We can’t change ourselves all by ourselves. Spiritual growth requires the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. And yet, spiritual growth is not automatic. We have a part to play in the process. Spiritual habits focus our attention intentionally on the work the Holy Spirit desires to do in our lives. Through them we connect to the means God uses through his Word, prayer, and Spirit to form us into his likeness.
A very helpful way to utilize spiritual habits is to develop a set of daily habits and a set of weekly habits. Daily habits should include items such as Bible reading and prayer. Fasting can be a life-changing weekly habit (something you do once a week). The following description will help you to understand fasting in general and how to utilize it as a weekly habit in particular.
Weekly Habit: 24-Hour Fast
Fasting is the practice of giving up something we normally consume to focus on God.1 Fasting from something for 24 hours teaches us to say “no” to our desires and “yes” to God. While often and historically this practice has centered on food intake, food is not the only thing you can fast from in this weekly practice.
The Old and New Testaments refer to fasting. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught his disciples,
“...when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:16–18 ESV)
In this context Jesus assumes his followers will fast even as they will pray and give. Most people understand that fasting is a practice of abstaining from (typically) food. What we often miss is that fasting is also a practice of feasting. While we abstain from food we indulge in God. We fast from something physical (like food), but we feast on spiritual nourishment that God alone can provide. In his own fast, Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy when he rebuked the devil, stating that, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:14 ESV).
Regular fasting can aid us in experiencing God’s grace as Paul uses the word in Titus.
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works." (Titus 2:11–14 ESV)
In our journey to live “self-controlled and godly lives,” fasting can be a great tool to learn to say “no” to the physical demands of our bodies while saying “yes” to the word of God in our lives. By abstaining from what we normally consume, and using the added time to focus on God, we train ourselves in obedience to God.
Practically speaking, this may look a lot like seeing your weaknesses exposed. Even before lunch-time on a weekly fast day, I usually find that I have a tendency toward getting frustrated with my lack of energy of hungry feelings. I am reminded how little willpower I have to express when I can typically snack on something throughout the day to fill the smallest hunger cravings.
Getting Started with Fasting
1. Pick something to fast from. While abstaining from food is a typical way to fast, other options include:
- Screens or devices
- Alcohol or caffeine
- Social media
2. Pick a time. Consider sundown to sundown. With food, this might mean you eat dinner on Tuesday and then abstain from eating until dinner on Wednesday. If you’re going to do a weekly rhythm of fasting from food for 24 hours, many people find this format has enough of a challenge to lead to the positive experiences of turning physical hunger toward increased focus on God while not being so burdensome that it is not sustainable as a weekly habit.
3. Start slow. If 24 hours is too long, start by fasting one meal. If you have medical needs that fasting would impact, consult with your doctor. Be cautious about exercise or other activities that might not be safe to do while fasting.
4. Preserve time for prayer. Don’t fill your whole fast-day with work and activity but replace time you would have reserved for meals for reading the Bible or prayer.
Written By: Pastor Micah Hutchison
1 https://downloads.24-7prayer.com/prayer_course/2019/resources/pdfs/28%20How%20to%20Fast.pdf
