Fasting. This is a faith habit I’ve always struggled with. I’ve done it, but I still feel like I’m not doing it right because I never feel closer to God through the process. I’ve tried fasting different things. I think my “best” fast was when I gave up noise for Lent. So, no music or movies, and I even tried not to talk to myself. I feel like that gave me the right space for me to spend time with God, especially at that stage of my life, which is what a fast is all about.

This is something we’ve started talking more about as a Church staff, and I’m hoping the process we’re going through will help me finally connect with this faith habit.

Usually, I only write about things from my experience, but I didn’t want to not talk about fasting because it is an important faith habit that is specifically talked about in the Bible. But now that I’m telling you what my head has learned, I don’t have many stories from my heart to share yet. If you’ve had meaningful growth come from fasting, let us know in the comments what made a difference for you in this process.

What is Fasting

Fasting for health has become more common these days, so most of us have probably heard about fasting, but fasting for your spiritual health is simply the act of giving up something important to you for a set amount of time so you can use that energy towards something more important, your relationship with God.

Jesus calls us to do it as a spiritual habit that will grow our relationship with God. By giving up something we want or need for a short time, we have a reminder to go to God with our wants and needs and trust him to take care of us daily. This habit also creates more space to focus on our relationship with God so that we can fill that space by choosing a relationship with God.

Why should I Fast?

There are many reasons we see people fasting in the Bible. The simplest reason is to spend more time with God. But there are other reasons as well.

To seek God’s wisdom or to seek answers for seasons of life, difficult decisions in life, or future clarity from God: Acts 14:23
To show grief: Nehemiah 1:1-4
To seek deliverance or protection: Ezra 8:21-23
To repent: Jonah 3:6-10
To gain victory: Judges 20:26
To worship God: Luke 2:37
To prepare for ministry: Matthew 4:1-17

Where do I Start

The thought of giving things up and going deep into time with God may feel overwhelming the first time you start. However, you don’t need to dive into the “deep end of the pool” your first time. Your first time should be a balance of challenge but something attainable. After you’ve been successful with a small amount of time, you can work your way up to more significant times of fasting.

Also, while we usually think of food when we think of fasting, we can fast from anything in our life that has the potential to either get in the way of our relationship with God or create the opportunity for more time with God. This could be social media, TV shows, hobbies, or other things that take up our time and focus, not just food. This includes, but is not limited to:

Social Media
TV, movies, video games
Hobbies (golfing, exercise, example example)
Coffee
Alcohol
The News
Shopping

How Do I Start

Decide what you’ll give up and how long: If it’s your first time fasting, we recommend giving up a meal or maybe a TV show. This can be one time or every week for a period of time.
Decide how you will spend that time: Are you going to pray in a particular chair, journal, read your Bible, or another way you enjoy spending time with God? Make sure you know how you’ll focus during that time.
Set a reminder: Make a reminder, however works best for you, to fast for the time you set.
Tell your accountability partner: While you don’t want to tell the world you’re fasting, ask someone you trust to hold you accountable or invite them to do it with you. Then, talk about how the time went and what God showed you in that time.