The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting
Matthew 6:16-18
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus outlines three key spiritual disciplines - giving to the needy, prayer, and fasting. While most Christians embrace giving and prayer, we often neglect the practice of fasting.
Why is that? Perhaps we view fasting as too difficult, uncomfortable, or spiritually lofty. Or maybe we dismiss it as a cultural relic rather than a timeless spiritual truth.
However, Jesus makes a bold assumption that his followers will fast. He states plainly "WHEN you fast..." not "IF you fast..."
So why was fasting such a big deal to Jesus? To understand it better, we need to look at it from three angles: the Old Testament foundation, Jesus' own teachings, and his intentions for us today.
In the OT, there were four main reasons people fasted: repentance over sin, pleading with God for help, seeking guidance, and grieving together. While fasting was not always practiced correctly, these reasons formed the biblical foundation the disciples knew about fasting.
Then Jesus showed up and corrected practices that the religious leaders of the day had adopted in their fasting. He called out the showy hypocrites who made sure everyone could see how much they were "struggling" when they fasted. Instead, Jesus said to fast in secret, with God as your only audience – not for human approval, but for a true reward from God the Father.
Which brings us to the "why" behind fasting today.
At its core, biblical fasting uses physical hunger to grow us spiritually in three key ways:
Unlike hypocritical religious shows, authentic biblical fasting always produces real-life fruit. God shapes our character, prompts us to help others, and allows spiritual breakthroughs to happen. The proof is in the lasting life change, not just an empty ritual.
So here's the challenge: Is there an area in which you long to see God work more in your life? A spiritual hunger you sense? Wrestling with out-of-control appetites? A burden for suffering people? Then lean into the spiritual discipline of fasting!
Use your hunger pangs to prompt deeper prayers, practice self-discipline, and grow in compassion. If fasting from food isn't wise for you, pick something else you impulsively seek out like social media, alcohol, streaming shows, etc. Whatever you temporarily let go of, embrace the discomfort and re-direct that energy towards God.
At the end of the day, fasting expresses our ravenous desire for more of God's presence and power in our lives. When we follow Jesus' instructions to fast simply, sincerely, and solely to deepen our relationship with the Father, we position ourselves for God to do miraculous work in and through us. Our hunger becomes a blessing in disguise as God uses it to produce lasting spiritual fruit.
Why is that? Perhaps we view fasting as too difficult, uncomfortable, or spiritually lofty. Or maybe we dismiss it as a cultural relic rather than a timeless spiritual truth.
However, Jesus makes a bold assumption that his followers will fast. He states plainly "WHEN you fast..." not "IF you fast..."
So why was fasting such a big deal to Jesus? To understand it better, we need to look at it from three angles: the Old Testament foundation, Jesus' own teachings, and his intentions for us today.
In the OT, there were four main reasons people fasted: repentance over sin, pleading with God for help, seeking guidance, and grieving together. While fasting was not always practiced correctly, these reasons formed the biblical foundation the disciples knew about fasting.
Then Jesus showed up and corrected practices that the religious leaders of the day had adopted in their fasting. He called out the showy hypocrites who made sure everyone could see how much they were "struggling" when they fasted. Instead, Jesus said to fast in secret, with God as your only audience – not for human approval, but for a true reward from God the Father.
Which brings us to the "why" behind fasting today.
At its core, biblical fasting uses physical hunger to grow us spiritually in three key ways:
- It deepens our dependence on God, reminding us through those growling stomachs that we desperately need divine nourishment, like we need food and water.
- It helps us master our appetites and cravings, teaching self-control over deeper desires like status, pleasure, and possessions. Like Jesus modeling true freedom by denying himself on the cross, we crucify our own wayward passions in order to obey God.
- It allows us to carry one another's burdens by uniting us in empathy with the suffering around us. Our hunger pains become triggers to pray for others and be God's answer through acts of service.
Unlike hypocritical religious shows, authentic biblical fasting always produces real-life fruit. God shapes our character, prompts us to help others, and allows spiritual breakthroughs to happen. The proof is in the lasting life change, not just an empty ritual.
So here's the challenge: Is there an area in which you long to see God work more in your life? A spiritual hunger you sense? Wrestling with out-of-control appetites? A burden for suffering people? Then lean into the spiritual discipline of fasting!
Use your hunger pangs to prompt deeper prayers, practice self-discipline, and grow in compassion. If fasting from food isn't wise for you, pick something else you impulsively seek out like social media, alcohol, streaming shows, etc. Whatever you temporarily let go of, embrace the discomfort and re-direct that energy towards God.
At the end of the day, fasting expresses our ravenous desire for more of God's presence and power in our lives. When we follow Jesus' instructions to fast simply, sincerely, and solely to deepen our relationship with the Father, we position ourselves for God to do miraculous work in and through us. Our hunger becomes a blessing in disguise as God uses it to produce lasting spiritual fruit.