Fasting can be spiritually powerful. While Jesus fasted (Matt 4) and it has
been a powerful spiritual discipline throughout history, many Christians have
never fasted or even been taught about it. In our culture today, fasting is
associated with the latest dieting fads such as intermittent fasting for your
health. Some also connect it with political protests.
In contrast, Biblical fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual reasons. It’s an
act of humility that aids you in seeking God. Biblically you fast not to attract
attention for a good cause, lose weight or improve physical health. Instead
you fast to seek God with all your heart, to repent of your sin, and to seek his
will.
We are not a culture of self-control, moderation, or restraint. On the surface,
to voluntarily deprive yourself of what you want does not make sense to
many people. Fasting can seem weird.
And yet a deeper look reveals that fasting can bring deeper satisfaction and
contentment. God made us holistic beings, spiritual and physical, our souls,
minds and bodies are interconnected and impact each other.
Power and benefits of fasting
In America fasting stands out against our cultural excess, gluttony, and
consumption. Delayed gratification, self-denial and moderation are foreign
concepts. But the Bible calls us to discipline ourselves (including our bodies)
for godliness (1 Cor 9:24-27).
Fasting reveals things that control us and confirms our utter dependence on
God. We can discover that life is so much more than food (Lk 12:33) Our belly
is not our God (Phil 3:19; Rom 16:18); rather our body is to be God’s servant (1
Cor 6:13) and we are to use the parts of our physical bodies for him (Rom 6:11-
13). At deeper levels, in fasting, we can grasp that Jesus the Bread of Life
(John 6:35), the manna for our souls. The Bible begins with eating from the
trees in the Garden (Gen 2) and ends with us eating from the Tree of Life (Rev
22).
REASONS TO FAST
In an excellent brief article, “A Biblical Perspective on Fasting,” Kent Berghuis
reviews every reference to fasting. You can see his list and his summary of six
biblical purposes for fasting. He states that the Bible mentions fasting in about
59 contexts. He says in summary: “The Bible describes fasting as a natural
way for God’s people as individuals or as a body to express humility, sorrow,
repentance, seriousness in prayer, and a desire for God’s manifest presence.”
