“Not that we are to imagine, the performing the bare outward act [of fasting] will receive any blessing from God…No, surely, if it be a mere external service, it is all but lost labor…But let us take care to afflict our souls as well as our bodies. Let every season, either of public or private fasting, be a season of exercising all those holy affections which are implied in a broken and contrite heart. Let it be a season of devout mourning, of godly sorrow for sin; such a sorrow as that of the Corinthians, concerning which the Apostle saith, “I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance…[2 Corinthians 7:9]
And with fasting let us always join fervent prayer, pouring out our whole souls before God, confessing our sins with all their aggravations, humbling ourselves under his mighty hand, laying open before him all our wants, all our guiltiness and helplessness. This is a season for enlarging our prayers, both in behalf of ourselves and of our brethren. It remains only, in order to our observing such a fast as is acceptable to the Lord, that we add alms thereto; works of mercy, after our power, both to the bodies and souls of men: “With such sacrifices” also “God is well pleased.” [Hebrews 13:16]
John Wesley (1703-1791) excerpt of Sermon 27.4.3-7. “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon On The Mount: Discourse Seven” on Matthew 6:16-18.
Wesley is spot on: fasting, prayer, and almsgiving must not just afflict our bodies, they must afflict our souls. They must change us to the core. As we journey through Lent, we may feel a change in our bodies, but the real question is whether or not we are feeling it in our souls? Do we have broken and contrite hearts?
In Joel 2:13 the prophet proclaimed: Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the LORD your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Before doing acts of mercy this Lent, let’s make sure our hearts are right. We are just getting into Lent, and if our hearts aren’t broken before God, the whole journey will be, in the words of Wesley, “lost labor”. Take five minutes in silence today. Ask God to show you sin in your heart, confess it and experience the gift of forgiveness. Then pursue acts of mercy toward others even as you have received mercy.