Why Fasting is a Feast for Your Soul

“The greatest enemy of hunger for God is not poison but apple pie.
It is not the banquet of the wicked that dulls our appetite for
heaven, but endless nibbling at the table of the world... (― John Piper, A Hunger for God)

Strong words.
But for many Christians whose churches have scheduled fasting for the first weeks of January, these are just the words that we need to hear spoken to our hearts and soul. Many might be wondering where fasting might fit in our modern world today; others might think that fasting is so Old Testament-ish. They couldn't be more wrong.

What Fasting Is and Is Not

Prayer and fasting are included in the spiritual disciplines for Christians. We see a lot of professional athletes and entertainers who are exceptional in their crafts and this is because of having a disciplined regimen. Isn't it only fitting that we also have spiritual disciplines to help us in our walk with Christ?

Relationships take a lot of effort and this is also true with our personal relationship with God. We can only be good at it when we have a daily discipline of reading His Word, praying from the heart during our quiet time and listening to Him. Fasting makes us forego a basic need of our bodies to nourish our soul. This is done by spending time with the Lord in prayer.

Why do We Fast?

Fasting is expected from followers of Christ

For a number of things listed below:

1. God expects us to fast.
Not "IF" but "when" as Jesus stated in Matthew 6:16-17:

"And whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as they hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance in order to be seen fasting by men. Truly I say unto you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head, and wash your face."

2. Jesus also fasted.
Jesus fasted before embarking on His ministry to prepare for the task ahead. Though fasting makes us physically weak, it strengthens our spirit to be more prepared for God's assignments for us.

"And after He had fasted forty days and forty nights, He then became hungry. -Matthew 4:2

3. The early church did their own fasting as well.
In the New Testament, we see the early Christian Church fast for Paul and Barnabas. Whenever they set out leaders to do God's bidding, they fast.

 "Then when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." -Acts 13:3, Acts 14:23

4. When we fast, we demonstrate our humility before God.
Going without food and being weak makes us more aware that we are not invincible as we would like to believe. When we demonstrate this humility, it makes us experience God's grace in the way He upholds us to persevere.

"But as for me when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth, I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer kept returning to my bosom." - Psalm 35:13

5. Fasting makes us open and sensitive to the Holy Spirit.
Fasting realigns our priorities to see a clearer perspective of God's leading to our lives. Focusing on God, and veering our senses away from food and pleasure makes us more sensitive to what He wants to bring Him glory.

"And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led about by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And He ate nothing during those days and when they had ended, He became hungry." - Luke 4:1-2 

6. Fasting brings revival on a personal and national level.
When Christians fast and go down on their knees, the change wells up from the inside out and spills over the home, the workplace and ultimately to society. God is able to heal individuals and countries so that revival happens.

"If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will fogive heir sin, and will heal their land." -2 Chronicles 7:14

7. Fasting is good for our bodies and health.
Fasting is not only good for cleansing bodies but it also improves and clarifies the mind. It rids the body of impurities and makes us healthier. According to experts, fasting for 3 days is exceptional to rid of addictive habits and for spiritual cleansing.

Kinds of Fasting
These are starting points where we can choose which type of fasting we can do.

1. Normal fast - Foregoing food for a set amount of time such as 1 day, 3 days, a week or sometimes longer. Only water is taken in during this time but one must be cautious in extending a fast without consulting a physician. This is true for many people with medical conditions.

Drink lots of water when doing the normal fast to stay hydrated.

2. Partial fast - In this kind of fasting, one can set a number of meals to eat per day, sometimes limiting one's food intake to 1 or 2 meals. This was done by Daniel and John the Baptist during their fasts.

Intermittent fasting is one kind of fasting that we can do. (Image credit: fredduncan.com)

3. Juice fast - This fast is limited to juices only.

Fruit and vegetable juices are allowed. (Image credit: cfv200 site)

4. Object fast - One can forego other things such as social media or anything that can distract them in communicating with the Lord. Examples of this would be time spent on video games, television or computers.

Media fasting is good for everyone. (Image credit: willmancini.com)

How does Fasting Benefit Us?

Fasting is good for our spiritual health. (Image: compassionthatcomples site)

When the hunger pangs set in from lack of food, we turn to Him and acknowledge our even deeper need for His comfort and presence. For a world immersed in instant self-gratification, fasting disciplines our soul to wait on the Lord to answer.

Did you just say wait? God is not an ATM machine that dispenses material blessings at a push of a button or a genie that grants wishes. He heals, restores, guides and teaches - all the things that our heart needs in dealing with difficult people and circumstances.

If the Lord can see us through and gives us the grace to hold on from food, it gives us faith and hope that He will give us the same discipline when we deal with people who makes our patience wear thin. Be it in our marriage or our relationships with our children, our parents, friends and other loved ones, God's grace surrounds us and teaches us to let go and not manipulate things nor people.

When we stop playing God, we let people be themselves - broken, flawed, prone to sin....very much like ourselves, in need of grace and forgiveness. When people fall short, that's the time that we lift them up to God and intercede for them.

Often we pray for a changes to take place in other people, only to realize that He is changing us first.
Because He is wise, He knows it should begin with us...and rightly so.

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