Knowing God Through Fasting by Elmer L. Towns

Author:Elmer L. Towns
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fasting, Christian Life, Health & Fitness, Prayerbooks, Religious Aspects, General, Religion, Biblical Teaching, Prayer, Christian, Christianity
ISBN: 9780768420692
Publisher: Destiny Image Publishers
Published: 2002-06-30T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 6

DISCIPLINING

I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air: but I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway (1 Corinthians 9:26-27).

Not too far from my home the Virginia Ten Miler is run; this is obviously a ten-mile marathon. Over four thousand runners come from all over the world because it’s a registered race, and competing in Lynchburg gives them world rankings, qualifying them for other international races. I admire these runners because they have a discipline I don’t have.

When I was in high school, I could run ten miles, but now at my age I can barely run the length of a concourse at an airport to catch a plane. I had the ability but lost it. I think I could get it back, but the price is too high. If I gave time and energy to running, I’d take time away from writing, praying, and studying.

Fasting is a discipline, just like running. Fasting is a skill to learn, an art to acquire, and an ability that needs to be trained. Several comparisons can be drawn between acquiring the ability to run and acquiring the ability to fast.

Every fall when I see bronze bodies—perfectly fit— dash past me in their beautiful running outfits, I think, I can do this. A lot of older men my age do it. Next year I’ll do it. I’m absolutely sincere, and my decision is absolutely captivating. So every year I promise, “Next year I’ll run the Ten Miler,” but I never do it.

Discipline begins with a decision. Have you made a decision to pursue God? Have you made a decision to fast to know God? Many people have made that decision and they are absolutely sincere, but they never do it. Why? Every race of ten miles begins with a decision to run, and inherent in that decision to run is a second decision to train.

My decision to run the Ten Miler never leads to my running ten miles because I don’t follow through with training...practice...routine. Hence, my decision is only a dream. I didn’t really decide to run ten miles, I only dreamed about it. Doesn’t the Bible say something about “Old men dreaming dreams”?

Even though you’ve wanted to fast, you’ve never done so because your decision to fast is only a dream. When you finally begin your first day of fasting, it’s like the first day of practice. My first day of running wouldn’t be very spectacular because I would only be able to run the length of one block. One block seems like nothing compared to ten miles and so I’d get discouraged with running and quit. Is that why you haven’t fasted yet? Fasted more? Fasted until you’ve gotten through to God? You’ve quit because you’ve gotten discouraged. Lord, give me strength to go on.

The secret to fasting—like running—is the discipline of daily follow-through.

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