The spiritual discipline of fasting has been an important aspect of Christian formation over the centuries. We can trace the Christian practice of fasting back to the example of Jesus himself (Matthew 4:1-2; Luke 4:1-2). In , Jesus says that after his death, resurrection and ascension, his followers will practice the discipline of fasting.
But what is it about fasting that makes it a helpful spiritual practice? It turns out that fasting can do several things at once. First, it can provide an opportunity to exercise self-control over hunger, one of the most powerful desires that we face. And as the Apostle Paul teaches in Galatians 5:22-23, the development of self-control in our lives is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit.
Second, fasting can open up space to commune with God. As Dallas Willard explains in his wonderful book, The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives, the spiritual disciplines can be divided into two basic groups: disciplines of abstinence and disciplines of engagement. Disciplines of abstinence include spiritual practices like silence, solitude, and – yes – fasting. These disciplines of abstinence allow us to temporarily step back from the things that often fill and clutter our daily lives to the point that we don’t make space for God and the things that God values.
These things that we are stepping back from – things like noise, other people and food – are good gifts from God. But good gifts can become distractions, or even idols, if we do not keep them in perspective or if we enjoy them in ways that exclude room for God in our lives. This is where the disciplines of abstinence intersect with the disciplines of engagement – things like prayer, praise, worship, study of scripture, community, confession and serving others. Fasting can be paired with any of the disciplines of engagement as we temporarily step back from our daily focus on food preparation and consumption in order to open up focused time and space in our lives to intentionally connect and engage with God.
Finally, over the centuries, many Christians have experienced a unique sense of God’s presence during times of fasting. One possible reason for this is that as we temporarily step back from focusing on and satisfying our physical desire for food, our sensitivity to the spiritual realm is heightened.
Fasting can be done in a variety of ways. The length of a fast can vary. Common patterns of regular fasting include fasting for a single meal, fasting from sun-up to sun-down or fasting for 24 hours. Longer periods of fasting tend to be more occasional, and are sometimes motivated by the desire to discern God’s wisdom and guidance in a particular circumstance. The type of fast can also vary. Some people abstain from everything except water. Others abstain only from solid foods. Still others fast from certain types of food – for example, eating only simple, bland foods for a period of time.
In all of this, the practice of fasting requires wisdom and an awareness of a person’s physical capacity. For example, for people with certain physical conditions or who struggle with eating disorders, fasting from food may well be an unwise practice. If so, there are many other things one can “fast” from, including various media or other things that can easily fill and clutter our daily lives.
Recommended Resources
Christian Fasting: A Theological Approach by Kent Berghuis
Fasting: The Ancient Practices by Scot McKnight
The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives by Dallas Willard (While this book does discuss fasting, it is also very helpful for understanding the purposes behind all of the spiritual disciplines)
