Let’s Talk About Fasting - It's Not What You Give Up, But You Gain

If you had the ability and power to break free from bondage, to see God do the miraculous in your bleak situation, or receive amazing revelation from God about your life, would you use it?

God has given us this power through the gift of His Holy Spirit and the gift of fasting. Although we’ve been given this gift, we don’t use it to its full ability, and some of us don’t use it at all. Maybe because we don’t understand it, or because it seems too hard. In Matthew 6 Jesus teaches His disciples about prayer and fasting and says to them, “When you fast…”. Did you catch that? He said when not if, showing us that this should be a regular discipline for believers. Matthew 17:21 shows us that there are, in fact, certain things that can ONLY be released through prayer and fasting.

I completed my first fast in 2014, four years into my walk with Christ. It was challenging and frustrating at times, but what I gained was greater than what I sacrificed. When we fast we abstain for certain (or all foods) and/or specific activities. However, fasting isn’t merely about abstaining, it’s about submission & control.  It’s not what you give up, but what you gain.

Fasting Brings Revelation

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. - 1 Corinthians 6:12

Fasting reveals our hearts to us and redirects our hearts to God.  I use to think fasting was difficult and inconvenient, especially when God challenged me to give up things I didn’t want to.  My perspective was wrong. My attitude revealed that I valued certain things more than God. If there is anything you can’t (or don’t want) to surrender to God, understand that it has control over you.  As Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “I will be mastered by nothing.” This must be our attitude as well.

An idol is anything we worship instead of God; what we give our devotion, time, loyalty, and adoration to. Our attitude towards fasting from certain things will expose idols in our life and strongholds in our minds. God uses fasting to free us from that bondage and renew our minds with His truth. When we deny our natural desires for our spiritual ones, we are able to connect and commune with God on a deeper level.

Fasting Reveals our dependency

A God-led fast will stretch and challenge you. It will not be something you can do in your own strength, you will have to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit. During the process, you will have weak moments, and you will be tempted multiple times. Jesus himself was tempted after He fasted for 40 days and nights in the wilderness:

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” - Matthew: 1-4

Jesus was hungry, but He didn’t allow that weakness to lead Him into temptation. Instead, He relied on God. He spoke God’s word directly to the devil and we must follow His example. When we fast, we’re seeking something greater than a momentary pleasure (like eating food). We’re devoting more time in prayer, not social media because we want what ONLY God can give us. When you fast be led by God in every way and rely on Him when it gets hard. This type of dependency is a part of the bigger picture; how dependent we must be on God every day to live out our faith.

Fasting teaches Discipline & Produces self-Control

Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. Luke 9:23-24

This is by far the biggest lesson I’ve learned through fasting. When you fast you are denying your self and actively crucifying your flesh. You learn to tell yourself no, and to stop following your feelings and follow God. We become intentional in our behavior, preparing meals in advance or planning when we’ll spend time with God, and it’s a reflection of how intentional we should be day to day. It takes work (especially at first), but the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. When we press into that, there is nothing we cannot overcome. It’s not a matter of if we can, rather a matter of if we believe God can through us. If we allow Him to, He will work and stretch our spiritual muscles so that we can grow in endurance and strength.

Last year I did my first water-only fast and let me tell you I was skeptical. I never thought I’d be able to do that (for any amount of time) because I LOVE to eat! But you know what? By the power of God, I did, and it blew me away. Five years ago I struggled to give up sweets for a week-long fast, but now I can abstain from food for an entire day. That taught me that there are things in this world that I think I need but really don’t. All I truly need is Jesus.

Come near to God and he will come near to you. - James 4:8

I’ve seen fasting change my life. It’s a powerful and beautiful way to encounter God. We’re usually better off from the things we abstain from, but we are never better off when we neglect growing in our relationship with God. If we seek God with our whole heart He promises that we will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13). Note that He doesn’t say we will find him if we are perfect in our pursuit, but when our intention is to give Him all of our self. If you’ve struggled to fast in the past or have never tried, don’t let that hold you back. Now is the time to start, and experience the powerful gift God has given you. And if you fall, get back up and keep going. God won’t discount your faithfulness.