Giving God Our Meal Times

Last week we talked about how worship envelops every part of our lives, not just Sunday mornings or music. When we fast, we need to learn how to make each meal we would’ve eaten into a worship service of sorts. A common misconception about fasting is the idea that we just don’t eat. That’s only part of the equation. When we fast, we need to take that time when we would normally be eating and commit it, intentionally, to God. Otherwise, we’re just starving ourselves with no purpose. This is the time where we truly live out the scripture that says….

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
Matthew 4:4

This was Jesus’ response to Satan as He was in the midst of a 40 day fast. You read that right…40 days. Jesus hasn’t had a bite to eat for over a month, and Satan tells Him to turn some stones into bread. Considering He was the Son of God, and He was probably starving, that wasn’t a terrible idea on the surface. However, Jesus’ power wasn’t for selfish desires or to make Him “happy.” God’s Power in Jesus was only to be used to glorify Jesus’ father. Had He succumbed to Satan’s temptation, His ministry would’ve been over before it started. Instead, Jesus knew the importance of sticking to His fast and didn’t waiver.

So…what exactly are we supposed to do during a fast? That’s time preparing a meal, driving to a restaurant, setting the table, and, don’t forget, eating, which takes a lot of the day….possibly a few hours. Now we’re hitting the point of all of this. Those meal times, the cooking, driving, preparing, and eating now give us the opportunity to make some intentional time that we don’t normally make. We’ve just made room for scripture, prayer, and meditation. Jesus, after feeding the 5000, said,

“Truly, truly, I say to you, you are seeking me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal.”
John 6:26–27

“Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.”
John 6:32–35

Obviously, there is a theme here. Jesus is meant to be our bread. His Word is meant to be our sustenance. What we're dealing with here are two forms of life; physical and spiritual. Both need nourishment, but they need very different types of nutrition. The Human body is made up of different types of tissue, and all of them need to be fed in order to live. The spiritual body needs to be fed too, but its a very different type of food. As far back as the book of Jeremiah, we see this.

Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts.
 Jeremiah 15:16

This idea of ingesting God's Word gives us more of a visual of what it means to really get into the Bible and "store up" God's word in our hearts. Ps 119:11. When we eat in abundance, our body stores up that food. As we start to not just eat, but devour God's Word, we build up a surplus in our souls. God's Word begins to pour out of us even when we don't plan for it to. It becomes a part of who we are, and we begin to see it guide us throughout our daily lives.

This is why, as we fast, we need to give God our meal times. Instead of feeding on physical food, we need to build up our stores of spiritual food in the form of God's Word and prayer. Many people say they want to see the Holy Spirit work, but don't create an environment in their lives where He actually can. Fasting is like a reset button to get in focus and allow the Holy Spirit to work and transform us.

But when one turns to the Lord, the veil is removed. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:16–18

So what does a day where we replace mealtimes with "Christ-times" look like? How do we shape a day and use that time to truly feed on the Word of God and prayer? At breakfast, read from Ephesians 15 and pray specifically for how you will use your time that day, and also pray specifically for the people you will encounter. Pray that God will lead each moment.

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Ephesians 5:15–21

At lunch, pray for your Church, your employer, your family, local and national leaders. Pray for wisdom in each situation and how you will submit as a follower of Christ in each of those areas.

Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment..... Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
Romans 13:1-2,5–7

At dinner time, pray over your family. Pray for the future of your marriage and your children. Pray for God to be honored through your family. Also, take time to sit in silence and listen for the Lord. This may seem weird to many, but you'd be surprised how amazing a time of silence can be in the life of a disciple. Sometimes, we just need to quit talking and listen.

These are simply suggestions. There's no real road map for fasting, but you'll never know the blessing of it if you don't give it a try yourself. So pick a day over the next couple of weeks and give your dinner time to God.