4 Keys to Prioritizing God for the Solopreneur ParentНамуна

Fast to Get in the Best Spiritual Shape

I don’t have a ton of experience with not eating food as a form of fasting because I was either pregnant or nursing when I began to take fasting seriously. However, I have fasted from social media and refined sugar several times, and it always leveled up my relationship with God. There is something special about withholding things from yourself to become more in tune with God.

Both in the Old and New Testament, fasting comes up several times. The best-known example might be when Jesus is in the desert being tempted by the enemy (Matthew 4; Luke 4). Jesus also shares with His disciples that fasting is one of the basic principles of godly living (Matthew 6:16). He says, “When you fast,” and not “if you fast.” Besides the example of Jesus and Him telling us to fast, I’ve found multiple reasons to fast. For one, it is one of the best ways to seek the kingdom (which is our goal).

Secondly, it is worship to God, as the story in Luke 2 tells us. The eighty-four-year-old prophetess Anna worshiped day and night, fasting and praying. It was an expression of love. A spiritual exercise. Other reasons to fast are to seek God’s wisdom, to prepare for ministry or any other assignments, for breakthroughs and miracles, but above all, to be moved by God. When you fast, you will become more sensitive to the Holy Spirit, allowing you to hear God’s voice more clearly.

Fasting can be done in multiple ways, no food, no social media, no refined sugar, no Netflix, no or limited screen time, no non-Christian entertainment; the list goes on. So every time your stomach rumbles or your finger is triggered by the social media icon, you will be reminded of why you’re refraining from it. Your attention immediately goes to God. The last time I fasted from refined sugar, God helped me grow my patience, which definitely comes in handy when dealing with a toddler.

What’s easy about fasting is that you can integrate it anytime. But then, fasting itself can be pretty challenging, which makes it all the more rewarding. Let me explain this through what Paul wrote to the Corinthians. He used sports analogies often, showing the perfect essence of what should be our attitude in faith. He wrote,

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore, I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." 1 Corinthians 9:24–27 (NIV, emphasis added)

Runners make lots of sacrifices in order to be the best version of themselves. Strict training puts them in the best physical shape to win the prize." Fasting is comparable to that idea; you get your spiritual body in great shape. In the above Scriptures, Paul says that we have to make everything that does not serve God submissive to seeking the kingdom. No, that’s not always easy. No, there’s not a quick fix. But there is training and practice. Combined with your desire to win the prize, our loving Father can’t wait to embrace you at the finish line.

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