The 40-Day Mirror Fast: Focusing Your Eyes on Jesus and Off Your Appearanceනියැදිය

What Is a Mirror Fast?

Mirrors. They turn me into an expert detective from one of those Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) shows. I notice new lines on my face. Is that a pimple? Great. Another gray. Why are they so wiry? How long has that chin hair been there? Yikes!

The harder I stare, the more reasons I find to be discontent. Looking longer never leaves me pleased. If you struggle with the mirror too, you’re in good company.

I felt despair over my reflection for decades until God interrupted my body image struggles. He showed me how to make peace with my body.

Now, I coach women with body image issues. These issues are complex and multifaceted. But there's one technique that can help set you on a journey to freedom: a mirror fast. Before you panic that you won't be able to check your teeth or put on mascara, let's go over some ground rules.

Learning not to stare is the key to a mirror fast. You're training your eyes to focus away from the looking glass. By limiting the time spent in front of the mirror, you reduce the time you spend overanalyzing and objectifying yourself. There's nothing wrong with a desire to look nice. But when that desire turns into spending too much time or money thinking about changing our bodies, we've crossed a line. (I'll explain more about this later.)

Here are your ground rules.

Limit your mirror time to no more than five minutes a day. No selfies, and avoid reflective windows or other mirror-like options.

Use those five minutes to get a quick check of your outfit, put on make-up, or check your hair. Do as much as possible without staring in the mirror. Use the mirror only when necessary (read: eyeliner). Or, (advanced move here), decide to take a make-up fast too!

You're not avoiding your reflection for this season because it’s unacceptable or unpleasing. God made your body good. Instead, you're retraining your eyes and thoughts to focus off your appearance and on to Jesus. This fast is to help you develop the discipline of remembering where your worth comes from. You are special and valuable not because of your image but because of the One in whose image you were made.

Psalm 34:5 is our key verse for this fast. We’ll read it several times through this fast to encourage your heart.