Want to Grow Deeper in Your Faith This Spring?
- Fasting increases our dependence on the Lord. Our hunger and physical weakness remind us that we are not strong in ourselves but need the Lord.
- Fasting allows us to give more attention to prayer. Each time we hunger or desire food, it is a physical reminder to pray and ask God to meet our needs and the needs of others.
- Fasting is a good exercise in self-discipline. As we refrain from eating it strengthens our ability to resist temptation to which we might yield.
- Fasting also heightens spiritual & mental alertness. As we focus less on food, the energies of our body are freed from digesting & processing food. So, we can focus on eternal spiritual realities that are much more important. We are saying no to the physical & yes to the spiritual.
- Fasting expresses earnestness & urgency in our prayers. It is a symbolic way of showing our willingness to submit our very lives to the Lord.
Tips to Help You Succeed in Fasting:
1. Start Small
Start with one meal or one day and build consistency and success there. That’s one of the purposes of us fasting together for just a day per week over the next 12 weeks.
2. Plan Your Time Fasting
Fasting isn’t merely an act of self-deprivation, but a spiritual discipline for seeking more of God’s fullness. Which means we should have a plan for what positive pursuit to undertake in the time it normally takes to eat. We spend a good portion of our day with food in front of us. One significant part of fasting is the time it creates for prayer and meditation on God’s word or even acts of service for others.
Each week, use the devotions, readings, and guided prayers found on this web page to help you plan your time and make the most of the experience.
3. Consider Others
4. Find an Alternative if Fasting from Food is Impossible
5. Don’t Dwell on It
When your empty stomach starts to growl and begins sending your brain every “feed me” signal it can, don’t be content to let your mind dwell on the fact that you haven’t eaten. Christian fasting turns its attention to Jesus and doesn’t dwell on that which has been given up. Christian fasting seeks to take the pains of hunger and transform them into an anthem of praise that glorifies God.