The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

By Pastor Chad

On Sunday, we discussed the purpose and impact of the spiritual discipline of fasting. Clearly, much more can be said about this long-held exercise; however, there are specific questions I was not able to address in my message on Sunday morning. So, I wanted to address them in my recap. 

Richard Foster defines fasting as “the voluntary denial of a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity.” One can fast from other activities or functions; however, generally speaking, biblical fasting was abstaining from a needed activity for a limited time, most specifically, food. How should one engage in such an activity? Below I answer some common questions. 

Should I fast? Scripture speaks as if Christians are expected to fast (Matthew 6:16-18). Saying that, there may be some medical concerns that you need to take account of. If you have various medical conditions that may limit or restrict you from fasting, be sure to consult your doctor before doing anything. For most of us, however, fasting is completely fine. In fact, fasting is not only spiritually beneficial, it is also physically beneficial.   

How often should you fast? Ultimately, that’s between the individual believer and the Holy Spirit. Other factors that need to be considered: health, physical activity at work, family situation, schedule, season (it probably isn’t good to fast during Thanksgiving), etc. The Didache (an early Christian writing) indicates that early Christians fasted twice a week, but that isn’t a biblical command. Thus, there is no biblical expectation about a specific routine of fasting. 

How long should one fast? Ultimately, that’s between the individual believer and the Holy Spirit; however, physically speaking, just about anyone (again, barring health concerns) can fast for 12-24 hours without any health risks. 

How should one fast? Start slow—skip a meal or two. Don’t go big at first. Some may need to start by avoiding snacks between meals—just to get one’s body used to it.  

Can we fast from something other than food? Yes, fasting can be done in many different ways; however, the impact of a food fast is that one is abstaining from a needed substance for a period of time. Saying that, many Christians find it spiritually beneficial to fast from various forms of entertainment (social media, television, sports, etc.). Additionally, there is biblical precedence for fasting from particular foods (see Daniel 1:8 & 10:2-3).  

What should I do while fasting? Prayer and fasting go hand-in-hand. Granted, you will probably have to go about your normal day-to-day life, but whenever the hunger pangs come, that is a reminder to say a prayer. 

How do I begin my fast? In my opinion, to make fasting intentionally spiritual, it is best to begin with a specific focus and prayer. For example, if you are seeking God’s direction with a new job, pray that God gives you wisdom and guidance through the time of prayer and fasting.

Why fast from food? What is the spiritual significance of such an exercise? When fasting, we have a desire for food; that desire is meant to point us to our need for God. The desire for food is meant to show us our human limitations. It is meant to humble us. It is meant to draw us to our knees. It is meant to spark our souls to groan for God. It makes us aware of our finitude and limitations. In a very practical sense, our bellies growling are meant to be seen as groanings of the spirit that long for God. Fasting is not simply about making yourself hungry. Hunger is simply a means to an end. Hunger is not the end itself. Hunger is meant to leverage a physical limitation that awakens a spiritual reality. Fasting–when done with a spiritual focus–is a way of submitting ourselves before God. It is a way of saying I need you more than even the very food that keeps me alive. 

Above all, remember that fasting is not meant to be a law or action that is imposed upon the Christian. It is a tool–a means of grace–to help the Christian grow closer to the Lord.