“I have treasured the words of His mouth
More than my necessary food.”
– Job 23:12

Someone at the prayer vigil this morning asked one of the abortion staff members, “how can you work at a place like this?”

The employee responded “I need to eat.”

When I heard this, I immediately thought of the scripture which condemns those whose “god is their stomach” (Philippians 3:19) remembering that it also says “their destiny is destruction.”

But as I thought about this I quickly realized that we American Christians are not all that different. If you have ever had a chance to watch me eat at a church potluck, you may have wondered if my stomach is my god. Do I really desire God more than I desire to fill my belly? Most of the time, I must confess, the answer is “no.” I would typically much rather have a good meal than a good time of prayer. I’m not proud of that fact, but it’s the truth. And I’m afraid that this is also true of most other Christians in our society.

As American Christians, we have proven that we are willing to compromise on everything, even to sacrifice the lives of tiny innocent children, so that we can have food on the table. At the polls, Christians usually focus on their financial concerns more than the moral issues at hand. But if we continue to allow our stomach to be our god, what is our destiny?

40 Days for Life is not just a prayer vigil. It is also a fast, an opportunity for us to deny ourselves and to submit to God. As we say “no” to our earthly appetites, we say “yes” to God, acknowledging that our stomach is not our god.

This was a tough morning for fasting. As I gave my children chocolate donuts, some nice chunks of chocolate stuck to my fingers. Boy, did I want to lick those fingers! And I’m sure that it wouldn’t have done me any harm to do so. This is not a legalistic thing. I’m not under some illusion that fasting somehow makes me more acceptable to God. But as I deny my appetites, I am making a statement to God (and to myself) about whom I will obey.

Then a very generous person dropped off a bag full of breakfast food from McDonald’s. We didn’t have the heart to tell them that we no longer eat at McDonald’s due to their support of the radical homosexual agenda. So here is all of this great-smelling food; why not enjoy their generosity? Again, I’m sure that we could have done so without sinning. But to us it was a better decision to allow our children to enjoy the food.

When my stomach cries for food in the middle of the night as I pray alone at the vigil, stumbling because I feel so weak, I sometimes wonder why we combine this 40 day vigil with a fast. Are we trying to torture ourselves?

But does my hungry stomach cause me to want more food, or to want more of God? Fasting doesn’t, in and of itself, make me focus more on God. At some points, even in the midst of a fast, I am definitely thinking more about food. But as the hunger eventually subsides, I realize that there is more to life than my physical appetite. I can live without living for my stomach. My real need is for more of God.

As the deer pants for the water brooks,
So pants my soul for You, O God.
– Psalm 42:1

Last Saturday night at the Pre-Call rally, Lou Engle shared candidly about his love-hate relationship with fasting:

Just so that you think that Lou Engle is not some big fasting giant: Paul said “I speak in tongues more than you all” My claim to fame is I have broken more fasts than you all.

I’m a fasting schizophrenic. To fast or not to fast, that’s the question.

I say to my wife “I’m fasting today.” She says “What do you want for breakfast?”

Every time you start to fast, go to the office and that beautiful pink box will just appear: donuts!

One time I was fasting and praying, and I got tired of fasting and praying, I told people I was fasting and praying but I snuck and cheated, I ate yogurt and chips (good mix; try it!). Snuck some yogurt and chips; next day I was at a 24 hour house of prayer in Pasadena. This prophetic intercessor lady walks in (scary lady). She said “I had a dream about you last night.”

I said (sarcastically) “Oh, wonderful.”

“And In the dream I was disappointed with you because you see you were supposed to be fasting, but you were eating yogurt and chips.”

So suddenly I had fresh motivation to fast.

People think I’ve fasted my whole life. I have so much problems fasting. But every now and then, faith fills my heart and I know it’s not a religious exercise, something is about ready to move…

I feel we’re in such a moment right now in California and in America. I am so thrilled to stand with a movement here called 40 Days for Life….

Lou went on from there to ask me to share the praise report about the on-air confession from KNZR’s Jaz McKay.

I could relate to so much of what Lou had to say (although I haven’t tried yogurt and chips yet).

For brief moments of time when I am fasting, my eyes are opened. I understand what is really important. I realize that it’s not about me. In those moments I can say that His words have become more important to me than food. I realize at those times that serving God is much more satisfying than any feast.

In the midst of this fast, God has us going through other struggles. We chose to be obedient to God by leading another 40 Days for Life campaign, although we knew that doing so would likely result in financial problems. But our transient financial problems are not more important that the future of this nation our grandchildren will inherit. Now is the time we must stand up for Life and for Marriage, or our grandchildren may pay a high price in return. If we focus on our own transient needs at this time of great crisis, we are not only turning away from the innocent children who will suffer for our sins, we are also turning away from our Lord.

I want to continue to place a higher priority on God’s agenda than on my own agenda. But would we really continue serving God if it means we end up homeless and on the streets?

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him.
– Job 13:15

We can trust God with both our physical and spiritual needs.

If you have not yet been a part of the “fast” aspect of 40 Days for Life, it’s not too late to join us in turning away from the god of your stomach and surrendering to God. It may help for you to consult Bill Bright’s a Guide to Prayer and Fasting, which offers practical suggestions on how to fast.