Isn't it funny how you never think about how much you take something for granted until you can't have it? We're 10 days into this season of prayer. 36 to go. I know that it's already been very interesting for me. Last Wednesday I wrote that I was drinking nothing but water for Lent in support of blood:water mission. I know others who are doing all sorts of other things, from giving up sweets or red meat (or FACEBOOK! *gasp!*) to full-fledged Biblical fasting. There seems to be a pattern to fasting... the first couple of days are usually pretty easy... but then you start to want that thing that you gave up. Your body is wondering why you haven't given it any of that thing that you've taught it to love so much...
And then you start to notice it everywhere.
Friday night I spent 9 hours in a club that offered just about any alcoholic or nonalcoholic drink you could want... I spent the whole night working on a Nalgene full of water. On the way home, I blew through the Steak 'N Shake drive-thru: talk about TEMPTATION! Something about a burger and a bottle of water just doesn't feel right!
...And yet, I've been able to keep myself on track. I've also been fairly amazed at how quickly the dollars have added up for blood:water mission, which is very cool. I'm sure most folks are still doing well at this point. And it gets easier... you get used to not having that thing, and you learn to live without it. But that's not the whole point. I still want that root beer in the fridge. I still desire that milkshake. The point of Lent is to refocus that desire on God, to go deeper in our pursuit and love of Him. That's the hard part. I can drink water for 46 days, and it will be good for me. I can donate the money I saved to blood:water, and it will support folks in Africa who don't have clean water. Until it draws me closer to God, though, it's still pointless. Tomorrow night, when I'm sitting at a table with friends listening to the music and sipping on a water (that bartender is going to HATE me... have to leave a good tip!), I hope I can remember the real reason why I'm doing it. I hope I'm thinking about the reason why I'm drinking water, rather than how much I wish I had a beer. Because it's not about me, and it's not even about others (as cool as it is that I can support some folks in the process). It's about refocusing on my Creator.
Lord, as we continue in this season of prayer and fasting, may You be the sole desire of our hearts... may You fill the voids we have created in our lives, and may we know You more.
