What is fasting? Fasting is when we go without food for some spiritual purpose
What are good reasons for Christ-followers to fast?
- Fast to refocus on God’s priorities
- Fast to see our need for God (with every groan) and to rely more fully on His power
- Fast to seek God’s guidance
- Fast to give extra time and attention to the word and prayer
- Praying for spiritual breakthroughs in our lives and in the lives of others
- Praying for the salvation of others
- Praying for causes of justice and mercy in our day (e.g. abortion, sex trafficking, pornography epidemic, ISIS, persecuted Christians, etc.)
- Fast to become more sensitive to the needs of others
- Fast to expose sin and idols, the things we rely upon in place of God
- Fast to grow in self-control and to find victory in the face of temptation
- Fast to express love and worship to God: nothing I desire beside you!
How might a Christ-follower go about practicing the discipline of fasting?
- Start small (e.g. one meal, two meals, then a full-day fast, perhaps a 2-day juice fast. Build up to an extended fast of 3-7days)
- Fast with purpose (see above)
- Fast with a plan: clear purpose, mindful of others, what will you do with extra time?
- Experiment with different forms of fasting: personal and communal, congregational and national, regular and occasional, absolute and partial.
