Today's topic is gluttony. It may surprise you that gluttony does not always pertain to food. It is a vice that describes any appetite in our life that we let get out of control. It can include, but is not limited to: experiences, conversations, adventures, news or scrolling, alcohol, sex or even work. Gluttony refers to anything that begins as a good thing--and can even be a gift from God--that we we take to excess or over-indulge in. Pastor Adam pointed out we ALL tend to "medicate" at times. Is there a gluttony related form of medicating that might be taking up space in your life that rightly belongs to God? Is there something screaming for your time, emotion, and attention that you sometimes let get the best of you? Perhaps something you use to help you medicate or "numb out"?
The contrasting virtue to the vice of gluttony is self control. It is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit. Pastor Adam talked about how the spiritual practice/discipline of fasting can be helpful to battle gluttony and strengthen self control. Fasting is a great and timely topic with the historical Christian season of Lent right around the corner. It is traditionally a season of taking something out (fasting) or adding something in (spiritual practice/discipline) in order to help us focus more on God and less on worldly distractions - even those which are given as gifts from God. We are built for relationship with God. Are you willing to consider doing what may seem at first like hard things to nurture and grow that relationship?
INVITATION: Pray for willingness to be open and have a receptive heart, mind and soul to what God may have for you this week. Especially as we explore topics related to gluttony, self control, fasting and the Lenten season. Always keep in mind there is NO condemnation in Christ Jesus (Romans 8: 1). Ask God if there is anywhere you need conviction from the Spirit, but do not allow yourself to fall into shame. Shame, as Christian psychiatrist Curt Thompson so powerfully explains, is the primary tool evil uses to disrupt and disconnect our relationships, our stories, our communities and our world. A relationship with Jesus is all about freedom - not shame. He longs for the "sin that so easily entangles" (Heb. 12) to be broken and for us to be set free. Could fasting be helpful in your life and walk with Jesus? Could it help you with something you struggle with in your life that might be related to gluttony?
MONDAY: Phil. 3:19 and Psalm 103:5. What is your mind on these days? What is your "appetite" drawn toward? Do you trust God to "satisfy your desires with good things."
TUESDAY: I Cor. 6:12: There is grace, freedom and permission in our relationship with God. However, not everything is beneficial. Do you have conviction from the Holy Spirit about something in your life that might be less than "beneficial?"
WEDNESDAY: Galatians 5:22-26. One of the fruits of living in the Spirit is self control. Pastor Adam specifically brought up fasting as that can be helpful to strengthen and grow us in self control. Throughout the Bible, we meet men and women of God and even whole groups of people who fast from food or drink to be reminded to turn to the Lord. Fasting wasn’t treated like a hunger strike or a bargaining chip, but a spiritual discipline to physically remind them that “man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord” (Deuteronomy 8:3). This spiritual practice has deep roots in the Hebrew scriptures and within the early Christian church. Even Jesus fasted in specific periods during His ministry. Many "giants" of the bible fasted. Jesus fasted before his public ministry, Daniel fasted before the enemy nation to strengthen himself before the Lord and Hannah fasted and prayed fervently for a son. Did you know the Bible speaks in terms of WHEN we practice fasting, not IF we fast? Have you ever fasted from something for the purpose of it reminding you about Jesus and prayer? Have you ever longed to actually have an "appetite" and to "crave" Jesus like you do other things? How might you pray into these things today?
THURSDAY: 2 Cor. 1:14 Fasting is a way to seek more of God. It resets the affections of our hearts from the challenging circumstances around us to the things of God. It is when we seek God that we receive His peace and strength. When we fast from our comforts, we find the God of Comfort. In our discomfort of denial, we are reminded of Him and that he desires relationship and connection with us. In times of denial, we often can hear His voice more clearly. And then well-being for our hearts, minds and souls almost always follows. God is in the process of redeeming and restoring and saving you from whatever it is that drives you to medicate and "escape', and fasting can give you power to overcome these tendencies. Do you feel the gentle and non-condemning voice of God inviting you to fast from something in your life? Do you have the desire to crave Jesus over something else that takes up space in your heart? He longs to know you and love you in more intimate ways. Are you willing to consider laying aside an appetite or craving and replace it with more of Jesus?
FRIDAY: John 4:7-14: In these verses, Jesus says "If you only knew......." As your body needs water, your soul needs Christ. He is the living water that will satisfy. Is the well of your soul dry and empty? Do you sense you are craving more of Jesus and less of the world and the things it offers that don't satisfy? You might consider reading all of Isaiah 58, or at least verses 6-9. Fasting is all about humbling ourselves before God to break the yokes that weigh us down and tend to make us "hang our head in defeat." The season of Lent is used for "giving up" but also as "adding in." Could there be an invitation from God in these verses regarding water? Maybe it's adding in drinking more water during your days and using it as time to pray and consider the living water that Jesus provides in your life? Or perhaps you could reflect each evening and try recalling how he was living water on that particular day?
SATURDAY: Psalm 34:1-8: Does the thought of fasting make you feel fearful? These verses include God's command to "taste and see that the Lord is good." Is there an invitation from God in these verses, or any of the verses from this week ? Could Jesus be inviting you into a deeper knowledge and understanding of himself by some type of fast, or adding something into your life to help you grow with and in the Lord?