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During Lent, the liturgical season of preparation for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday, many Christians decide to fast ultimately or one other.
This fasting can take many kinds, together with conventional fasts from meals for a time period, or fasting from an exercise or behavior, as Dan A. Biddle, Ph.D., famous in feedback to Fox News Digital.
“Lent comes from the Latin time period Quadragesima, which implies ‘Fortieth,’” Biddle mentioned. The size of the season is a reference to the 40-day interval that Jesus Christ spent within the desert, fasting and resisting temptation by Satan.
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Based in Folsom, California, Biddle is government producer of “The Ark and the Darkness: Unearthing the Mystery of Noah’s Flood” and is president of Genesis Apologetics.
The ministry is dedicated to “strengthening the faith of God’s children by grounding them in biblical truth,” the group notes on its web site.
The 40 days of Lent are a reference to the 40 days that Jesus Christ spent within the desert, fasting and resisting the temptations of Satan. (iStock)
An individual who needs to fast, maybe for the primary time, this Lent ought to flip to the phrases of Jesus Christ for steerage, mentioned Biddle.
“In Matthew, Christ told his followers, ‘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,’” mentioned Biddle.
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He continued, “‘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 is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you'” (Matthew 6:16-18).
Fasting isn’t just restricted to meals, mentioned Biddle, although many individuals resolve to surrender sweets and snacks during Lent as a method to develop nearer to God. (iStock)
Christians ought to apply these phrases to their very own practices, mentioned Biddle.
“Fasting is personal,” mentioned Biddle. “It’s something between you and God.”
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While some church buildings can name for a sure kind of fasting, Biddle famous that “there isn’t a such factor as ‘team fasting.'”
“Only individuals fast. No one else will feel the rumble in your stomach as you give up your breakfast for 40 days. No one else will have to calm down an addiction to social media as your thumb settles from swiping for 40 days,” he said.
“You will be the one receiving the blessing by fasting, not someone else.”
It is important, said Biddle (shown above right), to replace what a person is fasting from with something related to God. “If you’re giving up social media, learn the Bible during the time you have been spending in your cellphone or iPad.” (iStock/Genesis Apologetics)
An individual who’s fasting ought to “keep it to yourself,” as famous in Matthew’s Gospel.
“Your Father, who sees what you have done in secret, will reward you.”
Additionally, there may be one other component to fasting, mentioned Biddle.
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An individual who’s fasting ought to “replace what you are fasting from with God.”
“If you’re giving up one meal a day, let your hunger drive you to prayer and reflection,” he mentioned.
“Your Father, who sees what you have done in secret, will reward you.”
“If you’re giving up social media, read the Bible during the time you were spending swiping on your phone or iPad.”
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These, he mentioned, will assist an individual “get the most from your Lenten season.”
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