Moses was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments. Exodus 34:28
“And indeed that which I am about to say is wonderful, yea it is of those things which are very miraculous; yet not far from the truth, as you may be able to learn from the sacred writings. That great man Moses, when fasting, conversed with God, and received the law. The great and holy Elijah, when fasting, was thought worthy of divine visions, and at last was taken up like Him who ascended into heaven. And Daniel, when fasting, although a very young man, was entrusted with the mystery, and he alone understood the secret things of the king, and was thought worthy of divine visions. But because the length of the fast of these men was wonderful, and the days prolonged, let no man lightly fall into unbelief; but rather let him believe and know, that the contemplation of God, and the word which is from Him, suffice to nourish those who hear, and stand to them in place of all food. For the angels are no otherwise sustained than by beholding at all times the face of the Father, and of the Saviour who is in heaven. And thus Moses, as long as he talked with God, fasted indeed bodily, but was nourished by divine words. When he descended among men, and God had gone up from him, he suffered hunger like other men. For it is not said that he fasted longer than forty days— those in which he was conversing with God. And, generally, each one of the saints has been thought worthy of similar transcendent nourishment.”
Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 297-373) in Festal Letter 1.6. Athanasius is the fourth of the four doctors of the Eastern Church. We heard from John Chyrsostom, Basil of Caesarea, and Gregory of Nazianzus.
I pray your Lenten fast is going well. We are nearly 10 days into the 40 day fast. I find myself feeling less distracted and able to focus on the things God has in front of me daily. I feel I am tasting transcendent nourishment.
Athanasius reminds us that characters like Moses, Elijah, and Daniel fasted before having significant times of service. Let’s approach our fast with the same expectation. Let’s set aside our desires and see what God has for us.
I’d appreciate your prayers as I head to West Africa to minister in four countries. I’ve been fasting and praying and asking God to nourish me with divine words and cary me with His strength.
What do you have ahead of you this month? How might fasting, confession, and prayer position you for fruitful service? Let’s trust God together to nourish and sustain us for whatever He sets before us.