PERSPECTIVE 10 april 2025 www.goodnewsfl.org Good News • South Florida Edition I typically don’t like to fast. I understand that people will fast sometimes for health reasons; this is not the fast that I am talking about. The fasting I am talking about is the biblical kind. I know fasting to be important as it’s encouraged throughout the Bible and modeled by many. I know that there are many benefits to this type of fasting. The clarity and focus that occurs as one intently focuses on Jesus is something supernatural. I have dear friends who fast regularly for extended periods and speak of its benefits. I still don’t like to fast. I have fasted many times and frankly, will fast again. However, did I say I don’t like to fast (which in and of itself is a good reason to fast)? Many churches and Christians have a tradition of fasting during certain times of the year. Our church has, over the past few years, encouraged its community to fast for the twenty-one days that lead to Easter. The opportunity is completely voluntary, and the options of what to fast are left up to each participant. I know of many people who declare a Daniel Fast, meaning that the participant will eat only fruits and vegetables for the duration of the fast (among a few other edits of one’s normal diet). I also know others who simply do water for 21 days, no food whatsoever (this fast is intense and a doctor’s approval may be wise). I also know of others who may fast social media, television, alcohol, a hobby, etc. Therefore, the idea of fasting is simply to take something you may have allowed to become too important (an idol perhaps) and eliminate it from your life, for the purpose of drawing closer to Jesus. What should I fast from? I have been invited, many times, to participate in a community fast, sometimes for a few days and sometimes for longer. Recently I was invited to join a 21-day fast that our church was doing. I found myself struggling to think about what I was going to fast from. I had several options, but nothing was settling with me. I spoke to the Lord many times about it. What was He suggesting I ought to fast from? I had to check my attitude because it’s not something I’m typically excited about (I think I already explained that). I thought about anything in my life that perhaps had become an idol. I realized that I have a lot of idols, more than I thought. These idols don’t always look like idols. I’ve heard one way to identify an idol is to consider what in my life I find takes no effort to spend time or money on? I know that is not a full proof test, but it does cause me to think. Sometimes, the littlest things or best things become idols. For example, can my marriage become an idol? Are my children an idol? Perhaps my reputation, my health, my work, my choices, etc. My conundrum continued. Does God want me to fast, and if so, what do I fast? My God suggested something to me in one of our conversations. He began by challenging my attitude about my fast. He asked me what the point of the fast was. I simply suggested it was to get closer to Him, hear His voice and remove idols that get in the way of our relationship; bottom line, spend more time with Him. He seemed perplexed (not that God gets perplexed) as to why I was dreading this. He challenged my paradigm. God does that from time to time. He asked if my attitude would change if He were to invite me to an all-expense paid luxury vacation in Switzerland? Would I want to go? I said, “Heaven yes” (the alternative is not appropriate here). I said I would clear my schedule, pack immediately and leave on the next flight. God then simply said, “That’s the point. I’m not concerned about what you are going to temporarily remove from your life to draw close to me if your attitude is not right. I actually am more interested in spending more time with you and you with me.” It’s about time The birth of the 21-Day Slow emerged. God simply said, “Now (this year), I would rather you take the next 21 days and slow down, spend more time with me and draw close to me. I thought the solution to my dilemma was brilliant. God’s focus was on the objective not the mechanics. Sometimes I get caught up in the how and not the why. Therefore, I found myself intently looking at my schedule and finding ways to carve out some extra time to spend with Him. Is there a prayer habit He wants me to engage with, perhaps a portion of scripture to marinate deeply on, extra time in worship, be inspired by a biography of a fellow Christian that I can learn from, be comfortable with quiet in order to hear His voice… and the list goes on as we contemplate what it means to do a “slow.” I recently read that Steve Jobs (Apple founder) commonly asked three questions. First, “What’s not working?” Second, “Why is it not working?” Lastly, “Is that the best you can do?” Perhaps when I slow down, I see what God wants me to see. Perhaps He gently shows me the areas of my life that could improve (those idols that get in the way) and how to improve on them. I find that God is my confidant. He honestly addresses what’s not working, why it’s not working, and He then equips me to do my best work. The opportunity to be the best husband, wife, father, mother, business partner, friend, etc. is available to us with Him. God provides me a gentle reminder that He’s always with me, and He’s never going to give up on me, and that to delight in Him, indulge in Him, hang with Him is always more important than wondering what I’ve got to sacrifice to show Him I love Him. Simply put, He wants me and perhaps what He wants from me is to fast from a busy life, a distracted life and an overstimulated life. I think it may be harder to not be busy than to give up a favorite food or habit. Either way, the message is clear. God deeply desires an intimate relationship with Him, and the things that get in the way of that are idols, and that is what we fast (slow) from. Stephan N. Tchividjian is the CEO and co-founder of the National Christian Foundation South Florida. Visit southflorida.ncfgiving.com to learn more. The 21 Day Fast Slow - Stephan Tchividjian - CEO and Co-Founder, National Christian Foundation South Florida
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