Soul Care - Fasting
by Mary Elsbury
Growing up in a Catholic household meant one thing during the season of Lent – you had to give up something. Maybe it was missing Bonanza on a Sunday night or no candy or sweets for the time leading up to Easter. It was a reminder that we needed to look beyond ourselves and focus on God.
Fasting is an integral part of our Christian lives, but many don’t practice it. And it takes practice to abstain from the comforts of life. Fasting in the Bible almost always refers to abstaining from food for a length of time – usually days or weeks – for the purpose of seeking God and focusing on Him at a deeper level. Fasting can also include abstinence from other things, like electronics and shopping.
The Bible mentions many reasons why people fast. Usually, fasting is associated with a spiritual breakthrough of some kind. As a new Christian, we are excited over the sheer wonder of what God has done for us, and we naturally express our thanks and praise through prayer and worship. However, as we spend longer walking as Christians, there is a real danger that we can fall into routines that are devoid of new life in terms of our spirituality, without even realizing it. If this happens, it can cause us to fall well short of what God intended for us and generate a feeling of unfulfillment in our daily lives. When we add fasting to our prayer, worship, and study of God’s Word, we engage on a deeper level with God.
When we fast, we are subduing the desires of our flesh so that our focus is on hearing the voice of God and knowing His will; He takes precedence in our lives. Prayer and fasting, along with worship, are often mentioned together in Scripture because they complement and enhance each other so well.
What is the breakthrough you need? It could be that your life seems to be stagnant and isn’t moving forward. Fasting is an opportunity to give up control and focus on God alone, who sustains us. It’s realizing that we need to lay down our life to find it again. Start by fasting one meal or give up purchasing that cup of Starbucks or Dunkin’ or soda. Fast from shopping or media and use that time to worship God for His faithfulness and sacrifice. Be still and listen.
Fasting is a means of humbling ourselves before God. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened, and you will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed.
