Quick Thoughts on Fasting
Monday, November 30, 2009 at 5:18PM | Print Article When I first heard about the spiritual discipline of fasting back in the early 90's, it was in the context of praying and fasting for a specific issue such a local church repenting of sin and returning to God in wholeheartedness, or fasting for wisdom in the selection of a pastor for a church.
Later on I began to understand fasting as a spiritual discipline that expands our spiritual hunger for God. John Piper's book 'Hunger for God' is a classic writing on this type of fasting.
Most recently I have come to view fasting a normal dimension of the Christian life; a discipline that Jesus expected his followers to engage in, and that fasting does not earn us anything but postures us to receive more from God. More revelation to our hearts of faith, hope and love and the knowledge of his will.
Sometimes people go into fasting expecting God to do this or that or say certain things and they become frustrated when he doesn't meet those expectations.
The same is often true of prayer. People begin praying for something or someone and when things don't change quickly they become discouraged and often give up on prayer. For many people fasting is more challenging than intercession (probably because of the physical and psychological discomfort) and thus it feels more 'radical' and somehow more worthy of a direct and immediate response from God. I don't see that concept in Scripture.
When I engage in prayer and fasting I do so with a long term vision. I don't encourage people to measure the 'effectiveness' of prayer or fasting in the short term. We may see some degree of impact in the short term but we need to have a different vision of developing persistence in prayer and fasting. Jesus called us to this in Luke 18 when he asked the question, "but when the Son of Man comes will he find faith on the earth?" Will there be a people who have long term view of prayer and fasting that is motivated out of passion and hunger for Jesus?
The primary motivation in prayer and fasting needs to be passion for Jesus, more than immediate, measurable impact in the natural realm.
Reader Comments (1)
I am spending a couple days fasting and praying for more intimacy with Him and I really like what you had to say. Prayer and fasting needs to be a lifestyle in which we are continually offering ourselves to Jesus.