THE MOST RIDICULOUS FAST EVER
A 21-DAY DEVOTIONAL FOR RIDICULOUS PEOPLE BELIEVING GOD FOR RIDICULOUS BLESSINGS
REV. MELECH E. M. THOMAS Senior Pastor, Payne Memorial AME Church - Baltimore
Table of Contents
Introduction
About Fasting
Fasting Options & Instructions
Week One: GOD CAN
Week Two: I CAN
Week Three: WE CAN
Introduction
“You’re being ridiculous!”
“That will never happen.”
“You need to be more realistic.”
As a Black kid growing up in the 1990s and the early 2000s, I heard these things often. There has always been something within me that imagined a world bigger than my surroundings. But what I’ve also realized is that wherever you find imagination, opposition is not too far behind. Whether that opposition is from external forces (family members, co-workers, etc.) or from internal forces (anxiety, fear, self-doubt, etc.), it is very real. Because of that, we often tuck our imagination into our back pockets and resign ourselves to a life with less resistance. It is very easy for us to be “okay” with “okay.” And if that’s you, then by all means, live your “best” life. But let me tell you that this devotional is probably not for you.
This devotional is not for individuals who have given imagination their resignation letter. In fact, the entire purpose of this devotional is to so inspire your ability to imagine that you begin to realize that your “opposition” doesn’t have the power to stop what God wants to do in you and through you! I understand the importance of not living in delusion. But faith and delusion are not “mutually exclusive.” One can be grounded in reality and still have an imaginative faith. Faith is not about the world as it is, but about the world as it can be. Honestly, there is nothing “realistic” about faith in God. And to be sure, “realistic” outcomes do not require faith. So if you’re looking to keep your prayers within the realm of the “realistic”, then this is not the devotional for you. Because we do not serve a “realistic” God. We serve a “ridiculous” God. Everything about the God we serve is ridiculous. From the creation and Exodus narratives, down through the entirety of Christian canon, God is constantly doing ridiculous things for God's people. The entire Gospel story is "ridiculous." And, contrary to what some people believe, God is still able (AND WILLING) to do ridiculous things in our lives.
And because of this, we must match the ridiculousness of our prayer life to the ridiculousness of our God. And THIS is what I hope to accomplish through this 21 day fast and devotional. I want to inspire you to trust God with your most ridiculous prayers and desires. I want this new season of your life to be so “mind- blowing”, the only thing you can say when it happens is, “Only God!”
Why Fasting?
So I can hear you asking me, "I believe all that stuff about God, but why do I HAVE to fast?" Well, let me be the first to tell you what my grandmother used to say: "You ain't gotta do nothing but stay *insert permanent identity marker* and die!" In other words, you don't HAVE to fast. Fasting is not some kind of "spiritual silver bullet" that Christians use to get God to do what we want God to do. However, fasting is also not simply a dietary change for a period of time. Fasting is a spiritual discipline which reduces any distractions and obstacles to us being able to hear what God is already saying and doing.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline which reduces any distractions and obstacles to us being able to hear what God is already saying and doing.
In other words, fasting is less about getting God to do what we WANT God to do and more about making space for God to do what God already has in mind for us. Fasting aligns us with the move of God both as it is happening, as well as it is about to happen. This idea messes with a theology that views Christianity as a "Amazon Prime" membership, delivering what we order within two days or less! In fact, I would argue that one of the best things about fasting is that it challenges you to surrender your will and timeline in order to depend solely on God. This is the reason I had a tough time with fasts early on in my walk with God. But when I finally sat down to do it, here's how God blew my mind.
My Fasting Testimony
Growing up, I was NOT interested in fasting at all. My thought process was, "Why should I NOT eat the food that God (and my parents) made?" It just didn't make sense to me as a spiritual practice or
as something that seemed the least bit enjoyable. When I saw people fasting, I just saw them looking miserable and hungry. Whenever a fast was proposed, I simply refused. The one time I did it in college, it was because a young lady I was trying to date suggested we do it. It was hilariously horrible for me because I had to pretend like I wasn't hungry for a whole day. So, needless to say, I spent the first half of my life under the idea that fasting was just "not for me." But after I graduated from college and went through unexpected seasons of betrayal and isolation, I started to notice something pulling on my spirit. I was trying to listen more closely, but it just felt like something was keeping me from hearing from God more clearly.
I spent the first half of my life under the idea that fasting was just "not for me."
I reached out to one of my OGs in the faith and he said, "You might need to turn your plate down and remove whatever distractions may keep the voice of God at a whisper in your life." So at the beginning of 2013, I challenged myself to fast.
The fast was going to be 21 days, and I asked for guidance on setting parameters around what I was "giving up." But one of the things I learned is that fasting is not simply about what you "give up", but it is also a time to adopt spiritual disciplines that you've wanted to try. So here is what my fast looked like: No red meat/pork/chicken No fried foods/sweets No alcohol No more than 10 tweets a day Waking up every morning at 5:30am to pray Read six chapters in the Bible everyday (The Gospels, specifically) Read at least one book on Faith and at least one book on leadership for an hour a day each Journal both in the morning and in the evening before bed.
Fasting is not simply about what you "give up", but it is also a time to adopt spiritual disciplines that you've wanted to try.
It turned out to be one of the most significant and most powerful spiritual experiences in my life. The level of clarity and spiritual boldness that I walked away with after that season was like I had never experienced before.
I was able to receive vision and insight from God that has carried me over 10 years later. It was the revelation I received during that season that freed me to fully lean into the authenticity of my call to ministry. It was also during that time where God challenged me on ideas around ministry & ambition, the importance of being emotionally whole, and my work ethic. I still have my journal from that period. So, from time to time, I revisit it and look at some of the prayers from that season that God answered over time. I owe the man that I have become today to that intentional season of fasting back in January of 2013.
The level of clarity and spiritual boldness that I walked away with after that season was like I had never experienced before.
The Most Ridiculous Fast Ever
And that brings us to what I hope for you to accomplish through this fast. As you embark on The Most Ridiculous Fast Ever , I pray that this period of consecration prepares you to live a RIDICULOUS life. A life of RIDICULOUS faith. RIDICULOUS love. RIDICULOUS power. To paraphrase the words of Jesus, some things only happen as a result of "prayer and fasting!" (Matt. 17:21)
For the next 21 days, I challenge you to eliminate every distraction that you possibly can, and depend solely on God for everything you need. In order to make that happen, I have structured this fast and devotional into three 7-day periods that will provide a spiritual framework for your prayers and scripture readings: God Can, I Can, and We Can. Each week's theme will include daily Scriptures, short devotionals, and relevant prayers that direct our spiritual attention to these "ridiculous" affirmations. Also, this is formatted as a "workbook" of sorts, so there is space available for open written reflection. In addition to this, there will be prompts scattered throughout this book with questions and "fill-in-the- blank" style statements that will create opportunities to make faith statements of RIDICULOUS proportions. Finally, because fasting is sometimes a daunting task, I have compiled a list of options where you can craft the fast that best works for you and your lifestyle. Not everybody can do a Daniel Fast, and some people can't give up social media because of the demands of their occupations. So I have developed a fasting "checklist" where you can choose the best path that works for you. But remember: Fasting is about SACRIFICE.
My prayer for you over the next 21 days is that you see exactly how "ridiculous" your life can get. This devotional is not about a new house or a car. It's not simply about God sending you a spouse. It's not just about a career change. But my prayer is that, after this season of your life, your prayers get bigger. That your dreams get bigger. That your hunger for God gets bigger. In other words, I want the size of the faith in your prayers to match the size of the God to whom you are praying!
Is it okay if I pray with you one last time before you start your journey?
Eternal and Everlasting God, thank You so much for the gift of intimacy with You. So many things attempt to take away from our ability to simply enjoy Your presence. We apologize for every moment where we didn't take time to sit with you. Your Word says that "in Your presence is the fullness of joy." And as we embark on this fast, help us to find our joy solely in you, O Rock of Ages. Because while grass withers and flowers fade, You will stand forever. So let us chase our forevers in You, knowing that within you is every RIDICULOUS thing we could ever desire. Make our prayers as big as Your hands. And make our hearts look like Yours. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Build Your Fast
INSTRUCTIONS: In this section, go through the categories and select the food & activities that you will be giving up during The Most Ridiculous Fast Ever. Next, carefully select what spiritual disciplines & practices you will be adopting during the fasting period. Finally, you will select the time parameters that best work for your desired fasting outcome and your lifestyle. Remember, while this particular fast is meant to be accessible to everyone's various lifestyles, fasting is ultimately about SACRIFICE. So keep that in mind as you choose! Foods ALL MEATS (Red Meat, Poultry, Seafood, etc.) Red Meat Poultry (Chicken, Turkey, Eggs, etc.) Seafood Dairy (Cheese, Butter, Milk, etc.) Added sugars/sweetners Leavened Bread Fried Foods Processed Food Sweets/Desserts (Chocolates, Candy, etc. Coffee
Added sugars/sweetners
Alcoholic Beverages (Spirits, Beer, Wine, etc.) Juices ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Activities
Social Media Smoking Gossip Clubbing Dating Listening to Non-Christian/Gospel Music Reality TV Using Profanity Shopping Eating Out ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Time Parameters Complete Abstention for 21 Days
From 6am to 6pm From 7am to 3pm Monday - Saturday Monday - Friday
Additional Parameters
________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________
Remember, while this particular fast is meant to be accessible to everyone's various lifestyles, fasting is ultimately about SACRIFICE.
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