Fast: Day 40!

Day 40 has ended, and I just broke my fast with what I’m certain was the best piece of watermelon God ever created.  Now begins the process of slowly introducing foods back into my body.  The temptation is to feast, but I have to give my body a chance to get its digestive processes restarted gradually.

I don’t know where to begin to summarize the spiritual significance of these past 40 days.  The best analogy I can come up with is that many, many things went from black & white to color.  There’s a vibrancy to my understanding of who I am in relation to God that’s hard to put into words.  But here are some words — I just doubt they will mean nearly as much to you as they do to me right now…

I’m sure I’ll be talking for years about lessons I’ve learned from self-denial; from extreme weakness;  and from spending time just being attentive to God’s presence and noticing His involvement in my life.

But if I’m going to pull out one theme that continued to grow and become more and more meaningful through every experience and every other lesson, it would be this:  Christ’s supremacy and all-sufficiency.

Nothing else in life carries any meaningful significance compared to the hope, joy, and peace that is ours because of our reconciliation with God that was accomplished through Christ’s sinless life and death on the cross.  The significance of this is not just for eternal salvation, but for living out our daily lives now.  Understanding the truth and implications of that sacrifice brings meaning to my life.  My burdens are lifted and I am set free because nothing depends on me — Christ is sufficient in everything.   That makes scriptures like these (and hundreds more) carry new meaning:

• “Come to me all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Mat 11:28-30)

• So we do not lose heart.  Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.  For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.  (2Cor 4:16-18)

• For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (Rom 8:18)

• I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil 4:13)

That all of the brokenness and sins and failures of my life are swept away by the love of an Almighty God is overwhelming.  As I come to grips with that truth, how could I (or anyone!) help but commit myself to a life that pleases Him?