Try this for the next 24 hours.
I like sushi. I like sushi a lot. I had sushi for dinner last night. I had sushi for lunch today.
For Lent two years ago my wife and I abstained from eating sushi. Basically we "fasted" for seven weeks.
That was hard because we really love sushi, but we did it. We did it as an act of devotion to God.
Fasting means to abstain or to refrain deliberately.
I once attempted to fast from judging or criticizing people for 24 hours.
That was really hard. Moment by moment, one minute at a time I monitored my thoughts as an act of devotion to God. It almost seemed silly… that is until I recognized just how many critical thoughts I had about everything: how fast people drive, how they park, what they are doing while driving—you name it, I criticized it. I was actually a little embarrassed in front of God.
It was easier to give up sushi for seven weeks than criticism for 24 hours. Does this mean that I love criticizing more than sushi? What appetite does it satisfy?
Is there one thing God has put God’s finger on in your life and said, "Give that up for a day."
Judging? Criticizing? (good luck!) Sarcasm? Sushi? Chocolate?
It’s only 1,440 minutes or 86,400 seconds.
3 Comments:
I love chocolate, lots of it.
Abstaining/fasting is a powerful form of prayer and I
think I should give up chocolate for the next 24 hours as my own devotion to God. Thanks for the reminder.
As always I love your wonderful posts!
My kids need to come live with you. My two older sons love sushi. Love it. They would have sushi for all three meals. Your post has helped me to be open to hearing how I could fast. What about a fast of being present? Naw, I'd rather give up sushi :)
I like your discipline of refraining from criticizing for 24 hours. Now if I could only have the discipline...
Post a Comment
<< Home