Dangerous Prayersनमुना

MAKE YOUR FACE SHINE UPON ME

When it comes to fasting, I often find myself falling short. Not in the sense of being unable to do it, but rather in my pursuit of what a successful fast should look like. This realization has led me to a deeper understanding of the role of humility in fasting.

Psalm 31:16 is a prayer, "Make your face shine on your servant." The second half is a heartfelt plea from the Psalmist to “Save me in your steadfast love." This verse reminds us that we are not alone in our fasting journey. We need help, and that help comes from Jesus. His love is our salvation from our pride and egos.

In Luke 18:9-14 Jesus tells the parable of the tax collector and the Pharisee. While the Pharisee rehearsed his pious righteousness about why he wasn't like other sinners, the tax collector couldn't even lift his eyes to look up to heaven. Instead, he pounded on his chest and cried out, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Here is the essence of fasting: fasting becomes a self-centered religious ritual when we try to fast in our own strength. However, when we, like the tax collector, humble ourselves and seek God's help in fasting, it becomes about Him. Our focus shifts from the discipline of fasting to Jesus, who is the reason for our fast. We don't fast to earn God's love; we already have it. We fast to honor Him.

When we think of the prayer, "Make your face shine upon me," we think of living for an audience of One. We want our lives to be so aligned with His Word that we experience His smiling approval and hear these words from His heart—"well done, good and faithful servant."

Cynthia Cavanaugh