3.10.2011

The Post About Fasting for Lent

Television

My conversation with God on Saturday.

Me:
What should I give up for Lent?

God:
What do you think you should give up for Lent?

Me:
Umm... What about soda?

God:
Whatever you think is best.

Me:
Well, my struggle really is with caffeine, but giving up caffeine would be crazy hard.

God:
Sending my Son to die on the cross was crazy hard.

Me:
True. I'm still going with soda.

God:
Whatever you think is best.

So that was the plan. No soda for 40 days. However, I'd already concocted my increase in coffee and tea consumption to counter the lack of Diet Dr. Pepper. So much for a challenging fast.

And then I went to church.


Sidebar: If you're trying to sneak in the side door of spiritual obedience, church is probably the last place you should go.


I talked to Sabrina, an adorable teenager who loves God and Law & Order. She is giving up texting for Lent.

Didn't Jesus say something about little children coming to Him? With their smart phones?

I was busted. God had resorted to a 16-year-old girl to serve as my accountability.


My conversation with God on Sunday.

Me:
So I think I should give up something more difficult than soda for Lent - like TV. Do You think I can do it?

God:
You can do all things through Me.

Me:
Yeah, yeah, but seriously...do You think I can do it?

God:
We'll see.


I'm on Day 2 and holy moly. No DVR, no Matt Lauer, no Modern Family, no Daily Show.


And I've decided not to break the fast on Sundays. Because I'm crazy. Or obedient.


Or a little of both.


How about you? Are you fasting this Lenten season?


{image:
rockcreek}

6 comments:

  1. Im observing Lent too. Keeping secret what I am fasting from. Mostly to keep from bragging about myself. Want to call attention to God, not me. Want others to see the changes and then ask why....This isnt God talking to you either. Thought your post was great! Sounds like you have the same conversations I do with God!
    Lisa R

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  2. LR: How great! I will absolutely say a prayer for your perseverance! I tend to tell people so they can keep me accountable because I'm a known cheater.

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  3. Oooooo. God TOTALLY pulled the Jesus Card on you.

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  4. Jamie, you have no idea how much it helped me to find out that you were fasting TV too. Hearing that you were on this journey too, has really helped me. I was initially going for Coke/Caffeine as my first choice as well! But my convo. with God, was much like yours, minus the niceness -- i was a wee bit more begrudged.

    I'm already feeling the purge, and what is coming out is not so pretty! (I'm very irritated and frustrated, never realized how much of a habit it is to come home and turn on the noise) How the Cross can be so ugly and beautiful at the same time, is what I am thinking about tonight...(day #2, in the midst of this awkward silence.)

    My husband and I have been talking about distractions in our relationship with God for several weeks/months now. And TV is on the the top of my list. I have heard 3 people say recently that one thing they contribute to their success, in business and in Christ, is the fact that they don't watch TV...and every time I would hear that, my heart was pricked. Sunday AM, my dad mentioned it in church & Sunday evening, I heard Dani Johnson on Secret Millionaire mention it again - I was convicted - that this week, this season, my journey to the cross begins by turning off my biggest distraction...and tuning into Christ and his cross.

    we can do this!
    *praying for you.

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  5. Good luck with giving up TV! My thing sounds terribly unimpressive in comparison but I'm giving up iPhone and computer games (Except for Words with Friends because it's not much of a time suck and counts as relationship-building.). Basically, I've been wasting a lot of time lately, largely due to Solitaire other things as well. Hopefully I will spend more time with God and more time doing at least mildly useful things. Instead of sitting on my couch staring at my iPhone screen until my eyes are dry. ;)

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  6. C: He does that more than I would prefer.

    JH: What great thoughts! Thank you for sharing!

    KE: I think I may have replaced TV with gaming. Oops. However, I am glad you are not forsaking me on WWF!

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