Fasting

Fasting has ancient Biblical roots.  The Israelites, as part of their Old Testament covenant with God, had prescribed days of fasting, most prominent the Day of Atonement.  Often practiced during times of mourning or national calamity, fasting played other roles too, and had a part in the lives of many famous Bible characters.  At times, the entire Hebrew nation participated in a special fast (I Sam. 7:6).  Joel proclaimed, “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning” (2:12). 

Jesus expected that His disciples would fast when he instructed them -- “When you fast, anoint your head and wash your face that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father which is also in secret” (Matt. 6:17f.).  He also said that His disciples would fast when he (the Bridegroom) would be taken away from them (Matt 9:150 and answered their question about their inability to cast out a demon by saying, “This kind goes out only by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21).  Jesus often connected the discipline of fasting with giving and praying.

At Antioch, the believers were praying and fasting when the Holy Spirit spoke and led them to send Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:2).  Later, as Paul and Barnabas appointed elders, they did so with prayer and fasting (Acts 14:23).  Paul tells us in 2 Cor. 6:5 and 11:27 that he practiced fasting often. 

During the Middle Ages, fasting fell somewhat into disfavor as it became linked with excessive ascetical practices.  It was seen as meritorious and demanded by God (i.e. legalism).

In our Lutheran Confessions we read,  “Fasting and bodily preparation are a good external discipline,” (Small Catechism), praising fasting as a fine Christian custom, while at the same time carefully excluding such a practice as meritorious of salvation.  “We believe that God’s glory and command require penitence to produce good fruits, and that good fruits like true fasting, prayer, and charity have His command.”  (Apology of the Augsburg Confession, XII, 139)  In a sermon on Matthew 4 (Jesus 40 day fast in the desert).

In recent years there has been a renewed interest in the spiritual discipline of fasting.  In the strictest sense, fasting as abstaining from food for a spiritual purpose.  We may also consider fasting as abstinence from anything that takes our heart and mind away from God.  There may be other things in our lives that draw us away from hearing God’s voice than food.  A friend of mine does a “technology fast.”   

The blessing of fasting is that It may sharpen our spiritual focus and strengthen our prayer, help us to identify with the poor and hungry, aid us in repentance or discerning God’s will, assist us in expressing grief, and be a way of expressing our desire to obey God’s will.  Try a fast and journal what you feel God is teaching you.