Reaping Humility
When I was thinking about fasting this week, my mind couldn't help but recall a TED Talk I listened to a while ago (for those who are interested, it was "Your body language may shape who you are" by Amy Cuddy). Amy is a social psychologist who centered her talk around the ways in which our body language not only speaks to others, but also speaks to ourselves.
Amy discusses "power posing," a controversial technique that suggests that putting your body into powerful poses (in private, prior to social engagement) will in fact boost confidence and portray strength that would be helpful in some circumstances (like job interviews). At the conclusion of her talk, she addressed the concept of "fake it 'til you make it" and suggested that you "fake it until you become it," indicating that some sort of change is made in our minds because of the posture of our bodies.
I'm going to be honest: "fake it 'til you make it" isn't my favorite advice. It feels...you know...fake. I do, however, understand the significance of doing with your body what you want for your mind (or heart as we transition to spiritual things) to do. It's for this reason that "praying with our bodies" resonates with me.
Ezra 8:21 says, "Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God..." Fasting and humility are so deeply connected that Ezra proclaimed a fast SO THAT he and the people might be humbled before God. I imagine this connection is what Jesus had in mind when he cautioned us against fasting like the hypocrites, who do so in pride.
Praying with our bodies is a way for us to communicate with our own hearts and with God that we desire to be humble before him. We can't fake it, but as we create predictable patterns to sow into our bodies the kind of fasting taught by Jesus, we'll reap the humility that our hearts so desperately need.
-Heather
Heather Garrett serves on Regen's Worship Team and leads our Student Huddle with her husband Holden. She and Holden live in Girard with their daughter Chloe
