Dieting for God - Martin Wiles

And when you fast, don’t make it obvious as the hypocrites do. Matthew 6:16 NLT

I once fasted, but not from food.

I suddenly found myself saddled with two car payments. Knowing I couldn’t afford both, I had a decision to make. One of the vehicles would have to go. One was a new Chevrolet Tracker I had just purchased. The other was a used Chevrolet S-10 pickup. The solution came not in selling one but in drawing out my retirement so I could pay one of them off. I chose the Tracker and then gave it to my daughter, who was about to leave for college.

The decision to give up the Tracker was difficult. I planned to use it on my monthly hiking escapades in the mountains. Love, however, led me to give it up for a higher purpose.

Fasting requires letting go. Often, food is in question. It was when Jesus addressed the religious hypocrites who thought they did such an excellent job at it. Like most of what they did, they did this with ulterior motives. They wanted others to notice them.

Dieting from food for a time or certain foods has never been my forte, but God has shown me a few other things I need to take a break from. Sin is one. Instead of seeing how close I can come to sin without sinning, I need to stay as far away from it as possible. God has given us a new nature, and we must avoid the “old person” with a passion. Christian baptism symbolizes our intention to die to the old way of living, walking instead in obedience to Christ’s commands.

When I choose to go on a diet for God, it should also be because I want to draw closer to Him. Good and not-so-good attractions that attempt to distract us from God fill this world. Giving up whatever prevents us from clinging close to His side is always a good diet.

Dieting for God is an individual choice. God won’t force us to diet for Him. We must voluntarily let go of those things that keep us from a closer walk with him. What can you let go of that will move you closer to God?

Father, take away those things that prevent me from being all You want me to be. 

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Giving Up to Get - Martin Wiles

In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets. Exodus 34:28 NLT

He asked. I volunteered. Doing so seemed like the right thing to do—and it was for a good cause.

I listened intently at the teacher’s meeting as our headmaster asked for volunteers to fast. In all my years, I’d never fasted. Fasting brought mental pictures of going without food—something I dearly love. Our school was growing. Changes had already been made, but more would have to come to accommodate what appeared to be our future pattern of growth. The board favored doing whatever was necessary; the headmaster held back.

He issued the challenge. Not necessarily to give up food, but to give up whatever I considered important: food, caffeine, television, computer, smartphone, drinks. And perhaps for only part of a day. I’d never looked at fasting in that way. He wanted us to replace whatever item we gave up with prayer.

His heart and passion for the school bled through. He craved direction from God. I took the challenge. On a Monday, I gave up food all day until the evening meal. Doing so wasn’t as bad as I had imagined. I discovered I could live without it. I also discovered my focus shifted. I gave up, but I got something in return.

Moses did too. God called him to the top of Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Words. As God wrote them, Moses fasted—and not only from food. He didn’t drink either.

As I fasted from food, my mind was drawn to those things my headmaster asked the faculty and staff to pray for. I tried thinking of other things, but my mind kept wandering back to the prayer list. What fasting had to do with focus, I didn’t understand, but the two worked in sync.

I also discovered what Jesus once told His disciples: His food was doing the Father’s will. Our real nourishment comes from obeying God, not from food, water, or other nutrients. Instead of dealing with hunger pains, I felt spiritual refreshment . . . spiritual cleansing. I was fed, although not with food. In the course of just one day, I felt spiritual growth and a closer walk with God.

Pick something important to you, and try a one-day fast from it. God will teach you amazing things.

Tweetable: What are you giving up for God?

Prayer: Father, as You gave up for us, so teach us to give up for You. 

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Dieting for God - Martin Wiles

And when you fast, don’t make it obvious as the hypocrites do. Matthew 6:16 NLT

Thirteen years ago, I fasted, but not from food.

I suddenly found myself saddled with two car payments. Knowing I couldn’t afford both, I had a decision to make. One of the vehicles would have to go. One was a new Chevrolet Tracker I had just purchased. The other was a used Chevrolet S-10 pickup. The solution came not in selling one but in drawing out my retirement so I could pay one of them off. I chose the Tracker, and then gave it to my daughter who was about to leave for college. 
The decision to give up the Tracker was difficult. I had plans for using it on my monthly hiking escapades in the mountains. Love, however, led me to give it up for a higher purpose. 

Fasting requires letting go. More often than not, food is in question. It was when Jesus addressed the religious hypocrites who thought they did such a good job at it. Like most of what they did, they did this with ulterior motives. They wanted others to notice them. 

Dieting from food for a time or from certain foods has never been my forte, but there are a few other things God has shown me I need to take a break from. Sin is one. Instead of seeing how close I can come to sin without actually sinning, I need to stay as far away from it as possible. God has given believers a new nature, and we need to avoid the “old man” with a passion. Christian baptism symbolizes our intention to die to the old way of living, walking instead in obedience to Christ’s commands.

When I choose to go on a diet for God, it should also be because I want to draw closer to Him. The world is filled with good—and not so good, attractions that attempt to distract us from God. Choosing to give up whatever prevents us from clinging close to His side is always a good diet to abide by. 

Dieting for God is an individual choice. God won’t force me to diet for Him. I must choose to let go of those things that keep me from a closer walk with Him. 

What can you let go of that will move you closer to God?

Prayer: Father, take away those things that prevent us from being all You want us to be. 

Looking for a wide selection of genres in Christian books at discount prices? Use coupon MWiles for 20% off. Click here to see selections.  

Thanks to all our faithful followers who are "sharing" our posts--please keep it up! We also invite you to follow and like us on Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter. Help us spread God's encouragement through his love lines.