Fasting — part of 40 Days for Life
Fasting is giving up something that we like as an offering to God for an
intention we are praying for. It can be giving up coffee, sweets, soda,
television or even being silent when someone isn’t nice to me, giving up
speaking when it is better to be silent. We prove our love of Jesus when we
give up something that we like for love of Him and it helps us detach
ourselves from worldly things and gain spiritual strength to say NO to
things I want (including wanting to talk when it is better to be silent).
It strengthens us to be strong to give up sin also. There are many ways we
can make sacrifices also. A sacrifice can be giving up something (fasting
from something) or it can be doing something positive for love of God (often my
will prefers not to do it). Making a special dinner for your family when you would rather not cook tonight and offering it up to Jesus through Mary for the 40 days for Life intentions or cleaning the house when I would rather relax or sitting with my child who is
having trouble keeping her attention on school. Instead of losing my
patience, to sit and help her/him out. Read Matthew 25: 31-40 “The last
Judgement”. God will judge us on how well we have treated one another and
therefore it is a very pleasing sacrifice to show patience and love to
others, but especially our own family because they are in the most need of
our kindness. The most perfect sacrifice is doing the will of God at each
present moment. Example, I know God would want me to do this at this
moment, but I really don’t want to or a feeling of guilt inside of me because I
am not doing my duties as a mother, father, student, etc but I ignore the
inspiration inside of me. Listening to your conscience makes you more
in tune with the will of God and united to Him throughout the day and teaches
us to listen to the voice of God within us and when we fail to listen, stop
and say sorry to Jesus and trust in His forgiveness. As humans we fail
often.