Over the last several years we’ve set aside the first 40 days of the year for fasting & prayer. This year, I decided to move that annual observance to fall in line with the traditional church season of Lent which begins on Wednesday, February 26th of this year. I made the move because, (1) It gives us time to focus on the acts of fasting & prayer without interfering with messages conducive to the holidays which deserve their own emphasis, (2) It seems a little unnatural to go from a time of feasting directly into a season of fasting, & (3) Lent was originally established to help worshipers prepare to walk the Passion Week with Christ through Gethsemane, & the Cross then celebrate His Resurrection on Easter Sunday! (4) Now that you’ve let down on your New Year’s resolution to lose some weight, this will give you added incentive to get your flesh under control.
Can you see how fasting can help us identify with Jesus’ sufferings? Also, celebrating His conquest of the grave with a hearty meal after having limited ourselves foreshadows the marriage supper of the Lamb that is soon to take place.