I've recently completed Awakening: A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom by Stovall Weems. Pastor/teacher types are forever exhorting their congregations and classes to spend time alone with God praying and studying his word. However, one rarely hears these folks include a call to fast in their teaching. Awakening changes that. Reverend Weems is the pastor of Celebration Church in Jacksonville, Florida and he regularly includes fasts as part of his relationship with God. In the book he shares why he does so and why he thinks it is important for all Christians (who are medically able) to do so as well. Specifically, he calls for a 21 day fast to "revolutionize your relationship with God".
The teaching part of the book is 124 pages long. Weems uses scripture and personal experience to explain how and why Christians should spend time in personal study and worship, including fasting. The chapters are readable and most conclude before they get boring. Each one ends with a personal testimoney from a member of Celebration church who tells something of how God used the 21 day fast in his/her life. These testimonies of God's activity are really neat. Another thing I enjoyed about the book is that Weems is really passionate in his love for Jesus and that comes through in the writing.
The next 20 pages lay out the plans for several types of 21 day fasts. Weems gives his thoughts on the value of each type of fast as well as providing medical cautions where appropriate. Following these plans are 21 days worth of personal devotional readings to use while on the fast. Reverend Weems also throws in some ideas of what to expect your body to do as it responds to various phases of the fast and encouragement to keep going. The final six pages consists of study questions to use if one is leading a small group through a study of this book. I found this to be the weakest section.
I have to admit that I do not understand the subtitle, "A New Approach to Faith, Fasting, and Spiritual Freedom". There is really nothing new here. It is a book about spiritual disciplines that many Christians have been practicing for centuries. Still, it is a book worth reading and it is my hope and prayer that many who read this book will apply these disciplines to their own lives.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
