For five weeks, Christ-followers have been Meditating. Fasting. Praying. Preparing.  Intent on emptying  themselves.  Longing to be filled with the one who gave His life for us. Lord, I have come to this time, not really prepared.

For one Holy Week, all eyes are riveted on the rough-hewn beams that held our Salvation.  We recline at the table of the Last Supper.  Feet washed  by our Savior. The bread and wine.  His life to nourish our hungry spirits. Strengthen us when we are weak. Empower us with His Divine Life. Lord, feed me the Bread of Life.  May I always hunger for You.

We watch the droplets of blood-soaked perspiration trickle down His face in Gethsemane, and we pray.

We kneel at the foot of the cross.  The tortuous Crucifixion.  The jeers shouted at the King of Kings. Pain more than we can bear.  Pain that He chose to bear for us.  Pain in Love that set us free.  Lord, never let me forget the price You paid that I could be with You eternally.

Then silence as the sentinels watch the tomb.  Silence until the dawn of our New Life.  Silence until the boulder is blasted away by the Father.  Christ Resurrected!  Our assurance of Life Everlasting.  Father, thank you for Your Perfect Plan that set me free.

All the praying, meditating, preparing and fasting could not make us ready for this Holy Encounter.  Only Christ’s blood poured out for us can prepare us for the Easter that never ends.  Lord, help me to remember that it is only by Your work at Calvary and none of my good works that I am enveloped in Easter~Resurrection Joy.

Lord, may every day be a preparation for Face to Face Easter with You.  May each morning find me hungry for You, emptying myself to be filled with You.  May every day find me in prayer and meditating on Your word.  And may I focus on a fasting that goes beyond this season into every day of my life.

In Isaiah 58:6-9, the Lord says:

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?

Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter–
when you see the naked to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.

“Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.”

Where have your experiences of fasting led you this Lent?