Those of us who have been on the Daniel Fast this year know that one thing is certain — you will lose weight! This is a blessing for all of us who overindulged during the holidays, like a bear preparing for hibernation, knowing that the fast was coming. But during the second week of the fast, the Lord placed a thought in my head about the fat we are losing during this time.
In the Old Testament, God gave directions to Moses concerning the sacrifices the people were to offer Him. Special reference was made to the fat of the animals. Leviticus 3:16 “The priest shall burn them on the altar as food, an offering made by fire, a pleasing aroma. All the fat is the LORD’s.” In the New Testament, Paul spoke of Christians giving themselves as “living sacrifices”. Romans 12:1 “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”
As we fast during this time, coming to God in humility and with a desire to know Him on a much deeper level, we are “living sacrifices”, offering the fat of our bodies as a pleasing aroma to Him. We are showing our dedication, sacrificing our food, in order to have a greater awareness of Him, His purposes, and His desires for our lives and those we are praying for.
May we always be a “pleasing aroma” to our Lord and God. Amen
Jael's Musings 