Key Verse: “But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:17-18 CSB)
Every now and again, I’ll miss a meal. It’s most often breakfast or lunch and it’s usually not intentional. Typically I was rushing out the door in the morning and didn’t take the time to eat or to make something for later. It usually doesn’t turn out well.
One of the practices though that the Scriptures speak about is fasting. To fast literally means to go without food for a period of time. For the Jewish people, fasting was a regular spiritual practice that was considered part of their obedience to God. The Law required an annual fast on the Day of Atonement (Leviticus 23:26-27). As time went on however, additional days of fasting were also observed throughout the year. In the Gospels, we read of people who practiced this discipline as often as twice per week (Luke 18:12). Evidently, Jesus also fasted. Matthew 4:1-2 tells us that when Jesus was led into the wilderness to be tempted, “After he fasted forty days and forty nights, he was hungry” (v.2). No kidding!
Though Jesus engaged in the discipline of fasting, He never explicitly commands us to practice this discipline, as part of following Him. But He does seem to assume that it will happen. He says twice in Matthew 6:16:18, “when you fast.” He also provides some instructions about fasting. Like generosity and prayer, we are to ensure that our motivations are pure whenever we engage in this practice. It should never be about drawing attention to self.
Why would we want to fast though? What is the purpose behind this practice? One writer described fasting in this way: “Fasting is when we hunger for God – for a fresh encounter with God, for God to answer a prayer, for God to save someone, for God to work powerfully in our church, for God to guide us or protect us – more than we hunger for the food God made us to live on.”
Fasting is about desiring God more than anything else in this life. It’s about denying ourselves physically in order to intensify our desires spiritually. Fasting doesn’t necessarily have to just be limited to food. It could include abstaining from pretty much anything in order to seek God more intentionally.
If you find yourself in a place where you are growing spiritually complacent, where temptation seems to be intensifying, or where you need God’s guidance to make an important decision, then consider incorporating a fast into your spiritual practices. Quietly plan to skip a meal or two and use that time instead to seek God more intentionally. “Your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (v.18).
Prayer: Jesus, I want to long for you more than anything else in this world. Reveal to me the things in my life that stand in my way. Give me wisdom today on how I might incorporate fasting into my pursuit of knowing and loving you more. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
