Exodus 20:1-17
“A New Kind of Fasting”

As I reflect on the Ten Commandments, the one that resonates with me most was the fourth, in which God commands God’s people to take a day of rest. This commandment truly connects us to the Lenten Season- a season for us to find rest in God.

Marlena Graves has encouraged me to find rest in a new kind of fasting titled, A Beautiful Disaster. Graves writes

“In Lenten Silence and solitude via social-media fasts, I discover the words of Isaiah 30:15 to be very true, ‘In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength.’ Lent is a soul-soothing time. I realize that I need to flee to this desert more frequently. Probably weekly. My Lenten practice has become a regular spiritual discipline. It allows me to disentangle myself from the cares of the world and follow Jesus more closely. It allows me to better love others.”

I will admit, I am not on social media, so that type of fast is not as relevant to me. I do, however, realize social media has brought about meaningful connecting points for people during these challenging COVID times. Marlena’s words, however, did inspire me to consider a new kind of fasting from my phone. I recently took a phone fast on my Sabbath day. I decided to take six hours away from the phone which was not easy to do as my phone has become an extension of my body. The first 15 minutes of this fast were agonizing, as I wanted to check texts, emails, the impending snow storm and the latest update on Carson Wentz trade talk. It was a disaster at first, but then as time went on it was a beautiful disaster as it was one of my most restful times in God’s presence. Suddenly the cares of the world and my work were on the back burner and on the front burner were silence and thoughts towards God and others. It was the best fast that I ever taken as I was not even hungry.

This Lenten Season, I encourage you to consider fasting in new ways from the distractions, whether it is the phone, screens of all kinds, to-do lists, or whatever distracts you so you can sit at the feet of Jesus. I believe fasting in new ways enables us to feed our souls with God’s presence in unexpected life fulfilling ways.