Fasting, like prayer or reading God’s Word, is a spiritual discipline. Like all spiritual disciplines, the chief purpose of fasting is to draw us closer to Christ.
What is fasting? Fasting means to voluntarily abstain from food for a specified period. A fast may be total abstinence from all food except water, or a fast from certain foods and drinks. We don’t fast to impress God or others. Nor do we fast as a means of self-punishment.
Fasting is usually associated with humbling oneself before God and coming to Him in complete dependence. In the Bible, fasting often occurred:
- Along with prayer and petition to God. (Daniel 9:3)
- As a form of worship. (Acts 13:2)
- In association with mourning or confession of sin. (Joel 2:12)
- Simply with a desire to draw closer to God. (Psalm 35:13)
In Matthew 4, we read about Jesus being led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. During that time of severe temptation when the evil one threw all his evil ploys at Jesus our Lord chose to fast. In this way, fasting can be a means of shutting out all other distractions and desires and drawing near to God.
The evil one also tried to tempt Jesus even regarding His fast. For at the end of those 40 days, Jesus was hungry. We read, “The tempter came to Him and said, ‘If You are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” (Matthew 4:3-4) Jesus was quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, which refers to the Lord sustaining Israel for 40 years in the wilderness by giving them manna. Jesus was telling the tempter, “I don’t need to take matters into my own hands to demonstrate who I am. My trust is in God, the sustainer of My life.”
As with other spiritual disciplines, you can couple fasting with prayer, the reading of God’s Word, worship, solitude, and other disciplines.
Personally, I’ve employed fasting at times when I needed to make a major decision and wanted the Lord’s leading. I’ve fasted as a means of humbling myself before the Lord, worshiping Him and expressing my love for Him. Fasting has been called “feasting on God,” and I like that description, because that’s really what it is.
Scripture Reading: Daniel 9:1-19
Personal Application: If you’ve never fasted, consult a doctor, then set aside a time in which you will fast with the purpose of simply spending time with the Lord and drawing near to Him. You can fast from food for a meal, a day, or even a few days, but be sure to drink plenty of water during your fast. In your fast, enjoy the Lord’s presence and worship Him. Trust Him and depend on Him for all.
Jim Grassi, D. Min.
We cherish any verse in Scripture that reminds us to keep focused and intentional about evangelism and discipleship. “But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:5