Spiritual Disciplines
Day 11: Fasting
“Fasting” is like a curse word for many of us. When we think about not eating for a period of time, it can make our stomach hurt, literally! Fasting is a discipline that has been practiced for as long as humans have been around, and the Bible mentions it a lot.
Fasting is not about withholding something from yourself but instead eliminating a distraction so that you can hear God more clearly.
You can fast from your phone, T.V., a hobby, food, drink, and anything else that might be a luxury or something you indulge in. The point is to take the time you would typically spend doing that activity and instead pray or listen to the Lord. When we fast, we are emptying our flesh so that the Lord can fill up our Spirit.
Fasting from food is something we often see in the Bible. We have to consider that in the Bible, there were not as many distractions as we have today. Otherwise, I believe Jesus would have talked more about fasting from social media and T.V.!
Although food is a great option, it would not be wise to fast from food unless you feel physically capable of not eating for a time. You can fast for weeks, days, hours, or however long you feel led by the Lord.
Fasting is about surrendering your heart to God so that we turn to Him instead of the other idols we tend to turn to in time of need or stress.
Scripture of the Day
“Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4
Examples of Fasting:
*24-Hour fast from digital devices (TV, Phone, Computer)
*3-day fast from food (use the time you would normally eat to meditate and pray) *7-day social media fast (walk through a specific bible study during this week)