Week 5 – Day 5

“HUNGERING FOR GOD”

(**On Day 5 of each week, we will learn about one of the practices of Jesus. These practices give us practical, daily ways to experience life with Jesus. If you need to review the reason for the practices, check out Week 1 – Day 5 – Coffee Mugs.**)

I am horrible at multitasking. I can’t hold a conversation while I’m typing, on my phone, or listening to music. If you do not have my undivided attention, unfortunately, I am not listening.

Sometimes I trick myself into thinking I can multitask and will pick up my phone in the middle of a conversation with my wife, friends, or coworkers. Unfortunately, the discussion immediately degrades. The activity I am distracting myself with is not evil. The problem is that it is keeping me from listening to the voice of someone I love. 

If you do not have my undivided attention, unfortunately, I am not listening.

Fasting is like this. When we fast, we temporarily abstain from something good to become aware of what matters most.

A LOVE / HATE RELATIONSHIP

I have a Love / Hate relationship with all the practices of Jesus. Each one requires sacrifice, and no one enjoys the initial sacrifice. But the more I practice, the more blessing I see in my life.

A farmer doesn’t plow because he loves it, but because he wants a harvest. In the same way, the practices of Jesus require a great effort but produce unimaginable fruit. 

A farmer doesn’t plow because he loves it, but because he wants a harvest.

Fasting is one of the most painful practices. Yet it yields blessing in a way few others do. Fasting catapults us into a deeper awareness of God and expedites God’s transforming work like nothing else. 

FASTING: WHAT IT IS

Fasting is abstaining from food to seek God. When we fast, we direct our undivided attention toward Jesus. This happens in several ways:

First, when we fast we discipline our appetites. As we learned yesterday, each of us has God-given desires that are warped by sin. (Our hunger can distort into gluttony. Intimacy can be twisted by lust. Work can devolve into idolatry). 

Fasting disciplines those desires. When we fast, we willingly surrender our desires to the kingship of Jesus.

When we fast, we demonstrate to ourselves and God that our love for him is greater than the taste and comfort of food.

Secondly, fasting gives us time to pray. Most of us spend at least 90 minutes a day making, eating, and cleaning up our meals. If we abstain from food, we can devote an extra hour and a half to God.

Finally, fasting is a physical reminder to pray and seek God. When we fast we will experience hunger pangs. That discomfort prompts us to direct our thoughts and attention toward Jesus. We demonstrate to ourselves and God that our love for him is greater than the taste and comfort of food.

THREE THINGS FASTING IS NOT

First, fasting is not a hunger strike. Sometimes, well-meaning followers of Jesus will fast to get God to do something for them. They say, “I am going to fast until God ____________.” 

Attempting to force God’s hand is not faith, but coercion. Instead, let’s prayerfully choose an amount of time to fast. As we practice, we trust that God sees us and will respond in his timing.

Sometimes, well-meaning followers of Jesus will fast to get God to do something for them. They say, “I am going to fast until God ____________.”

Second, fasting is not a quick fix. Fitness experts will tell you that the recovery process outside the gym is just as important as the workout inside. In the same way, we will experience the results of our fast over time, not immediately. 

Finally, biblical fasting is not abstaining from screens, social media, coffee, sugar, alcohol, dating, etc. Scripture always defines fasting as abstaining from food.

We will experience the results of our fast over time, not immediately.

However, it can be beneficial to refrain from other things for some time. In 1 Corinthians, Paul says All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything (1 Corinthians 6:12 ESV). If anything is dominating our lives (even something that is not evil), it is wise to temporarily fast from that thing.

Women who are pregnant or nursing, those with health issues, or those who struggle with eating disorders may not be able to participate in a traditional fast. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit and community, anyone in these categories should choose to fast from something besides food. 

FASTING IN SCRIPTURE

Many people in scripture fasted for various purposes.

  • A prophetess named Anna fasted to worship God. (see Luke 2:37).
  • In 1 Kings, God responds mercifully when one of the most wicked kings in the history of Israel, Ahab humbled himself with prayer and fasting.  (see 1 Kings 21:28-29) 
  • King Jehosophat commanded a national fast to pray for God’s protection from an upcoming foe:  (see 2 Chronicles 20:3)
  • A group of Israelites in Judges fasted to seek the will of God:  (see Judges 20:26-27)
  • Jesus fasted to prepare for his three-year ministry on the earth (see Matthew 4:1-11)

THREE BENEFITS OF FASTING

Fasting is an act of worship to God. We don’t worship to receive something from God but to give something to him. Our primary motivation in fasting should be to surrender ourselves more fully to God, not to receive a blessing.

However, God is gracious and loves to give us good gifts. Our worship of God brings tremendous benefits to our lives:

Fasting provides clarity to hear God’s voice. Hunger forces us to slow down and live in the moment. In these times, our spiritual senses are heightened. 

Fasting is a “Wax On / Wax Off” practice. The same spiritual muscles used to fast will be used to fight against sin.

Fasting gives us strength to fight sin. When we fast, we wage war against our flesh while building self-control and reliance upon God. Fasting is a “Wax On / Wax Off” practice. The same spiritual muscles used to fast will be used to fight against sin.

Often, I encourage those who are struggling with pornography to begin fasting weekly. This teaches us that we don’t need to obey every urge of our bodies.

Fasting empowers our prayer life. Jesus gave a promise to those who fast with a pure heart. Your Father who sees in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:18 ESV). There is a reward that comes from fasting. God will see us and hear our prayers. 

HOW TO PRACTICE FASTING

Here are four steps to take as you being to practice fasting:

1: Pick an amount of time to fast. We can fast for one meal, for 24 hours (a traditional Jewish fast was a 24-hour sundown-to-sundown fast), or an extended fast (often extended fasts will be juice-only fasts). 

If you feel compelled to fast for more than three days, seek wisdom from your pastor and community before you begin. Make sure to research how to properly break an extended fast. 

2: Pray during your normal mealtimes. Use the extra time to seek God through scripture and prayer. Develop specific prayer requests to bring before God during your fast.

We get to choose the source of our fasting reward.

3: Fast in secret. Jesus warns us about the temptation to brag about our fast for the approval of others. 

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. (Matthew 6:16-18 ESV)

We get to choose the source of our fasting reward. Let’s receive lasting blessings from God rather than temporary praise from our community. 

(If you fast often or for an extended time, it may be impossible to hide your fast completely. You may have to inform trusted family members or friends. Share without guilt or shame as long as your motive is helping your loved ones understand what is happening, not bringing glory to yourself.)

He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.

4: Drink plenty of water. Always make sure to stay hydrated while fasting. 

The famous missionary Jim Elliot once said, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” 

This is certainly true of the practice of fasting. In fasting, we give up something temporary to receive more of God, a gift that will never be taken away.

NEXT STEPS

1: Read the following passages to learn more about the purposes of fasting: Luke 2:37, 1 Kings 21:28-29, 2 Chronicles 20:3, Judges 20:26-27, Matthew 4:1-11.
2: Spend 10 minutes in Solitude, reflecting on what you learned. Pray using the P-R-A-Y method.
3: Choose one day to fast lunch over the next week. Spend that time seeking God.
4: Continue to pray and plan to share your testimony with the 1-2 people in your life who don’t know Jesus over the next 2 weeks.  
5: Text one friend one thing that you learned

Congrats! You’ve made it through Week 5 of the North Star journey. Next week is our last week. Check out Week 6 – Day 1 – “The Fourth Soil” here.