Beyond Sunday: 4 Daily Disciplines for a Vibrant Faith Exemple

Fasting prayer is the self-denial of a specific thing to create longing and openness with Christ. Fasting can be an important and valuable discipline that can yield great results in our faith. Fasting is a way we can increase our longing for God. It also can be a practice that helps us humble ourselves by purposefully denying something in our lives. Traditionally, fasting has been withholding consumption of food, and we see examples of that in the Bible.

Devotional:

As we read last week about Jesus being tempted, He fasted forty days before being led into the wilderness to be tempted. Jesus prepared himself for temptation by practicing the spiritual discipline of fasting. The featured passage is an example of how fasting can be a form of worship to God. Restricting ourselves from a certain thing can give us more time to worship and glorify Christ.

Also, this passage shows how when we take time to fast, God can speak to us. The fasting gave the clarity and quiet for the Holy Spirit to speak to them and tell them that he had set Barnabas and Saul apart for specific kingdom work. This encourages us to practice fasting as a way to allow God to be able to tell us what He is calling us to do. Fasting can open our ears to hear the desires and purposes that God has prepared for us.

Fasting not only can make your spiritual health better but also your physical health. One study conducted on the effects of fasting found that it reduces stress, increases cellular repair processes, and is correlated with better longevity as well as anti-aging (Elghblawi, 2015). A different study was done on 300 students who fasted and found that it benefited their mental and spiritual health and even their ability to control aggression (Nasiri & Lotfi, 2020).

Fasting is a way to mourn, plead, honor, resist temptation, commit, and become more in tune with God. It can be a way to express sadness and happiness as we use fasting to connect more intimately with the Lord.

Reflection/Discussion Questions:

• Do you have experience with fasting? If so, has it improved your walk with God?
• What has been your view of fasting as a spiritual discipline?
• When you fast, how can you best utilize it to grow your relationship with Christ?

Application:

• Start small if it is your first experience with the practice of fasting. If you are fasting food, start with lunch or dinner. Then, during that time you would normally eat, pray, and read the Bible.
• Then, in about a week, try a full day of fasting from food. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated during your full-day fast. Research safe practices for fasting to ensure you can do this discipline.
• Study more about fasting in the Bible.

Closing Prayer:

Dear Heavenly Father,

I understand that fasting is not merely a discipline but a means of opening our hearts and ears to Your divine guidance. It provides clarity and quiet for the Holy Spirit to speak, setting me apart for Your kingdom work.

Lord, I pray for the strength and wisdom to incorporate fasting into my life as a means of drawing closer to You and discerning Your desires and purposes for me. May it be an act of worship and a pathway to spiritual and physical well-being.

I pray this in Jesus' name,

Amen.

References:

Elghblawi, E. (2015). Fasting and its myths; fasting is a powerful healing; take the opportunity and make a fitness plan happen. Middle East Journal of Business, 10(4), 75–79. https://doi-org.ocu.idm.oclc.org/10.5742/mejb.2015.92726

Nasiri, M., & Lotfi, A. (2020). Effect of Fasting on Spiritual Health, Mental Health, and Control of Aggression. Journal of Fasting & Health, 8(3), 169–175.