While growing up and in my early adult years, I belonged to a church where biblical fasting was virtually untouched. The only fast I can recall was when our pastor’s wife was gravely ill, and a church-wide fast was called to intercede for her. When I began attending Cypress, I encountered several, if not many, folks who embraced fasting as a spiritual discipline, and I began to learn of and personally experience its benefits.
When I look back at my former church, I don’t judge it for any area where it may have been lacking; rather, I’m grateful for the areas of strength in which I was discipled there. The above passage reminds me that each person’s spiritual growth is part of his own journey. While the opportunity to judge arises countless times in a day, the opportunity to extend grace is limitless as well. May we continuously choose to generously grace one another as we journey together in Christ.