Fast Friday

During the penitential season of Advent, historically Christians have exercised the spiritual disciplines of fasting, praying, repentance, and almsgiving. These are important because they help keep the main thing the main thing during a season that culturally can too often entice us to excess and indulgence.

I am asking that you join me today and on the following three Fridays in skipping one meal and devoting that time to prayer.

As I said in my sermon Sunday, in praying for the Thessalonians, St. Paul sets an excellent example of prayer that’s:

• Audacious: the expression of profound longing for something beyond what can now be imagined;

• Enthusiastic: it’s “in God” as the word literally means…en theos. It’s rooted in and inspired by the character of God revealed in Jesus (in this way, even biblical lament can be said to be “enthusiastic”); and,

• Firmly Fixed on the Future: it believes confidently that God will one day bring heaven and earth together in a new way, with the personal presence of Jesus as the central feature and light of this new world. God’s will will be done.

And if nothing audacious comes immediately to mind, join me in praying that God would miraculously provide a suitable permanent home for Redeemer and all the resources it will require.

See you Sunday.

Steve+