It sounds like a rhetorical question and might be a linguistic leap, but I'm genuinely curious. Over the years I've attended MCA, there are 2 events that I look forward to, more than any others. First is Friday evening prayer. It's so much a part of my life that I begin feeling a lift in my spirit every Friday at noon, realizing that in only a few hours I will be united with my Sisters and Brothers of faith, in-person or on Zoom, sharing needs and looking to our Lord for answers, for healing, for peace and His blessed assurance. I'm never disappointed.
 

The other event is less frequent; it only happens once each year but intensifies daily over 7 days as we fast and pray together. I love it! More truthfully, I've GROWN to love it. In the early years it was difficult; I had never before fasted more than 3 days. The thought of missing 21 consecutive meals wasn’t something I relished. But it has turned into a powerful personal discipline and is the most intense period of close communion with my Saviour and Lord that I experience through the year. Fasting has helped me to better appreciate what the Apostle Paul meant in 2 Cor. 12:9 – "But He said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”" Aha; though I am weak from fasting, He is still strong!

Fasting in the early days of the New Year has become a firm foundation for my faith through the rest of the year. Hence my question: Was MCA’s most recent Fast (Jan. 11 to 17) TOO fast? Now some of you are wondering “What's he on?” “That was a tough week!” Lol; no worries. God is more than able to accomplish big things in your life anytime, anywhere. He has that prerogative. But I know there are some reading this who have similar thoughts: “If I can grow this close to God during 1 week of fasting, shouldn't I be doing more of it?”
 

If you’ve been attending MCA for several years, you may have taken part in longer duration fasts. There was a 2-week fast one year and a 3-week fast another year.  Those were spiritual odysseys of the highest order with many testimonies of significant personal growth, as well as outpourings of Godly wisdom for MCA as a united body of believers. We often say we'd like to grow “deeper in our faith”; let me tell you - not eating for 21 days dramatically deepens your dependence on God. You begin to learn what it really means to hunger for righteousness.
 

Matthew 6: 16 -18 says this: “And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who sees in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” 

We've just completed 7 days of fasting and I heartily commend you for participating at whatever level you were able to. This week of sacrificing physical food in order to receive solid spiritual nourishment, is a hallmark of MCA's commitment to the Lord, to each other and to our beloved Malvern community. But it doesn't need to be my only period of earnestly seeking God's guidance in 2021. Or yours. As we move Forward & Upward this year, be open to Holy Spirit’s leading and be willing to fast and pray whenever the Lord leads you. Anoint your head with oil, wash your face and smile – no one needs to know except you and God. He will reward you!
 

Digby Howse