Drop the “E”: From Feasting to Fasting

Had your fill of turkey yet? Hope not. You've got a week of reruns. Marshmallows from the sweet potatoes coming out of your eyes? They stack inside in you, you know. Have you ever thrown a clump of marshmallows in the back yard? They stay forever. They are not biodegradable. They take a while to digest, I bet, too. Have you already been to Braum's for their annual Egg Nog assault? I have. It's been out a couple of weeks now! Finishing off a Thanksgiving meal with Egg Nog is like wrapping your full tummy up in 4 quilts and a thick down comforter. On one level, you feel pretty comfortable and satisfied. On another level, your belly is saying, "It's pretty stuffy in here."

For bigger reasons than balancing out the diet, I want to suggest that in the next month – at least one day between Thanksgiving and Christmas – fast… and pray.

World-wide, we are producing more food than ever, but nearly a billion people still do not have enough to eat. Crop failures, fuel prices that consume about 65% of every food dollar shipped to many remote places, and higher demands for grain for non-food purposes have hurt efforts to battle world hunger. You probably know that hunger isn't just a foreign phenomenon. There are hungry locals, too. Be aware of them. Fast and pray for a God honoring mass feeding of the world.

I'm encouraging you to do some type of food fast – to connect the prayer to the problem. Talk to your doctor before you fast! Some of us have some diet necessities that we must consider. Getting hungry to prompt prayer, to get the focus off of yourself, and to let God know that your heart is serious and your mind is open to his wisdom could be fruitful. If you just can't do a food fast – take something out of your daily diet that makes an impact – a computer fast, as wireless fast, a dessert fast (ought to be more than a day), or a "eat out" fast. Take the money you would spend in a week of eating out and send it to a hunger-fighting faith-based organization. And pray! Did I say talk to your doctor before you fast?