Learning to walk

Many Christians choose to celebrate a fast throughout the season of Lent, but the focus is not on depriving themselves of something as much as it is on devoting themselves to God and His purposes in the world.

 ¹² That is why the LORD says, 
      “Turn to me now, while there is time. 
   Give me your hearts. 
      Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. 
 ¹³ Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, 
      but tear your hearts instead.” 
   Return to the LORD your God, 
      for he is merciful and compassionate, 
   slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. 
      He is eager to relent and not punish. 
 ¹⁴ Who knows? Perhaps he will give you a reprieve, 
      sending you a blessing instead of this curse. 
   Perhaps you will be able to offer grain and wine 
      to the LORD your God as before.

 ¹⁵ Blow the ram’s horn in Jerusalem! 
      Announce a time of fasting; 
   call the people together 
      for a solemn meeting. 
 ¹⁶ Gather all the people— 
      the elders, the children, and even the babies. 
   Call the bridegroom from his quarters 
      and the bride from her private room. 
 ¹⁷ Let the priests, who minister in the LORD’s presence, 
      stand and weep between the entry room to the Temple and the altar. 
   Let them pray, “Spare your people, LORD! 
      Don’t let your special possession become an object of mockery. 
   Don’t let them become a joke for unbelieving foreigners who say, 
      ‘Has the God of Israel left them?’”

(Joel 2:12-17 NLT)