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Together we’re learning how to effortlessly live like Jesus by arranging our lives around the activities he did. And one of those practices is fasting.

Fasting is when we abstain from something for a period of time, most commonly food or drink. Really though, we can fast from anything for which our minds or bodies have a particular appetite. The name of the game is learning not to gratify the desire of our flesh all the time so that we can realign our primary reliance on God.

So that’s what fasting is, but what is fasting not? Well, it’s not dieting. It’s not a way to get God’s attention and increase the likelihood that He’ll answer prayers.

Fasting is a gift that allows us to dwell on the Word and ask God for energy and sustenance. Fasting can also remind us that we can survive and even thrive despite our appetite. We don’t have to live life of instant gratification. We can rely on God. And we can be at Home with Him when we do.

Learn more about how to do that with today’s video.

Today’s invitation:

Let’s put this into practice, shall we? Here are some suggestions that you can pracitce today:

• When it’s time to eat, take a minute before you plunge in to the meal and realize that it’s possible to event wait 60 seconds prior to beginning.
• Stop eating before you usually would. Remember that you don’t have to be fully satiated at all times. Use that moment to turn your focus back to God.
• When you’re hungry, remember in a vivid way that there are many millions who are hungry and that you could help those people.
• Or, choose to fast from social media. Choose to free yourself from the appetite of approval, of Likes, of comments. Don’t gratify the appetite for approval.
• Finally, you could choose to fast from the snooze button. When you wake up tomorrow morning, don’t allow yourself to hit that alluring snooze. Instead, through your sleepiness, you can get your strength from God.
• No matter what you choose, remember that we can be free from the appetites that demand to be fed.