One day I went to a friend’s home for a sleepover because we were going to rise early for a morning long run. This friend badly wanted to lose weight and start to live healthily. As a runner, I jumped at a chance to help him out because I was also on the lookout for a jogging buddy.

When I got to his home, I immediately saw the challenge. His cable TV, which had hundreds of channels, was fixed on the Food Network. He was constantly watching vibrant videos of delicious dishes that would whet his appetite. Our conversations would also revolve around found even on the run. I remember this wisdom I picked up from my years of marathon training, “You can never outrun a bad diet.” I felt for my friend because I knew for sure that he was in for a very bumpy fitness journey.

The world is no stranger to excessive living. Take a walk downtown and you will see visual cues towards excessive consumption. Billboards of people about to swallow mouthwatering burgers. Posters of ice-cold beverages are put on the most conspicuous of places. Go online and you will be bombarded by ads supersized meals and up-sized drinks for a bargain. The tragedy is when the excessive desire for food desensitizes people from the plight of the hungry. This is the sin called gluttony. How do we overcome gluttony?

Fasting is the willful reduction of food intake. It is done usually done on Holy Days. Nowadays, people fasts for the amazing health benefits like weight loss, blood sugar control, cognitive boost, even cancer prevention, and more! However, the greatest blessing of fasting is relational.

When you offer your fast to the Lord, you grow closer to Him. Your fast becomes an opportunity for more scripture time and prayer time. You will have more time to grow closer to Jesus. This deed becomes a declaration that God is important enough to forgo a meal or two. You declare that He is first.

 

Abstinence is the deliberate refrainment from eating meat. Like fasting, it is done on certain Holy Days. Jesus has asked his disciples to deny themselves and take up their cross. When we practice abstinence, we practice self-denial. Abstaining from may seem completely unnecessary because God made meat good. However, in denying our craving for meat, we honor the Creator. In Lent, when we abstain, we honor Jesus’ sacrifice. Abstinence then leads to holiness.

Abstinence opens us to God’s power. In our weakness, we deny our own will and entrust ourselves to God’s will. We become more sensitive to His leading. We learn to wait with expectant faith. It may seem scary to not be in control but our faith tells us that God is always in control.

 

Fasting and abstinence can do wonders to the body and soul but the most wonderful blessing is when it moves you to feed the hungry. 690 million currently go to bed hungry. 14 million of them are stunted children. Fasting and abstaining help you empathize with the hungry because you are reminded of the feeling of being deprived of the most basic need. When you are moved to feed the hungry, you are showing that you have the same compassion as Jesus has for them. You are never truly satisfied knowing that people are starving out there.

Jesus called on his disciples to give away their blessings. When they obeyed, God multiplied their offerings. This is how the Kingdom of God works. Blessings are meant to be distributed. God has intended that you eventually give away your blessings to bless more of His children. In a way, this is how miracles work. In giving, you become a walking talking factory of miracles.

After many years of trial and error, my friend eventually won the battle of the bulge. His hard-fought victory came about because of his discipline in the gym and the kitchen. He now regularly fasts. He also found great joy in cooking for people. Along with this amazing turnaround in his health came a massive increase in his service. His ministry now benefits from his newfound vitality.

Friend, in my own journey, I know that these ways are painfully difficult. However, I have witnessed the same blessings that my friend experienced. Well, not the cooking part. I still am a beginner in the kitchen. However, I learned that when I take control of my appetite, I am more inclined to put God first. When I offer my abstinence to the Lord, I lean on His leading more. When I sacrifice something of mine, I become more like Jesus. Friend, you too will overcome and experience for yourself these miracles. In overcoming gluttony, you become His unfolding miracle in the world.

Thank you so much for reading this post from The Upsurge series. Please consider sharing this post. It helps to spread the message of love.  God bless you!