By Matt Hess

“I guess I’m just hungry for more.”

In over twenty years as a pastor, this is a phrase I have heard from many Christians. At the heart of this longing for “more” comes from the fact that as God’s children, this world is not our eternal home.

I believe Hebrews 11:16 articulates the heart of many of us in Christ, “But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”

The saints of old understood a core tenant of our faith, that for those who are in Christ Jesus we are simply sojourners passing through on our way to the eternal glories of heaven.

The spiritual discipline of fasting clarifies this truth. In his book “Hunger for God,” John Piper writes: “Christian fasting, at its root, is the hunger of a homesickness for God.”

Fasting: A Neglected Spiritual Discipline

One spiritual discipline that many Christians fail to prioritize in their walk with the Lord is the discipline of fasting. Author Britany Yesudasan writes, “Fasting might sound sensational today. But in Jesus’ culture, it was weird for a religious person not to fast.” 

However, for many Christ followers fasting is viewed as an unnecessary practice reserved for the spiritually elite who have somehow arrived to the peak of Christian maturity. This simply isn’t the case.

Fasting is a wonderful gift given to us by the Lord intended for deeper intimacy with Christ, clarity during life’s chaos, and ultimately fasting draws us into a more profound awareness of our need for God’s power in our lives.

My First Introduction to Fasting:

I was 12 years old and attending a newly founded Christian school. One morning the teacher announced, “Class, tomorrow we are going to fast.” Our teacher shared with us some Bible verses on why this was a good thing and sure enough the next day came and…we fasted through lunch and into the late afternoon.

I laugh looking back on the event. I am sure today there would be enraged parents, traumatized children, and lawsuits abound! Shockingly, we all survived and were giddy with excitement as we broke our fast around 3pm with a pizza party. 

Years later, we were attending a church in Oklahoma when the pastor visibly started losing weight. Naturally, as a curious teenager I asked him why?

He answered, “Well, I have been fasting.” I said, “Like for a few days?” He said, “No, for forty days.”

How could one survive not eating food for forty days? Wouldn’t somebody wither up and die?

Perhaps more than the physical aspect of the matter, personally as a passionate “foodie” my most pressing question was, WHY would somebody not eat food for forty days?

While not exhaustively, I will answer these questions later. 

The Basics of Christian Fasting

If you find yourself here, you are obviously curious to learn more about fasting. One of the first resources that I highly recommend to individuals on the topic of fasting is a book written by evangelist and founder of Campus Crusade for Christ, Bill Bright, The Transforming Power of Fasting and Prayer: Personal Accounts of Spiritual Renewal.

I have yet to discover a more practical and helpful resource on the matter. This resource covers many of the areas that we won’t have the space to delve into here such as the physical elements associated with a fast like how to begin and break a fast safely and properly.

Bill Bright writes, “Fasting is one of the most powerful spiritual disciplines of all the Christian disciplines. It is a way to align our hearts with the psalmist: “My soul thirsts for God, the living God” (Psalm 42:2). 

This is what fasting is all about! A desire. A hunger. A thirst deep within us that longs to grow closer to God, discern His voice, and take next steps of obedience as the Spirit leads us through the Word.

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Typically, when we think of fasting, we immediately think of a period where we abstain from food. This is a right assumption of course, for in Scripture “fasting” and not eating usually go hand in hand.

The first great account of fasting that comes to mind is Jesus’ journey in the wilderness. “He fasted for forty days and forty nights and afterwards was hungry.” Matthew 4:1-11. 

Why would the Creator of the Universe (John 1:1) need to fast?

Sinclair Ferguson writes, “He was led there by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was entering into the territory Satan had occupied. He fasted for forty days and, in His humanity, was inconceivably weak so that out of the depth of His weakness He might overcome the power of the Evil One.”

Jesus’ example of fasting (like all of His actions) lead us and point to the prime manner in which we are to live on this earth.

Like Christ’s experience, fasting should be directed by the Spirit, gives us unique strength, and allows us to overcome the evil one’s fiery darts of temptation.

What is Fasting?

Fasting can be defined as voluntarily going without food to focus on specific prayer and fellowship with God.

 While it is true, one can indeed fast from another activity such as social media, television, and other forms of entertainment, I believe it to be best (if physically able, and medically cleared) to abstain from food while fasting.

There are different types of fasting related to giving up food as well. Some included are a fast from sugar or processed foods, the Daniel fast, and juice fasts.

Ultimately, the Lord must lead in which focused area we are to fast, however, refraining from eating for a specific period draws us into a deeper dependency on God’s strength and revelation from His Word on how He seeks to grow us spiritually. 

After all, we remember the words of Jesus when His disciples were confused by His words found in John 4:32, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”

The disciples wanted Jesus to physically eat. Jesus’s response reminds us that the Lord will provide spiritual nourishment as we draw nearer to Him in fasting.

What Fasting is NOT.

It is very important to note that having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire.

We do not serve a transactional God. In other words, we do not “do” to “get” rather we serve the Lord and see to obey in the power of the Holy Spirit because it glorifies our King.

Fasting is NOT a weight loss method. Fasting doesn’t punish our bodies to make us more like Christ.

Fasting does NOT make you more spiritual than other Christians.

Fasting is simply forcing ourselves to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom we need. 

Prayer and Fasting

It’s important to note that prayer and fasting often go hand in hand. You can of course pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. However, it is when these two spiritual activities are combined and dedicated to God’s glory that they reach their full effectiveness! 

Prayer and fasting are often linked together in Scripture:

Luke 2:37: “and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.“

Luke 5:33: “And they said to him, l “The disciples of John fast often and offer prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours eat and drink.”

Why should you be fasting as a Christian?

Fasting is Obedience to Christ

Jesus must have assumed fasting would be a normative practice in the Christian’s life. In Matthew 6:16, He says, When you fast..” The assumption I believe here is that fasting should be a regular discipline in the believer’s life.

One can disagree charitably that fasting is not commanded in the Word. Nevertheless, we have many, many biblical examples of individuals fasting and days of fasting being declared by God’s people as a whole.

Fasting Offers Healing & Repentance

2 Samuel 12:16: “David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and spent the nights lying in sackcloth on the ground.“

We know that in God’s sovereign will, He chose not to heal David’s son. David fasted for seven days and seven nights and while God did not ultimately heal his son, this fast was drew David back into intimacy with God.

The closeness led David to genuine repentance and brokenness over his sin. It is believed that during this season of his life he penned the 51^st Psalm. The words of that Psalm is packed with authentic remorse before a Holy and righteous God. 

While God chose not to heal David’s son, I have personally had many testimonies shared with me where God did intervene and brought physical, mental, and spiritual healing in the midst of a fast.

Fasting for power to overcome temptation

Are you struggling with a habitual sin? Perhaps an area of your life that you have believed the lies of the enemy, “I guess that this is just the way it’s going to be.”

The Bible declares that we are no longer held in the bondage and slavery of our sins. That Christ came to set the captive free! Fasting has an incredible way of fighting temptations and bringing clarity to our identity in Christ.

Ultimately, Jesus is our great example:

Luke 4:1-2 says, “Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.“

Fasting to get Clarity in Making Decisions

Often, over the years, the Lord has led me to enter into a fast when our family was in the midst of great life changes or Arrica and I had some big decisions to make.

Without fail, the closer I drew to the Lord in seeking His face and wisdom from His hand, he made my paths straight. In the infancy of the early church, the Holy Spirit brought direction.

Acts 13:2: “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Fasting for Revival

In the early Church, we learn that the worldwide Missionary movement was born at a time when the leaders of the Church at Antioch “ministered to the Lord, and fasted.” (Acts 13)

All through Church history it has proved the same. Great spiritual movements and revivals owe their birth to prayer and fasting.

Fasting is a powerful spiritual weapon! Campus Crusade for Christ founder Dr. Bill Brights speaks into the power of fasting and prayer,

“I believe the power of fasting as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.”

How to Get Started with Spiritual Fasting

Probably the most prominent question that most Christians have when it comes to fasting is, “How do I even start?” Great question!

Bill Bright, has some exhaustive resources on how to go about fasting. One such resource is his “7 steps for fasting.” These steps include:

• Step 1: Set an Objective for Your Fast
  • Are you wanting to shake a besetting sin, get answers, or grow your faith, etc?
• Step 2: Commit to Your Fast
  • If you commit to the Lord on the front end, it will grow your resolve to obey what the Lord has asked of you. Also, consider asking others for accountibility.
• Step 3: Prepare Yourself Spiritually
  • Satan attacked Jesus in the wilderness, rest assured he will attack you. Get ready for a fight! Have a Bible and prayer plan ready. Ask others to pray for you and with you.
• Step 4: Prepare Yourself Physically
  • Encouragement: “Learn the power of a nap!” Don’t feel guilty over the need to slow down.
• Step 5: Put Yourself on a Schedule
  • Like anything else in life, the greater intentionality you put on organizing your fast on the front end, the greater success you will experience.
• Step 6: Break Your Fast Gradually
  • No lie, on my first extended fast, I broke my fast with a bacon cheeseburger. I won’t get into details but I would not recommend! Be slow as you return to eating whole foods. Start with fruit, soft vegetables, maybe a smoothie. Your body will thank you!
• Step 7: Expect Results From Your Fast
  • Famed missionary William Carey once said, “Attempt great things for God. Expect great things from God.” By faith, TRUST and BELIEVE that God will fulfill His promises.

I will include several resources at the end of this post which will include Dr. Bright’s writings and instructions on each of these steps. Probably no other resource has been as helpful to me as I have navigated the ins and outs of fasting. 

Final Thoughts and Personal Experience

I was pastoring a church in 2008 and we were experiencing God’s blessings in numerous ways. However, we were also walking through challenges. It was my first lead pastorate, I wasn’t from the community we lived in and had much to learn.

The more I prayed, the more I kept sensing the Lord calling to embark on a forty day fast. I began to pray and seek clarity and once I knew what the Lord was asking me to do, I did it….or at least I tried.

Day number one. I’d start the morning fervent with prayer and a willing heart, only by evening time be discouraged as I sat down to eat.

My second attempt. I went two days before I succumbed to my growing stomach.

My next effort lasted three full days, only to fizzle out on day number four.

In desperation I cried out to God, “Jesus, I can’t do this. But You can do it through me.” When I gave up, God showed up! 

That first forty days fast with the Lord was a milestone moment in my relationship with God.

Since, He has led me onto multiple other fasts that each time God shows up in ways unimaginable.

I have learned that fasting is about one thing and one thing only, intimacy with God.

My life verse is found in John 15:5 where Jesus says, “I am the Vine and you are the branches. He who abides in Me can bear much fruit but apart from Me can do nothing.”

Fasting takes me back to the beginning of my walk with God. When I knew nothing but one thing: I was a sinner in need of a Savior. And God, in His infinite love and mercy came and rescued me. He forgave me, communed with me, and made me new.

As you are led to participate in a fast the primary reasons should always remain the same:

• to draw closer to God
• to enjoy Him
• to walk in willful obedience to the King of Kings  

Resources

I would highly recommend these resources whether you are new to fasting or want to grow in prayer and fasting as a discipline. They all offer some great tips and insights.

• “7 Basic Steps to Spiritual Fasting.” by Bill Bright
• The Coming Revival: America’s Call to Fast, Pray, and “Seek God’s Face” by Bill Bright
• The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie Floyd
• The Secret to Extended Fasts by Donna Partow

Guest Blogger Bio

Matt Hess is a church planting catalyst with the North American Mission Board, Church planter at Waypoint Wentzville, MO, and a father of 4 amazing kiddos. Oh, and let’s not forget, he’s married to an amazing woman!!

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