Why do we fast? David Platt

Why do disciples of Jesus fast?

Because our souls feast on the glory of God.

Fasting is an external expression of an internal reality.

When we fast for a meal or a day or week, we remind ourselves that more than our stomachs long for the pleasure of food, our souls long for the Presence of God.

We are satisfied in Him and by Him in a way that nothing in this world can compare to--not even the basic daily necessity of food.

Fasting makes sense as a discipline in the Christian life today only if it is connected with desire for Christ.

When we fast, we say, More than we want our hunger to cease, we want Your Kingdom to come!

--- From Follow Me, by David Platt


When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men that they are fasting.

I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
   -- Matthew 6:16-18

When Your words showed up, I ate them -- swallowed them whole. What a feast! What a delight I took in being Yours, O God!
 -- Jeremiah 15:16 (The Message)


When we fast we are declaring that we want more of God -- that we want to feast on Him!

It's All About Easter - Michael Kelly Blanchard

From The Lord of the Lonely Inside, by Michael Kelly Blanchard


The trouble with me - I just can't seem to trust
My wounds just bleed and won't heal up...

There is no sorrow that God cannot heal

   There is no damage that He did not feel

     Tenderly holding you close as you cry
       Jesus the Lord of the lonely inside
                 Jesus the Lord of All Love, crucified....

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Jesus, the Lord of those who feel alone....

In the Garden...

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."

He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."...

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?"   Matthew 26:36-40


From the Cross....

From the sixth hour until the ninth hour, darkness came over all the land. About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" Matthew 27:46

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He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows -- Isaiah 53:3



From an older hymn,
"Man of Sorrows," What A Name,
by Philip Bliss (1838-1876)


"Man of Sorrows!" what a name for the Son of God
    who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim! Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Bearing shame and scoffing rude, in my place
    condemned he stood
Sealed my pardon with his blood - Hallelujah, what a Savior!

Lifted up was he to die - "It is finished!" was his cry 
Now in heaven exalted high, hallelujah, what a Savior!

When he comes, our glorious king, all his ransomed
      home to bring
Then anew this song we'll sing, hallelujah, what a Savior!

It's All About Easter - Joni Eareckson Tada

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: Death has been swallowed up in victory. 
                                       -- 1 Corinthians 15:54



Suffering gets us ready for the resurrection.

Broken necks, broken homes, and broken hearts crush our hopes that earthly things can satisfy.

Only the promise of immortality can truly move our eyes from this world. The glorious day when "death will be swallowed up in victory" becomes our passion as we realize, once and for all, that earth can never meet our deepest longings.

Suffering also prepares us to meet God when we get to heaven.

Suppose you never knew pain. No stained reputation. No bruised feelings. No sore back, twisted ankle, or decayed molars. How could you appreciate the scarred hands with which Christ will greet you? 

What if no one had ever offended you deeply? How could you adequately express your gratitude when you approach the Man of Sorrows, who was acquainted with grief?

When you meet Jesus face-to-face, your hardships will have given you a taste of what He went through to purchase the promise of your resurrection. And your loyalty to Him in your sufferings will give you something concrete to offer in return.


     For what other proof could you bring of your love
     if this life left you totally unscarred?



I praise You, Sovereign Lord, that You use suffering
to prepare me for heaven. Help me to live today with the promise of resurrection before me, giving me a reason to thank You in the midst of my pain.

Keep me from complaining and grumbling. For on the day that I stand before Jesus, I want to offer Him proof of my love and faithfulness.

   From Diamonds in the Dust by Joni Eareckson Tada

Approaching Easter - Joni Tada

From Diamonds in the Dust, by Joni Eareckson Tada



Where are the Simons?

     A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of
     Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way
     in from the country, and they forced him to carry
     the cross.     -- Mark 15:21


I once read that criminals to be crucified often had to carry to the place of crucifixion their own cross beam, a piece of wood weighing up to fifty pounds. Jesus started out by shouldering His cross, but He had been so weakened from floggings that a passerby named Simon was pressed into service.

It's interesting to note that Simon was only passing by and that he was forced to carry the cross of Christ. I like to imagine, however, the relief Jesus must have felt--after having helped so many others in so many ways, here was a man to help Him!

Often you'll hear hurting and overburdened people say, "This is the cross I must bear." These dear people need burden-bearers. They need help and, in a way, their unspoken plea may be, "Where is my Simon?"

But who will help? Like Simon, you may seen yourself as an innocent passerby being forced into service--helping an aunt recover from a stroke--assisting a neighbor who just got out of the hospital--lending a hand to a co-worker who recently was diagnosed with a terminal illness.

And like Simon, the task may take you unaware, your plans may be interrupted, and you may feel put-upon. But as you carry the burden of a hurting friend or family member, you may discover that your attitude will change--especially when you see that smile of relief and gratitude.

You'll discover the privilege of being someone's Simon.

     What a privilege it was for Simon to carry Your
     cross, Lord. In a way, I have the same privilege
     as I bear the burdens and carry the hurts of Your
     body, my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let me
     be a Simon to someone today.

                  -- From Diamonds in the Dust, by
                      Joni Eareckson Tada

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[Note: It is interesting to see that Mark pointed out to his readers that Simon was the father of Rufus and Alexander. Apparently those two men were well-known in the early church and he wanted his readers to know that their father was the man who helped Jesus carry His cross that fateful day.

We see Rufus listed in Romans 16:13 when Paul asks the 'saints in Rome' to tell him and his mother hello.
Alexander was a more common name, but one is listed as a early church leader in Acts, and perhaps he is the same Alexander.

It is easy to imagine Simon returning home to Cyrene and telling his family what happened to him while he was in Jerusalem. Or perhaps they were with him at the time. Maybe he stood near the cross and watched what was happening.  Maybe he was already a follower of Jesus. 

We don't know much about him -- but isn't that the way it is with most burden-bearers? Anonymous to everyone except the individuals they helped along the way! Isn't that the way it should be? Burden-bearers serving in the name of Christ and for His glory, not for ours.

No article in  the paper. No mention on the TV news. Nothing in the church bulletin. A Christ-like servant of our Lord, obeying Him when He tells us to help each other.

Another prayer for today might be: "Lord, help me today to be a burden-bearer, anonymous, except to You."]

The Pill for thirst - The Little Prince

"Good morning," said the little prince.

"Good morning," said the merchant.

This was a merchant who sold pills that had been invented to quench thirst. You need only swallow one pill a week and you would feel no need of anything to drink.

"Why are you selling those?" asked the little prince.

"Because they save a tremendous amount of time," said the merchant.

"Computations have been made by experts. With these pills, you save fifty-three minutes every week."

"And what do I do with those fifty-three minutes?"

"Anything you like..."

"As for me," said the little prince to himself, "If I had fifty-three minutes to spend as I liked, I should walk at my leisure toward a spring of fresh water."

From The little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery


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But to have thirst is to be blessed.....Blessed are they who hunger and thirst....for they shall be filled....