We are comfortable people. We value what is familiar and consistent. We often don’t want to step out of what we know, or don’t even want to try something new. We especially stick to what is easy and comfortable when it comes to our faith. What if God doesn’t want us to stay comfortable in our faith? What happens if God desires more for your relationship with Him? Would you answer Him? Or would you act like you aren’t home when God is knocking at the door? It’s worth it to ask ourselves: How willing am I to let go of something to seek more of God’s presence and His will for my life? Am I avoiding taking a bold step in my faith in order to maintain my selfish comfortability?
What Exactly is Fasting?
Fasting is when you give up something for a period of time to focus on spiritual growth and discipline. From fasting food to fasting social media, you are able to abstain from anything you love or enjoy on this earth. We then allow God to replace what we have surrendered both mentally and physically.
You may have never tried fasting, or maybe you do not know what it really is. If you have fasted before, then maybe it’s time to fast again. Many of us have been in pursuit of holiness in our walks with the Lord– yet we cling to the comfortability of our faith and haven’t stepped out in boldness in a while.
Fasting reminds us physically, mentally, and spiritually of our deep dependency on the Lord. Because Jesus paid our debt by dying on the cross, we have the chance to fast and seek the fullness of God as inherently broken and sinful people. What a gracious gift that is! Fasting is a catalyst for our faith when we understand how to do it well. We seek His presence in a bold, profound, and private way in our surrender.
In the Bible, we see examples of biblical figures abstaining from something in order to hear God’s voice, dwell in His presence, and to simply talk with God.
Fasting in The Bible: Moses
After God, through the prophet Moses, led the Israelites out of captivity, the Israelites built idols to replace God (Exodus 32). Instead of seeking God, their focus was on something man-made, earthly. Moses sought after the Lord time and time again for guidance and for His will to be done. Moses knew the reality of his dependency– he knew he deeply needed the Lord as his strength. In Exodus 34, we see Moses go onto Mount Sinai where the Lord renewed the covenants for His people. You see, Moses fasted from bread and water for 40 days and 40 nights. He stepped out of any comfortability within himself to be present with the Lord through his fasting. He set aside any selfish ambition, and soaked in the presence of God in communion with Him. As believers, we have the opportunity to discipline ourselves spiritually to step out of our comfortable faith.
Fasting in The Bible: Jesus
Jesus set the best example for us in our fasting in Matthew 4. After 40 days and 40 nights of fasting and temptation from the enemy, Jesus was hungry. The enemy saw this as an opportunity to tempt Jesus to create bread for himself.
Matthew 4:1-4 says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’’”
While Jesus fasted, He combated the enemy’s lies and temptation with Truth–with Scripture. In following the example Jesus set for us, we must combat the enemy’s lies with God’s Truth. When fasting becomes difficult, we must remember the focus should not be on ourselves, but on seeking and being in the Lord’s presence.
Fasting Well
Merely talking about fasting will not help us. We are called to be doers of the Word and not just hearers (James 1:22-25), therefore we must put it into action.
Depending on what you are fasting, chances are it will be difficult at times to surrender. Fasting is not skipping a day’s worth of meals only to dwell on the empty pit in our stomachs. Fasting encompasses the shifting of where our focus is. We intentionally choose to shift our perspective from a worldly desire or dependency to scripture and prayer. Our focus becomes vertical as we seek the Lord in our moment of surrender. We begin to see a shift in perspective and in our heart. We get less of something in order to get more of God’s presence.
If you want to start fasting, start small. Be intentional in your prayer, and focus on replacing whatever it may be with the Lord and nothing else. Be intentional to read scripture or spend time in prayer in replacement of what you are fasting. Fight the battle against your flesh to challenge your faith and seek the Lord.
Joel 2:12 says, “Yet even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning[.]” Choose something that you rely on too often for strength or comfort. Choose to fast to simply seek the Lord.
If you struggle to have a consistent quiet time, try fasting to create spiritual discipline. If your prayer life is sparse, fast and seek the Lord. If you are in a constant battle with anxiety, fast and seek the Lord. If you feel bound by your sin, fast from it and spend that time in prayer with the Lord as you repent from it.
For some of us, it may be fasting from watching television after a long day or even scrolling on social media to “recharge” or “chill.” What if God wants to be our comfort and strength after a long day? Should we not consider fasting from these things to seek God in every part of our day?
Remember the questions we asked ourselves at the beginning? How willing am I to let go of something to seek more of God’s presence and His will for my life? Am I avoiding taking a bold step in my faith in order to maintain my selfish comfortability? Reflect on these questions and what your transparent answers would be. Consider the spiritual impact that fasting could have on your life as you seek the Lord in this intentional way and step outside of the comfortability of your faith.