As I sit here and type this, there is a bag of Murray’s Ginger Snap cookies beside me calling my name. I have had 5 which is the recommended serving size. (Truth is if I had a glass of milk I would eat another 5).
Abstinence…it sounds as much fun as a summer cold. But of all the disciplines it is in abstinence that I seem to connect better with the Lord. What is abstinence exactly? According to Dallas Willard in his book “The Spirit of the disciplines”:
“In the discipline of abstinence, we abstain to some degree and for some time what we generally regard as normal and legitimate desires.”
These natural desires are for food, sleep, bodily activity, companionship, curiosity and sex. None of these are evil. We also have desires for convenience, comfort, material security, and so forth. Again, these do not have to be evil.
The disciplines that fall under abstinence are: solitude, silence, fasting, frugality, chastity, secrecy and sacrifice. Why are these practices so important (and I think more so today than yester-year)?
Think about our days. We wake up too noise. We prepare for work where we will be around people all day. And if we are not around people all day we can email them, text them, tweet them and facebook them. We share our thoughts and read theirs. We can have 24/7 contact with people.
What about food? We eat when we wake, at lunch and dinner and in between. We celebrate with food and we console ourselves with food. Food is even a hobby for many of us. Many of us spend many hours watching shows about food.
I could go through each practice of abstinence but you get the picture. NOW communicating with people, eating (for hunger or fun), spending money, sex with our spouses, saving money is not wrong. But we can allow these basic behaviors “to run a rebellious and harmful course” ushering in sin. During one of our first challenges to the church for fasting (many years ago) I had a lady tell me she was going to fast from gossiping… I was speechless. That is not fasting but obedience.
Practicing disciplines of abstinence puts a great trust on God as we abstain from these activities for a season. When we combine abstinence with a greater amount of time set aside for prayer, bible reading, reflection, and journaling…we are preparing ourselves for a meaningful time with God. The purpose to be expressed to God is to grow closer to Him. Allow Him to direct how He grows you.
As you read through the Gospels you see Jesus practicing/teaching the disciplines of abstinence (Matthew 4 and 6).You see in the Epistles of Paul where he teaches abstinence(1 Cor.7:5) .
As you prepare for practicing these disciplines, spend some time in the scriptures looking for times Jesus fasted, taught on fasting, or pulled away from the crowd. Next week I will walk you through how to practice solitude.
Have a great week and I’m excited about your growth in the Lord. May we all be able to say like Paul…
“ I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.”
Galatians 2:20
Love you guys!
Scott
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