Fasting Part One – Why Should We Fast?

Having been raised in a non-denominational Christian church in the 90’s, fasting was a regular part of our congregation’s prayer life. As a teen, I fasted and prayed alongside my parents, which had a lasting impact on my faith. However, by the time I was in my twenties, I had left the church in pursuit of my own selfish endeavors. Thankfully, God remained faithful, even when I was not, and I found my way back to Christ and His body. I began to connect and build friendships with other believers, finding that many of my new friends had heard of fasting, but it was not a discipline that they practiced in their walk with Christ. In fact, it seemed like most knew very little about fasting all together, and were completely unaware of the ways it could benefit their spiritual lives.

What is fasting?

Fasting is a practice observed by many world religions. Most importantly, it is supported, taught, and encouraged in the Bible. As a spiritual discipline, fasting involves abstaining from something (typically food) for a decided period. Moreover, fasting must be accompanied by earnest prayer and worship, or it becomes merely a diet. Indeed we find examples of fasting all throughout the Bible. In the Old Testament we see Moses, Esther, the prophets, King David, and the Hebrew people as a whole fasting. In Jonah 3:5, we observe the Ninevites fasting in an effort to gain God’s mercy.  New Testament examples of fasting include the apostles, the Pharisees and even Jesus. Fasting is a shift from our physical hunger and thirst for sustenance, to a hunger and thirst for God and His righteousness.

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

Matthew 5:6

Fasting historically has always been a part of our faith. We observe this in the book of Matthew, chapter 6. In this chapter, Jesus instructs his followers on the proper posture and practices for giving, praying, and fasting. Notice, Christ did not have to explain fasting to anyone. Fasting was already an essential spiritual discipline for the Jewish people. To that end, I would argue that these 3 practices – giving, praying, and fasting, are incredibly important acts of worship. Thus, Christians should aspire to incorporate these principles in their walk with Christ.

Why do I fast?

Fasting is personal, and there are a variety of reasons that Christians choose this discipline. I find that it helps bring my life into proper alignment, putting God and His will first. Consequently, abstaining from food can physically weaken your body. This can be challenging, but scripture tells us that His power is made perfect in our weakness. Certainly, in our weakness, we find strength in Him!

“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12: 9-11

Additionally, I choose fasting as an outward expression of my inward commitment to offer myself as a living sacrifice to the Most High. Choosing not only to give Jesus my prayers, praise, and worship; but to give him my body and my mind. I take captive my obsessive thoughts of food, social media, or whatever I am fasting and turn my attention towards Him.

Fasting draws us closer to God.

Truly, few things are more disruptive to your day than fasting, and I mean that in the best possible way. Choosing to deny ourselves comforts we depend on, shakes up our daily rhythm. Sometimes I get lost in the chaos of life, making it halfway through the day before I realize I haven’t spent any time with God. When I am fasting, it forces me to slow down and focus on Jesus. As hunger strikes, I stop everything and pray. Becoming a physical reminder, my hunger pains urge me to turn my attention to Him. To honor Him, to seek Him, and to listen. This increase in dialogue alone provides an opportunity for God to speak, advancing intimacy with Him.  Accordingly, this creates a more significant sense of worship because this isn’t our everyday worship. Fasting is unique, intentional, and challenging; it is worship that we have to work at.

Fasting humbles us.

The Hebrew word for fasting is Kana, and it means to subdue or to bring low. Fasting is a way to humble ourselves, recognizing that God alone sustains us, and to declare this truth with our physical bodies. Fasting says “Lord, I need you and only you. I can’t do this without you.” Thus, this discipline enables us to push our needs and desires aside and bask in the glory of the Father, who needs nothing to sustain Him. God needs no food, no drink. He doesn’t even need us, but He wants us. When we consider all that He is, and we compare it to all that we need for survival; we arrive at the conclusion that He is great, and we are not.  

Fasting positions us to hear from God.

When fasting, my focus shifts from myself and my needs to God and His will. During a period of fasting, I ask God to speak to me, and often he does. Many times, I have sought guidance while navigating through different challenging situations. I find that fasting affectively quiets other voices, making it easier for me to hear the Holy Spirit. Choosing a posture of humility, a mindset of focus, and a hunger for God, will surely put you in the best position to receive revelation, wisdom, and guidance from Him.

Fasting draws us to repentance.

Often fasting will result in the Holy Spirit bringing to light unconfessed sin. Altogether, this encourages repentance and recommitment to Him. Repentance is an unavoidable step we must take to be brought back into right standing with God. Furthermore, it is the only way to become free from our sin and restore our relationship with our Holy Father.

“Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord.”

Acts 3:19

Fasting helps us control our flesh.

As we fast, we weaken our flesh while simultaneously strengthening our spirit. Surely this discipline enables us to resist sin because through fasting, we have a record of successfully defeating our fleshly desires. Basically, fasting allows us the opportunity to work our spiritual muscles as we say “no” to our flesh.

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.”

Galatians 5:24

Notably, we see this practice modeled by Christ in Matthew chapter 4. The Bible states that The Holy Spirit led Jesus to the wilderness to fast and be tempted by the devil. In the desert, Satan attempted to seduce Jesus with things His humanity might desire. Triumphantly, Jesus thwarted each attack by resisting the devil and declaring God’s truth through scripture. Indeed, Christ spent 40 days in the desert conquering His flesh and strengthening His spirit; the devil was doomed to fail before he even spoke.

Fasting helps us experience victory and breakthrough.

Often, I fast and petition God for breakthrough over a specific stronghold in my life. Additionally, I have utilized fasting and prayer to come alongside someone I love who is engaged in a physical (illness, injury, etc.) or spiritual battle. Fasting is a tool for spiritual warfare that unfortunately, many Christians overlook or don’t know how to utilize. Undeniably, this discipline strengthens our connection to God and His mighty power. We have no power on our own. We must tap into the source of all power and connect with the One who is already victorious! Mark chapter 9 gives an account of the disciples attempting to exercise a demon unsuccessfully. Then, Jesus casts out the demon and tells the disciples that only prayer and fasting could have driven that demon out. Is fasting and prayer the weapon you need to finally attain victory in the battle you’ve been fighting?

“And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.'”

Mark 9:28-29

Finally, I want to encourage you to consider incorporating this discipline into your worship. Although not everyone is able to abstain from food, there are many ways to fast which we will cover in the next post. Above all, fasting is a heart posture of humility and sacrifice. Truly, your focus should not be on what you are fasting from, but who you are fasting for and why.