THE SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE OF FASTING

“In fasting, you are learning to be joyful, even when you don’t get what you want. You are practicing suffering and, through it, increasing your capacity for joy in all circumstances. Fasting is hard, especially at first. However, it grows much easier with regular practice. But the “hangry” feelings that come up when we forgo meals often expose the areas of our soul most in need of grace—and, again, open us to God in surprising ways. We begin to feed on what Jesus called the “food to eat that you know nothing about.” – John Mark Comer.

It is day one of your fast, and you are convinced you heard a chocolate bar whisper your name. Day 2, and your stomach emailed you a partnership dissolution letter. Day 3, and you’re wondering if this is what a zombie apocalypse would be like. Day 4 and you’re down to cold-brewed intention and sheer willpower.

If you are unfamiliar with the purpose, process, or benefits of spiritual fasting, it can lead to a fear of the unknown. Chances are, when you hear the word “fasting,” you think about a health fad to cleanse your body, control your diet, and help you lose weight. Others view fasting as an outdated religious practice that makes one holier through self-denial and suffering. Fortunately, spiritual fasting isn’t about either of those things.

God did not design fasting as a burden to be borne or a rule to be followed in an attempt to earn divine favor; instead, the intent was that in denying ourselves that which usually satisfies our appetites, we might turn instead to God – expressing our dependence on Him, our desire for Him, and our delight in Him. In other words, we deny ourselves food to feed our souls.

Fasting, for Jesus, was not an empty religious ritual, but a powerful weapon to lay hold of as He walked upon this earth. The self-denial that left him physically weak was a means of being spiritually strong. His time spent suppressing the desires of the flesh and drawing near to the presence of His Father prepared Him to pursue the course that was set before Him. As we attempt to be with Him, like Him, and do what He does, we should view fasting as a means of denying the physical so that we might focus on the spiritual. When you’re fasting from food, the intention of God for fasting is to realign your life to position you to receive all He has for you.

In Psalm 63:1, David writes that his deepest needs can be met only through God: “O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water.” David wrote Psalm 63 to express his longing for God. He craved God’s presence as he craved food and drink. Just as David yearned for God in the wilderness, we too can acknowledge our dependence on God and develop a deep longing for God. By applying spiritual practices, such as fasting, we can cultivate a deeper, more meaningful relationship with God, just as David did in Psalm 63.

Discussion Questions:

1. What is your initial reaction to the idea of fasting? Is it positive, negative, or neutral? Why? 
2. What do you see as the purpose of fasting in the Christian life? 
3. What are the potential benefits of fasting, both for personal spiritual growth and for engaging with God’s work in the world?