have a way with words that it seems as if I am in the same room talking to you. It
makes for easy and enjoyable reading. I would agree with your discussion of fasting. As
a full time firefighter myself, I can say that shift work makes for difficult fasting times.
The unknowns of the job make me leery to make a decision to go without food. That is
the day when we run all day with no breaks and I am about to pass out from lack of
food. What has helped me, is to do traditional Jewish fasting. 2000-2000. That way I can
either start a fast at work or end it at work or do them on the off days. I also do not
attempt to go multiple days without food due to the job. If I intend to do a multiple day
fast, I try to choose something that takes my time and attention away from God. So, for
example, I intentionally go to the firehouse without my iPad so I cannot watch movies. I
will instead take my Bible and an early Church Father to read and spend my time on that
instead. Not that everyday is the same but those are some of the things that have
helped me with fasting while on shift. Your wife shames me when it comes to journaling.
I have attempted many times to try journaling and I can admit that the only time I was
any good at it was during my deployment to Iraq. God’s richest blessing on you as you
continue to serve not only God but your community. My original post probably comes
across as though I am opposed to the “disciplines,” like journaling, but that is not the
case. e I have found many great benefits from journaling and other disciplines. e My
problem is when one makes the disciplines necessary for the Christian life when God
has already declared that He has given us everything necessary for salvation through the
faithful proclamation of His Word and the hearing of His Word. You wrote, “God wants
us to experience spiritual growth by getting closer to Him through His Word. I believe
this is what Whitney is saying, and he outlines specific disciplines that we need to
develop in order to achieve the growth that God intends for us.” I believe that Whitney
adds to the Christian life by adding “disciplines” as a necessary tool for that growth,
which I noted in my prior post poses problems to the Christians throughout the centuries
who have never heard to such a novel approach to Christianity. e Now, I would be lying
that I believe that God has given us a great privilege to be able to read the Scriptures in
our own language. e A privilege that only the Christians in the last five hundred centuries
have had. e As I noted above, there are great benefits from journaling, memorizing
Scripture, and others. e Much of which is biblical. But to make it a prerequisite for one to
be “holy” is overreaching. Thank you again for your post, and may the Lord bless your
studies at Liberty. As the body of Christ, we tend to ignore the fact, there are those
who claim Christianity for cultural purposes and accept them into the fold simply
because of their words. We ignore the fact that Christianity is more than just
proclaiming Jesus to be Lord and savior.” e Really hit me, I agree that we do not
challenge professing Christians on how they behave and live. I just taught the kids
in my Sunday school class 1 Timothy 4:12, How we should not let others look
down on our youthfulness, but should live in example of Christ in love, conduct,
word, faith and purity, and spirit. It would be through these examples that we are
showing we are indeed Christians and not just through lip service or attendance
occasionally or even every Sunday. As an introvert I enjoy silence and down time,
and do not always put God at the focus either, however that is a great time to do
so, I think the fasting and solitude would be great together if we are intentional
with it, the meditating on God’s word with greater intentionality. [1]
e Although I believe that there is a more historically accurate and biblically faithful way
that God disciplines His people in a formative way, I can sympathize with your struggle
in evangelism. e I have found that I am passive in evangelism and definitely am not the
outgoing street evangelist type. e Yet, God has always put me in situations where I meet
people allowing me to proclaim the gospel in those situations. e I do not believe that
evangelism requires an elaborate programmatic approach. e Sometimes just being where
God has us serving is God’s evangelism plan. e I am reminded of the verse, “and to aspire
to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we
instructed you” (1 Thess. 4:11 ESV). e Not all men are called to be evangelists in the
strictest sense of the word. e Paul’s exhortation to do the work of an evangelist (2 Tim.
4.5) was particular to His calling as an elder and minister of the Word of God. e The
Great Commission is usually invoked to proclaim that it is the job of every Christian to
fulfill this calling, yet are all called to baptize? e Are all called to teach? e We know that is
not the case because we have ordained ministers to baptize and to teach. So, the Great
Commission is the church's mission as a whole, and each member has their unique gift
to accomplish it. Thank you again for your post, and may the Lord bless your studies at
Liberty. What you describe and lay out is a daunting if not impossible task. Can
we, as finite humanity, even grasp or place into view his worthiness? I would
imagine that an entire lifetime of worship would fail to even scratch the surface of
the topic. I am not belittling worship but your definition made it quite daunting in
how you worded it. In my estimation, one could spend their whole life considering
and praising the worthiness of God and that person would life a worthwhile life.
I can certainly sympathize with the way that the mundane or humdrum of
everyday life can seem to sap away the time to contemplate God in his
incomprehensibleness. I can certainly say that I do not spend the amount of time
that I should contemplating that very idea. Could you imagine if the Church and its
leaders took the time to consider just how awesome and amazing that God truly
is? We would look very different I would imagine. We would begin to look only on
God and not ourselves and the people around us. I would imagine that the Church
would begin to look how we should from the very beginning. It becomes very hard
to look down on others when I am too busy looking up at the splendor of God.
[1] Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, revised and
updated. ed. (Colorado Springs: NavPress, 2014), 224.
[1] Donald S Whitney (2020). (p. 192). Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life,
Revised and Updated Edition. Retrieved from
https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com
[1] Donald S. Whitney, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life (Colorado Springs:
NavPress, 2014), 195.
Bibliography
Whitney, Donald S. Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Colorado Springs:
NavPress, 2014.
