Christian fasting is not commanded by Scripture but is presented as beneficial for spiritual growth. Fasting involves abstaining from food, drink, sleep, or sex to focus on God through prayer and worship. While fasting is often linked with denying oneself food, the Bible provides other examples of fasting such as refraining from marital intimacy. The purpose of fasting is to redirect one's attention to God rather than to punish the flesh or lose weight. Fasting humbly denies fleshly things in order to glorify God and enhance spiritual life. A true fast involves serving others through acts of mercy as described in Isaiah 58.

1. Christian Fasting – 31st July 2016
“…sothat it will not be obviousto others that youare fasting,butonlyto your Father, who is unseen;
and yourFather, who sees what is donein secret, will reward you”(Matthew6:18).
Scripture doesnot command Christians to fast. Goddoes not require or demand it of Christians.At
the same time, the Bible presentsfasting as somethingthat is good, profitable,and beneficial.The
book of Acts records believersfastingbefore theymade important decisionsas we can learn from Acts
13:2, “While they were worshiping theLord and fasting,theHoly Spirit said,“Set apartforme Barnabas
and Saulfor the workto which I have called them.”Biblically,fastingis abstaining from food,drink,
sleepor sexto focus on a periodof spiritual growth. Specifically,we humblydeny somethingofthe
fleshto glorifyGod,enhance our spirit,and go deeperinour prayer life.
Christianfastingisn'tsome kindof a"work"that's commandedbyChristor requiredbyScripture.
However,thatdoesn'tmeanthatfastingisn'trecommendedasapart of our spiritual growth. Fasting
and prayerare oftenlinkedtogether aswe can learnfrom Luke 2:37, “…andthenwas a widowuntil she
was eighty-four.Shenever left the temple but worshipednightand day,fastingandpraying”;and
againstatedin Luke 5:33, “Theysaid to him,“John’sdisciplesoftenfastand pray,and so do the
disciplesofthe Pharisees, but yoursgo on eatingand drinking.” Toooften,the focusof fastingison
deprivingfood.Instead,the purposeof fastingshouldbe totake youreyesoff the thingsof thisworldto
focuscompletelyonGod.Fastingisa wayto demonstrate toGod,and to ourselves,thatwe are serious
aboutour relationshipwithHim.Fastinghelpsusgainanew perspectiveanda renewedreliance upon
God.
Althoughfastingaswe read inScripture isalmostalwaysa fastingfromfood,there are otherwaysto
fast. Fastingcan be anythinggivenuptemporarilyinordertofocusall our attentiononGod.We can
understandthiswhenwe read 1 Corinthians7:1- 5 where the teachingisonMarital sexual relationships
and refraining(fasting) fromsame throughchoice. Itisclearlystatedinverse 5 “Donot deprive each
other except perhapsby mutual consent andfor a time, so that youmay devote yourselves to prayer.
Then come together againsothat Satan will not tempt you becauseof your lack ofself-control”(1
Corinthians7: 5).
Fastingshouldbe limitedtoa settime,especiallywhen one decidesto fastfromfood.Extendedperiods
of time withouteatingcanbe harmful tothe body that may weakentoa point that Satanwill be able to
temptus because of ourlack of self-control asstatedinthe above passage inCorinthians.AsChristians
we must clearlyunderstand that fastingisnot intendedtopunishthe flesh,buttoredirectattentionto
God. Fastingshouldnotbe considereda“dietingmethod”either.The purpose of abiblical fastisnotto
lose weight,butrathertogain deeperfellowshipwithGod.Anyonecanfast,butsome may not be able
to fastfrom food due to diabeticsforexample.Everyone cantemporarilygive upsomethinginorderto
draw closertoGod. For an example one whoisaddictedtocatchingTV may “fast” fromsame for a
periodof time as decidedbythatperson.
By takingour eyesoff the thingsof thisworld,we canmore successfullyturnourattentiontoChrist.
Fastingisnot a way to getGod to do whatwe want. Fastingchangesus,notGod. Fastingisnot a way to
appearmore spiritual thanothers.Fastingistobe done ina spiritof humilityanda joyful attitude. We
can understandwhenre readas statedby Jesusin Matthew6:16-18, “Whenyou fast,do not look
somber as the hypocritesdo, for they disfiguretheir facesto showmen they are fasting.I tell you the

2. truth, they have received their reward in full.But when youfast, put oil on yourhead and washyour
face, so that it will not be obvioustomen thatyou are fasting,butonlyto your Father, who isunseen;
and yourFather, who sees what is donein secret, will reward you.”
Christianfastingismore thandenyingourselvesfoodorsomethingelse of the flesh - it'sa sacrificial
lifestyle before God.In Isaiah58; we learnwhat a "true fast" is.It's notjust a one-time actof humility
and denial before God,it'salifestyle of servantministrytoothers.AsIsaiahtellsus,fastingencourages
humility,loosensthe chainsof injustice,untiesthe chordsof the yoke,freesthe oppressed,feedsthe
hungry,providesforthe poor,andclothesthe naked. One can deprive oneself of hisorher‘lunch’and
give itto a poor and needyperson. One candeprive oneself of buyinganexpensive garmentandgive
the fundsto a needyfamily. AsstatedChristianfastingismore thandenyingourselvesfoodand isn'ta
one day thing- it's our learningprocesstoadhere to a lifestyleof servantlivingforGodand others.
"Then your lightshall break forthlike the morning,your healingshall springforthspeedily,and your
righteousnessshall gobefore you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.Then you shall call,
and the Lord will answer; you shall cry, andHe will say, 'Here I am' (Isaiah58:8-9).