Fasting: A Posture of Surrender Focused on GodНамуна

Earlier in this reading plan, we wrestled with the potential danger of practicing the discipline of fasting solely for the purpose of improved health. Entering into a time of fasting apart from God as our central focus, more often than not, leads to pride in our own accomplishments.

However, this is not to say that there aren't health benefits that will naturally come when we incorporate fasting into the regular rhythm of our lives.

Throughout Scripture, we see that God cares deeply about our physical bodies. "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies." (1 Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬) And just a few chapters earlier, we read, "Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you?" (1 Corinthians‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬ ‭NRSV‬‬)

Through the practice of fasting, we surrender our bodies before God, allowing Him to transform us in a way that only He can do. The fruit of this transformation is often expressed in the form of increased self-control, not just in the area of food but across many of the cravings we are tempted to give into.

Fasting disciplines the mind and, by extension, the body so that in times of feasting, we are able to remain within healthy boundaries, resisting the temptation to overindulge.

Dallas Willard once wrote, "fasting teaches temperance or self-control and therefore teaches moderation and restraint with regard to all our fundamental drives."

Additionally, when regularly practicing the discipline of fasting, it is important to be careful of what I call the bounce. Our cravings for food, or whatever it is we are fasting from, have a way of multiplying quickly during a time of fasting. Once the fast is broken, they have a tendency to spike, causing us to overindulge in whatever it is we are fasting from.

As you go, perhaps you might consider the following prayer. "Lord, Jesus, I surrender my body to you. I acknowledge that I was bought with a price and that my body is not my own to do whatever I want with. I ask that you would lead and guide me into healthy rhythms of feasting and fasting in order that I might grow in self-control resisting the temptation to overindulge."