A Quick Guide to Fasting
What It Is
Fasting is us sacrificing something for a period of time
Fasting is a spiritual discipline and tool
Fasting is a practice of our faith
Fasting is a way to strengthen our Spirit and weaken our flesh
Fasting teaches us dependence upon the Holy Spirit
What It Is Not
Fasting is not a diet
Fasting is not a magic pill
Fasting is not a way for us to twist God’s arm into doing what we want
If you’re new to fasting or want to learn more about it, you can check out the Scriptures below.
Bottom line I like to tell people is this — growing up, I always got fasting wrong. I often thought if you gave up a meal that you were supposed that meal prep time (or time in the drive thru if you’re like me) in our prayer closets. And though that’s a great thing to do, that’s not necessarily the point.
The point of fasting, in my study and experience, is to learn how to depend on the Holy Spirit and to recognize His voice. I believe this is why Jesus went to the wildnerness to fast for forty days prior to him kicking off his ministry. The Holy Spirit led him out there, in my opinion, to teach him (yes, even him, as he was fully God but also fully man) how to depend on the Holy Spirit as a human being.
When we fast, it must be a true sacrifice. If it’s food, the motive is not to lose weight. If it is the main goal, that’s not fasting. That’s a diet. That said, for me, fasting food for me has been powerful in God speaking to me as I fast. Whatever is may be for you, instead of spending time in my prayer closet for hours, I simply asked the Holy Spirit to help me not give in to temptation. I spoke to him all throughout the day, making this request. And guess what? It was the easiest fast I had ever done.
This showed me something incredibly valuable — when I ask the Holy Spirit, the Helper, for help… He helps. Not only this, but when I did pray during that time about the specific thing I was fasting about, I did not receive a miracle or answer to my question. What I did receive? A swift kick in the tail. He pointed out things within me that I needed to work through in order to accomplish what I was praying about and asking for.
So as you fast, make sure it’s a sacrifice. Make sure you’re fasting for the right motive. And during your time, ask the Helper for help. A fast may not give you the answer you’re looking for, but it’s a spiritual practice (practice, as in something we should do in and out of season… and often) and will teach you how to rely on the Holy Spirit and hear His voice. This will be key as you make decisions and follow His leading through this race of life we are running.
