Among Christians who observe Lent, the conventional wisdom today is that we shouldn’t just give up things. Rather, we should do something positive, a program of good deeds to boost our moral and spiritual lives. I disagree. I think we should give up things.
Speaking for myself, I need to practice self-denial. I am way too self-indulgent.I need to discipline myself, say “no” to myself. I need to beat down my flesh and get it under control. My best Lents, as far as spiritual growth, have been when I have fasted. Being hungry, yet refusing to eat what I want, has been very beneficial to someone as food-oriented as I am.
Fasting has absolutely no spiritual or moral merit, I hasten to say, and I’m not recommending it for everyone. (I just destroyed any possible merit by telling you about it!) I’m just saying that it is an ancient custom that can be good for a person, especially in these times of unrestrained appetites of every kind.
When I was younger, I indulged in elaborate fasts–eating nothing on Fridays, doing without food from Good Friday to Easter, one year giving up carbs and losing 20 pounds–but now that I’m in my dotage, doing without food completely just makes me sick and incapacitated. So I’m just going to try denying myself in small ways: eating one sandwich instead of two, smaller portions, passing on desert, just cutting back. It will be more like a Lenten diet than a Lenten fast. I’ll even throw in exercising on the treadmill as a way to mortify my flesh. (Some might say that is doing something positive, but it isn’t for me). I’ll fall off the wagon and indulge myself occasionally, but still, I’m going to try, and every little struggle will remind me of Christ and my need of Him.
But we can also fast other things besides food. One year when our children were at home and young, we did without TV all during Lent. It was a wonderful, meaningful time for all of us, doing family things instead and talking about this discipline. Do an internet fast like our blog comrade Bror Erickson (perhaps giving yourself dispensation to read this blog!). Or an entertainment fast. Shopping fast. Sex fast (but only if both spouses agree [1 Corinthians 7:5]).
Find something you like and don’t do it for 40 days. Just say no to yourself. It will do you good.
It also heightens the joy of Easter when you can start doing it again!
Have any of you had salutary experiences from giving up something?
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