altars of availability
THE PRACTICE OF FASTING:
MATTHEW 6:1
MATTHEW 6:16-18
Why fast?
To offer ourselves to Jesus
To grow in holiness
To amplify our prayers
And to stand with the poor. Read Isaiah 58.
When you fast, at least four things are happening in us:
First, It’s weaning us off the pleasure principle.
Underneath our desire for food is an even deeper desire—what psychologists call “the pleasure principle.” This principle is the driving motivation of the immature, who only want to do what feels good in the moment. Once reserved for children and middle schoolers, the pleasure principle is fast becoming the new normal for all ages. So much of our culture is built around the mantra: “if it feels good, do it.”
But as we all know, many things that feel good in the short term reap damage in the long term. On the flip side, many things that are no fun at all in the short term yield dividends for years to come.
Through fasting, we mature beyond the pleasure principle. We learn how to do the right thing, even when it’s hard, and how to be happy and content even when we don’t get what we want.
As a result, when we can’t get what we want—due to life circumstances, other people’s decisions, or even God’s sovereign appointment over our lives—we are increasingly free of anger or anxiety and instead joyful and at peace, no matter our circumstances.
Second, it reveals what’s in our hearts. Richard Foster, in his book Celebration of Discipline, writes, “Fasting reveals the things that control us.”
Fasting teaches us so much about ourselves! Our unhealthy relationship to food, how weak we are, how much we need pleasure to be happy, how far we are from God – it’s very humbling.
But as all this stuff comes up from the substrata to the surface of our heart – and it’s exposed in all its ugliness – we have the chance to offer it to God and in doing so, be set free.
Third, it re-orders our desires. One of my favorite things about fasting is that when I fast, I notice my desires change.
I find myself wanting to sin less and wanting to be holy more.
My desires for lust, or greed, or to hold onto bitterness, go down, as my desires for purity, kindness, and compassion go up. Especially in my struggle against lust, I feel a profound change in my sexual desires; I notice a purifying of my whole person, and it’s like sexual desire is transformed into a yearning for God himself. God is at work deep in my person to do by his power what my willpower cannot possibly do: transform me. On that note, finally…
Fourth, It’s drawing on the power of God to overcome sin. Fasting is a discipline; like any good habit, it’s a way to increase our willpower muscle.
It’s a way to grow in both self-control and self-discipline.
Self-control is the ability to say no to something, to not do something you want to do but that is bad for you in the long term.
Self-discipline is the ability to say yes to something. Doing something you don’t want to do is good for you in the long term!
Together, they make for self-mastery.
Disciplines like fasting are a way to bring your whole person back under the mastery or control of your will.
But again, willpower alone is not strong enough to break the chains of the flesh.
Fasting is (ultimately) about drawing your energy from the Holy Spirit’s power, from a relational connection to God himself.
As we come to God and give him our weakness, he comes to us and gives us his strength.
Summary: If you wanted to summarize all that, you could just say fasting is a way to turn your body from an enemy into an ally in your fight against the flesh.
SOME BASIC TIPS:
Drink tons of water to stay hydrated (unless you do a total fast, no food or water).
Avoid caffeine if at all possible.
The more time you can give to prayer and reflection, the less busy you are that day, the better. Make it your goal to slow down the day you fast and be present to your body and God as much as you can. You can find a park on your lunch break or take a few short walks throughout your day. Give as much attention to God as is doable.
Resist the urge to judge your experience. Release thoughts like, “I liked it; I disliked it.” “I felt close to God; I didn’t feel close to God.” Let the fasting experience be what it is and offer it to God in love.
Fast until sundown. Then, eat a simple meal in gratitude. If a full day is too much for your body or soul, start smaller. Skip breakfast and break the fast at lunch or 3 p.m. Stretch your fast time for the next session or next week.
In your dedicated prayer times, or each time a hunger pain comes, you may want to pray through a short list of specific requests you are holding before God or pray, “God, speak to me; I’m listening.”
Who can you do it with? The community is always the best place to do it.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23.
