Devotion to Fasting
Of all the disciplines of the Christian life, things like prayer, worship, and the study of God’s Word, the practice of fasting is the one we seem to struggle with most - or don’t engage with all together. Some of that struggle might be because we fail to see its purpose or use in our lives. What does it accomplish and why should we practice it?
What is fasting?
Fasting is voluntarily abstaining from food or any other regularly enjoyed good gift from God, for the sake of some spiritual purpose. Often this is simply a desire for more of God, more of His Spirit, more of His voice and leading. In the Scriptures, you see times of fasting tied to sorrowful repentance, mourning, and seeking the leading of the Spirit.
Misplaced emphasis in fasting.
Many times, because of its difficult nature, our focus in fasting mistakenly becomes all about the self-denial necessary to accomplish it, as if the primary purpose of it was to plainly and dramatically tell our bodies of flesh, “No.” But that’s only half of it. The emphasis in fasting must not be self-denial, but rather, deep desire for deep(er) satisfaction. As Sam Storms put it in his book, Practicing the Power, (p.58):
Fasting is not about denying yourself; it’s about satisfying yourself… in God. Fasting is not about physical pain, but spiritual pleasure. Fasting is the first cousin to prayer in the sense that together they are the ordained means by which God is pleased to give us what we need.
The act of fasting is, in a sense, a prayer itself. A prayer of pursuit. A prayer of deep spiritual seeking. A prayer of asking with an extraordinary intensity and passion. And in that prayer and pursuit, we have a good Father who delights in answering (rewarding, Matt. 6:16-18) those who ask, seek, and knock (Luke 11:9-13). And to those who seek Him with all their heart He has promised that we will find Him (Jer. 29:13). Fasting is a great way to make that prayer of deep desire - of seeking with all our heart.
Appetite adjustment.
For a lot of us, it’s a struggle to stay devoted to and consistent in prayer. We are in a battle with an Enemy that wants to keep us distracted and/or discouraged so we give up coming to the Life-giver in prayer. We may start off a New Year strong, but before too long we settle back into a form of lifeless, box-checking religion, where it’s something we do because we know we “should” rather than a regular communing with the Living God. So, how do we stay steadfast in prayer? How do we continue in devoted prayer? I think the answer is delight.
You see, the problem isn’t that we don’t pray [enough]. The problem is not being completely delighted in Christ. It's not being completely satisfied in Him. It’s that we don’t hunger after Him, His Word or His righteousness, like we ought, and it then begs the question, “Why don’t we?”
My contention is this: our bellies are full. Too often, we don’t hunger for the Bread of Life or thirst for the Living Water because we’ve spoiled our appetite for Him with the cares of this world. We’ve satisfied ourselves - or at least pacified ourselves - by nibbling and snacking on all comforts and pleasures this life has offered. Many of them are the very good gifts and blessings that God gives as a reflection of Him and His goodness. At the very least, they become a destructive distraction hindering us in this race that we’re called to run (Heb. 12:1-2), but then… at its worst: it’s a full blown IDOL.
I think fasting is a good gift from God to help give us an appetite adjustment. That through hunger and pursuit, we would again long for Him and be satisfied completely in Him. Fasting is about feasting on the fullness of Christ and delighting ourselves in Him.
Consider fasting.
If you’ve found it hard to persist in prayer, ask yourself, “why.” Allow the Holy Spirit to check your appetite, and then consider incorporating fasting into your prayer life and pursuit of Him. I know our good Father will hear us and meet us when we seek to be satisfied fully in Him.
*If you have a medical condition or need that would make fasting a concern or put you at risk, please consult your doctor and maybe consider an alternative type of fast.