“All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips...” (Daniel 10:3 NLT)
The Prophet Daniel describes going without certain luxuries for a certain length of time. There was a purpose to his asceticism. He was waiting for revelation from God. Daniel was rewarded with an amazing vision.
In our culture of indulgence, any form of voluntary asceticism is often viewed as pointless. Why should we deny ourselves of what is available? Fasting is similar to going camping. We leave the comfort of our sheltered life and bravely embrace the discomforts of living outdoors. We hope to experience nature and learn about ourselves in the process. Going without can allow us to go within--to a deeper level of understanding. Self-denial enables us to submit our egos. We are no longer masters of our own desires. As we humble ourselves, there is a natural detachment from wanting our own way in all things. When we disconnect from our appetite for distractions, pleasure, and comfort--we start sensing a deeper longing for something indescribable. We discover a yearning for God which has always been there, buried under everything else.
I am glad Lent hs been a time of self-reflection of your relationship with yourself and God and God’s Kingdom.
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