Fasting
Lent and Easter are now behind us. Most associate the “spiritual discipline” of fasting with this season.
Intentionally creating space in our lives to hear God by removing things that give us immediate satisfaction can feel uncomfortable— especially when our world glorifies pleasure. THIS is the nature of what a fast provides.
Fasting starves what is stopping us from experiencing God’s presence forcing us to pay attention to the parts of our lives that we try to drown out through binging. In the process, it teaches us to rely on Jesus to meet our needs.
Fasting invites us to give up something we love to make space for something we love even more. Although giving up something you love, like food, may feel difficult and uncomfortable, it is an opportunity to experience immense joy, because true joy is only found when our strength comes from Jesus.
Fasting often brings a breakthrough. Moses fasted for 40 days while receiving the 10 Commandments, Daniel fasted for 3 weeks and then received a vision, and Jesus fasted for 40 days and then overcame the devil’s temptations.
Fasting tells our body who the boss really is. It calls to mind that we are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body. Most people move with feelings. They will manipulate their body to create a desireable feeling or move away from a less desirable one. Surrendering to our body is a form of the “tail wagging the dog” and fasting reorganizes God’s intended hierarchy.
Try this:
Complete a 24 hour fast. If you haven’t fasted often, keep things simple—the goal is to finish.
If you start to feel uncomfortable during your fast, and you will, turn that discomfort into an opportunity to talk to God and listen to Him.
Once you’ve finished the fast, reflect and journal about anything that stood out to you during this time.
Make this an intentional regular practice. Don’t wait for the next season to fast. Create your own opportunities to clear distractions from hearing God in your life.
Submitted by Jude Sullivan
