Today’s Scripture:
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Matthew 6:16-18
The Spiritual Practice of Fasting
I know, I know, you may have been hoping I’d avoid this particular spiritual practice. Fasting is often viewed as the most challenging discipline. To abstain from something as necessary as food for a time can seem daunting, even counterintuitive in our culture of abundance and instant gratification. Yet, fasting—especially food fasting—has a profound impact on our spiritual lives.
When we intentionally choose to abstain from food, even partially or for a specific period, we are participating in a sacred practice that aligns our hearts with God’s will and strengthens our dependence on Him.
In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus teaches that fasting is a private matter, a personal act of devotion meant to draw us closer to God. While fasting from food is the most traditional form of fasting, it is not limited to that. We can fast from anything that holds power over our hearts—anything that we turn to for comfort, distraction, or satisfaction instead of God.
The goal is to turn our attention away from the things of this world and fix it on God alone, recognizing that He is our ultimate source of strength, peace, and provision.
If you’re like me, maybe you’ve wondered why fasting from food is important. Well, more than anything else, food is essential to life. It is a gift from God, and it sustains us. However, because we are so dependent on it for physical nourishment, fasting from food becomes a powerful way to draw near to God.
When we fast from food—whether through a full fast or a partial fast—we create a space where our dependence on God becomes glaringly obvious. The hunger we feel serves as a reminder of our need for God. Just as our bodies crave food, our souls crave Him. Fasting highlights this craving and helps us realign our hearts and minds with God’s presence and provision.
In the wilderness, Jesus Himself fasted for forty days, demonstrating both His dependence on the Father and His refusal to rely on earthly things for satisfaction (Matthew 4:1-4).
When we fast, we are identifying with Jesus’ example, choosing to trust that God will satisfy our deepest needs, even when we forgo earthly comforts.
While fasting from food is the most commonly recognized form of fasting, there are other areas of life where we can choose to abstain in order to deepen our communion with God. In our modern world, fasting can also involve abstaining from digital technology, entertainment, shopping, or anything else that may have become a source of comfort or distraction.
Digital fasting—choosing to fast from social media or screen time for a period—can serve as a reminder of our need for God over the distractions of the digital world. Entertainment fasting—where we abstain from movies, TV shows, or hobbies that consume our time—can help us refocus on God’s will and give us more space for prayer, Bible study, or reflection. Shopping fasts can help us examine our hearts and motives, revealing whether we are finding our identity in material possessions or in Christ.
Our family recently participated in a churchwide digital fast where our smartphones became dumb phones and we abstained from social media and other “candy” apps, prioritizing only using apps that served a necessary function. Before the fast, I’d have told you our family wasn’t experiencing dependence on digital technology. But, after a few days, the depth of our dependency became clear and we experienced such an impactful time as we resolved to put it back in its place and strip it of its power.
Each of these forms of fasting serves the same purpose: to remind us of our dependence on God and to realign our hearts with His purposes. Whatever we choose to fast from, the act of saying “no” to something we desire is a powerful declaration that we are willing to deny ourselves for the sake of knowing God more intimately.
Fasting is not merely about denying ourselves something for the sake of discipline; it is about making space for God to speak. When we fast, we are intentionally removing distractions and making room for God to fill us.
As we hunger for food, we can also hunger for His Word. As we feel the loss of comfort, we can turn to the ultimate source of comfort, the Holy Spirit. In this process, God often reveals areas of our lives that need to be surrendered to Him, and fasting becomes a means of spiritual transformation.
Fasting isn’t easy—it requires sacrifice and intentionality. But it is through the sacrifice that we experience spiritual growth. When we choose to fast, we are actively choosing God over the things that often fill our time and attention. It’s a beautiful act of worship that brings us closer to Him, reminding us that He is our greatest need.
Today’s Challenge:
Consider fasting from something today. It could be food, social media, shopping, or something else that has become a distraction. Use the time you would normally spend on that activity to pray, reflect, and listen for God’s voice. Focus on your dependence on God and how He satisfies your deepest needs. Then, consider a longer time of fasting and see how God meets you there.
Today’s Prayer:
Father, thank You for the gift of fasting, which draws us closer to You. Help me to embrace this discipline with a heart of surrender and humility. Teach me to recognize my dependence on You, and let this time of fasting draw me into deeper communion with You. May I find my satisfaction in You alone, and may You be glorified in my sacrifice. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
