The author of Hebrews says, “Here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14). Revelation envisions this Zion truly as the City of God since there will be:

“[N]o temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, and its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. They will bring into it the glory and the honor of the nations. But nothing unclean will ever enter into it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” - Revelation 21:22–27

For me, one of the most compelling reasons to pray is that prayer unveils reality. It presents things as they really are. This is especially important for me as I minister at Princeton where it is hard to ignore the precocious brilliance and exceptional achievements of students and faculty. Why would I want to ignore such things? Quite literally, Princeton changes the world, and many times, for the better. Not only does this invite me to respect this campus, but love it. I praise the Lord for its storied tradition and stewardship of God-given gifts.

Please enjoy this devotional video, or stream/download an audio version below, or scroll down to continue reading.



https://soundcloud.com/christianunion/a-pull-back-the-curtain-protim

However, to stop there would be to settle for an impoverished view of Princeton. Although “Old Nassau” is a place to love, it is also a place to hate. There is ugliness behind its aesthetics, injustice behind its intellect, and manifold pain behind its celebrated reputation. You just need to see it. Drawing near to God in prayer allows me to do just that.

In a hurried world, almost nothing is more precious than genuine rest.  We long to have anxieties lifted, comfort provided, peace restored, and joy in abundance. God provides rest for the Christian who knows where to find it. Making time for ourselves, engaging in favorite activities, and going on vacation, these all have their place, but they do not provide the depth of rest that the human soul longs for and needs.

Please enjoy this devotional video, or stream/download an audio version below, or scroll down to continue reading.



{soundcloud}166038271{/soundcloud}

Counterintuitively, Jesus explains how divine rest comes, by His grace, through purposeful action.  In Matthew 11: 28-29, Jesus says, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  Taking up Jesus’ yoke doesn’t earn salvation, but for those who know God through faith in Jesus Christ, purposeful action leads to experiencing supernatural rest.  Jesus tells us to come to Him, take up His yoke, and learn from Him. 

Participating in a time of fasting and praying is both rewarding and challenging.  Rewarding because we can honor God and witness change all around us, but challenging because of the uncomfortable adjustments that must be made for effectiveness.  More often than not, the sacrifice made in fasting and praying takes center-stage in our lives and we inadvertently overlook areas within ourselves that stymie growth, limit our witness, and/or grieve our Heavenly Father.  God surveys the heart, and it’s for this reason we must ensure our convictions for Christ are not eclipsed by issues of character, integrity, or even morality.

Throughout biblical history many significant events have taken place after a time of fasting and praying.  The Ten Commandments were revealed to Moses after his forty-day fast on Mount Sinai.  The deliverance of Israel from imminent annihilation came after Esther fasted.  Jehoshaphat declared a fast in response to threatening enemies, and he prevailed.  The insight and foreknowledge of Daniel was due to his fasting lifestyle.  And Jesus Himself began His public ministry after a forty-day fast.  In the same way that God gave direction, subverted enemies, and shifted people’s reality after fasting and praying, we can affect change in our culture and our society through our corporate commitment to fast and pray.

“Then Esther told them to reply to Mordecai, ‘Go, gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf, and do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my young women will also fast as you do. Then I will go to the king, though it is against the law, and if I perish, I perish.’” -Esther 4:15-16

Apologies that I am going to focus on good food in this devotional on fasting…

My wife’s very animated Brooklyn Italian family has truly blessed me over the years, a family culture very different from my Irish New England one. Italian family culture revolves beautifully around the kitchen and food. It brings the family together.  My first meal with them was unforgettable. The pasta, homemade manicotti, was brought first thing out to the table, and I proceeded to eat four or five plates of it. I thought that was the meal. That’s how it worked in my house – one dish and that was it.  I didn’t realize that was only the first course, and there was plenty more to come. Course after course of all sorts of dishes with names unfamiliar to me, but smells that were impossible to resist. I ate and ate out of the abundance of all the food.  I ate so much that I could barely leave the chair to make it to the couch to enter into a food-induced nap (I’m sure I’m the only one to experience this phenomenon).  Frankly I was grateful and content but a little overwhelmed by all the food.

 “Lord, you have been our dwelling place

   in all generations.

 Before the mountains were brought forth,

   or ever you had formed the earth and the world,

   from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

- Psalm 90:1-2

Obedience can be difficult sometimes. Whether our desire for food lends itself to a short temper, or the idea of extending grace to someone who has hurt us seems irrational, walking in the ways that God has called us to sometimes competes with the fleeting reality of our desire.

In Ephesians 5, Paul speaks to his brothers and sisters in the church about walking in holiness. In the first six verses, Paul describes what it looks like for this local body to walk in holiness; he calls them imitators of God. Paul goes on to say that “immorality and all impurity or covetousness” (verse 3) should have no part in the lives of those who call themselves followers of Christ. In verses 7 and 8, he warns the church at Ephesus, “Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”

As we continue our season of fasting together, I want to remind us of God’s purpose for us through fasting. Listen to Jesus’ words in Mark 7:15: “Nothing that goes into a person from outside can defile him, but the things that come out of a person are what defile him. If anyone has an ear to hear, he should listen!” In verses 20-23, Jesus continues to explain this mystery to His disciples by saying: “…What comes out of a person - that defiles him. For from within, out of people’s hearts, come evil thoughts, sexual immoralities, thefts, murders, adulteries, greed, evil actions, deceit, lewdness, stinginess, blasphemy, pride and foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a person.”

In our text today, the core problem of defilement is defined as what resides in the heart (things that come out), not things going into a person. Throughout Scripture, the heart refers to the center of one’s being, including the mind, emotions and will.

“Now there were in the church at Antioch prophets and teachers, Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen a member of the court of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul.  While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them."  Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off.  So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia, and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” - Acts 13:1-4  

“The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.”  -1 Peter 4:7

I don’t know about you, but for me the pronouncement “the end is near” conjures up images of men with hand-lettered posters and megaphones emitting doomsday announcements from vans littered with judgment-themed Scripture verses slowly rolling down the street.  To be honest, it’s not my favorite Gospel-themed message.  Come to think of it, is it even Good News?