During Lent 2024 we looked at the practice of Fasting, as part of our teaching series, Practicing the Way, where we learn habits to help us become more like Jesus.
We looked at fasting from the following topic headings:
- To offer ourselves to Jesus. (See Si’s talk here and Julie’s talk here)
- To grow in holiness. (See Ellies’s talk here)
- To amplify our prayers (See Tom’s talk here)
- To stand with the poor (See Chris’s talk here and Trevor’s talk here)
What is fasting?
Fasting is one of the best practices we can do to integrate our entire person, including our body, around God.
The Bible links the practice of fasting with justice, with discernment, and with answered prayer. Jesus commended it – so it deserves our attention!
Biblically, fasting primarily involves abstaining from food to varying degrees and for varying periods.
We are well aware that this will not be appropriate for everyone.
There are no shoulds and oughts when it comes to fasting, and like with all the practices, this is invitational.
We can’t use the practices to control our formation or even our relationship with God. Our goal isn’t to control our formation but to surrender to Jesus, and fasting is one way we can do this.
What if I can’t fast?
Some of us may not be able to fast food at the moment, due to a health issue or a season of life. See here for a list people who should not fast without professional/medical supervision.
If you are unable to fast food for whatever reason then you may want to consider abstaining from media/your phone/shopping, or anything that will enable you to ‘go without so you can grow within’.
First Steps
- Pick a day that works for you.
- Start with something manageable – We suggest you try fasting one or two meals. The goal is to make fasting a part of your regular life, not try it once or twice, hate it and never try it again. Start where you are, not where you feel like you ‘should’ be.
- If you can do this with others in your life group or community, that can be helpful and encouraging.
- Drink lots of water.
- In the times you would be eating or preparing food perhaps read the bible, pray, worship. Let your desire for food point you to Jesus as you open yourself to him.
Remember
- As Jesus encouraged it, fasting is personal and private, discretely undertaken and not publicly broadcast.
- Fasting may have some side benefits to health and well-being, but it’s important to know from the Bible what it is for and not for. See below.
- If you start fasting with (or to be precise, without!) food, take your doctor’s advice if you are pregnant, or have medical conditions like diabetes that might be affected. Children should not be fasting.
- When your fasting saves you time or money – consider how to use these savings wisely!
Further reading
For more information on the following questions you may have, we recommend this excellent guide from Bill Bright:
- Why fast?
- How to fast safely (including a list of those who should not fast)
- What type of fast is right for me?
- How to prepare?
- How to maintain nutritional health
Fast Forward: The Untapped Catalyst to Spiritual Growth. A short free booklet by Lisa Bevere, on the topic of fasting (especially for women). It’s partly biographical, and partly inspirational/educational. See it here.
Bridgetown Church resources are also excellent – they are free but a little harder to access as it’s part of a programme (you can create an account/sign up). However, you can find their main PDF resource on the practice of fasting here.
