Spiritual Discipline: Fasting
Fasting was frequently used in the Old Testament as a way for people to attempt to influence God’s decisions. King David fasted while imploring God to save the life of the child he had with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 12. 16). Prophets fasted upon hearing God’s condemnation of the people of Israel (Nehemiah 1. 4). Ultimately, the idea is that by removing food from your life, it will help you to focus on God’s presence and will in your life. However, just as Jesus points out in Matthew 6. 16, the people attempted to use fasting as an attempt to manipulate God instead of using it to allow God to change them. Isaiah points out that what God really wants is that our fasting to be a part of our overall obedience to His commands to feed the hungry and take care of the oppressed (Isaiah 58). So let’s always remember that when we fast, we need to do it with a focus on our own hearts before God.
Jesus begins His earthly ministry with a forty day fast in the wilderness (Matthew 4. 2). What a great reminder to us that in order to be fully-focused on God, we need to empty ourselves of our own desires and will first. Paul reminds us of this process of emptying in Philippians 2. 5- 11. Fasting is the ultimate denial of our basic human need for food. Therefore, fasting is the ultimate in our demonstration to God that we are willing to forego even the most simple of our human fleshly desires in order to pursue Him. Just as the prophets and repentant Israelites did long ago, we should continue to use fasting as an effort to gain God’s wisdom and knowledge. We can also use fasting as a part of our prayers for God’s intervention for the health and welfare of those around us, but our primary focus should be one of changing our own hearts and desires into God’s heart and desire.
Historically, fasting involved the removing of food and drink from one’s life routine for a desired time. By denying themselves the basic necessity of food, it forced the people to focus on what was truly important in their lives- the presence of God. This can be done in a variety of ways. One can do a full-fast: no food or water until the fast is over. A day time fast: no food or water during daylight. Sometimes people simply fast a meal or so. More frequently, people will fast from an item they find particularly tempting (chocolate!). The timing or style of how you fast is not as important as your focus remaining on God’s presence in your life. If the fast is helping you to focus on God’s Holy Spirit then it is a success. However, I think modern Americans can fast from other things to accomplish the same purpose.
For some people, food is not the barrier between them and God. However, electronics may be. In those cases, I would recommend that it could be good to make a technology fast. Just like with food, a technology fast would be removing technology from your life to focus on God. What if you spent a day with no cell-phones, computers or TV screens to focus on God! I recommend families take technology fasts while eating! I had one friend who fasted from reading books- they had realized that they had become so obsessed with reading that they were hurting their relationship with God. Regardless of what it is, fasting should be an important part of our spiritual disciplines. Our fasting should help us to ensure that we are placing God in the proper place of the center of our lives. Take time to look into fasting this lent!
Devotions
Day 1: Read Matthew 4. 1- 4
Jesus begins His earthly ministry with a fast. I think this is a great reminder to us as to how important fasting is. It is an opportunity for us to physically deny ourselves in order to allow God to fill our spirits. Pray that God would help you to see how and when you can fast to empower your relationship. Ask Him to give you clarity on your fasting practices.
Day 2: Read Nehemiah 1. 1- 11
Nehemiah not only fasts, but uses this time to confess his personal failures as well as the failures of the people of Israel. Through this time, Nehemiah would eventually lead a great revival of the people of God. We need to remember that we should implore God not only on our behalf, but for the whole of society as well. Pray that God will help you to seek the welfare of all those around you. Ask Him to help you to be His servant to this world.
Day 3: Read Isaiah 58. 1- 14
Isaiah is reminding the people that while fasting can be beneficial, it can also be used as a blind manipulation of God. In those cases, God is not influenced by our efforts to manipulate Him. Instead, we need to be focused on Him with a pure heart. Pray that God would help your heart be pure before Him. Ask God to help you to be faithful in your service to Him.
Day 4: Read 2 Samuel 12. 15- 23
David fasts in an effort to get God to change His mind. Intervention for the benefit of those around us should always be important. However, we need to remind ourselves that sometimes God’s will is not to give us what we want. In those times, we still need to grateful to God and trust in His will. Pray that God will help you to be bold in your prayers for those around you. Ask Him to help you to be satisfied with whatever His will is for your life.
Day 5: Read Luke 5. 33- 39
Fasting is not to be optional for modern Christians. Jesus assumed His disciples would fast after He left them and they did. Think of a way you can honor God through some form of fast- either food or something else. Pray that God would help you come up with a fasting plan. Ask Him to make that plan clear to you and to give you the strength to fulfill it.
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