As we prepared for and entered the season of Advent (2024) a small group of people met online for a study group using the the book, The Discipline of Fasting. As well as reading chapters of the book each week, we spent time focusing on scripture and other resources, posting our thoughts, reflections and questions on a online discussion group, and then meeting once a week for conversation and prayer. Some people set out with no experience of fasting. Some came knowing about it but with not much practice. Some came with experience of the practice but lacking discipline. All came hungry for more of Jesus. And Jesus has met us every week and transformed all our lives as we have drawn close to Him with one another.
Below you will find a few of the pearls of wisdom that the Lord gave us.
In our fast-paced, technologically driven, consumeristic culture I find myself increasingly dissatisfied with the distractions of the world. I know that I want to live a more simple God centred life that reflects the glory of God and brings me into the fullness of life that He desire for me. I feel like fasting and prayer are ways in which I can discipline myself to be more fully focused on God and the more I focus on God the less distracted I become by the things of this world and the more I see God in my every day life.
I have been thinking about distractions. There are unavoidable things that distract such as visitors, interruptions, plus other things that we think need doing, things we are worried about that occupy our mind.
The other distractions for me are as a result of lack of focus, or a preference in my heart over devotion. I remember that spiritual conversation question, “What is stealing your devotion to Jesus?” So I am distracted by my own wandering within, that struggle to stay fixed on Him. It reminds me of the book ‘Practicing the presence of God’ by Brother Lawrence. So for me it is about the ‘why’ I am easily distracted.
Thinking of fasting as a time of cleansing is new to me. After a time of Halloween candy, house guests and birthday cake I could use some cleansing from sugar! But I think some cleansing from doubt and cleansing from fear and worry as well. I read and prayed the penitential psalms (from the group resources) and marked them in my Bible.
Psalm 130, verses 5-6 tells of waiting for the Lord, “My soul doth wait, and in his words do I hope. My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning; I say, more than they that watch for the morning.”
I’ve been praying for a long-time friend, and witnessing to him over many years, and tonight as I was reading I realized continuing in prayer for my friend and for others is a way of waiting upon the Lord.
I first heard of fasting when I was in high school when I read a Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. I remember Siddhartha saying something like, he had learned to fast, and to wait, and to pray. So part of the cleansing could be my need for control, to really turn situations and people over to the Lord, to wait, and fast and pray.
If the Jews over drank or ate at the feasts they needed to fast the following week to cleanse from all the gluttony and drunkenness.
I believe God is asking me to be more disciplined in my life, especially in the area of eating. I know I hear the Lord more clearly when I am more disciplined in all areas. Hebrews 12:11 NIV “No discipline seems pleasant at the time but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Fasting will definitely change the way I pray because of hearing Him more clearly. Praying His desires for my life and for all those he has called me to pray for: family, friends, the nation, the church etc. instead of MY desires.
Since I have rarely fasted, neglect would be the biggest trap for me. I guess I would plead ignorance since I have never really had any teaching on it. I am so thankful for this study because I believe we are entering a time where we need to be very strong Christians. I think the temptations of neglect are: pride (thinking we can do it by ourselves) and becoming lukewarm or cold (Rev3:15-16)
During Lent one of the ladies on the Fasting Study Group felt very strongly that they needed to fast for spiritual breakthrough for a young man who had reached the depths of depression and was being sectioned (put into protective care). It was having a heart-breaking impact on the whole family and their faith. But the lady in our group was in pregnant and having difficulty being disciplined in eating enough for her own body and the baby, so fasting was not a good thing for her.
As she was sharing, someone in group said ‘maybe we can fast for you.’ So between us we committed to ‘stand in the gap’ and fast on her behalf, taking it in turns over several days and covenanting to stand in prayer with the lady. It was a remarkable journey together and the Lord was very present with each of the group. The pregnant lady felt a burden of guilt lifted from her (for not fasting) and actually found she was able to eat more healthily. The people who were fasting heard the Lord speaking into the situation and posted prayers and reflections that the lady was able to pass onto the family. And there was breakthrough for the family as many underlying issues were brought to light that have been buried for years and the Lord had permission to work his grace and healing in the whole family’s lives
Intentionality is the word of the season for me. It keeps coming up! I can see where discipline can surely help with living intentionally.
By way of “default” thinking, I fall into the trap of living as if I can do it by myself. Interesting that I can so easily identify with the dangers of becoming lukewarm or cold! Fasting certainly has the potential to put me in a space to be more open to the Spirit and of bearing good fruit!
In terms of annual lent fasting leading to Passover, I sometimes find some attempts quite offensive to the gospel. What I mean is when someone states they are giving up chocolate for lent. I know this is self-affliction but I often think Jesus gave His life! However, I think if something has an issue i.e alcohol, tv, eating, addictions etc then I fully believe that fasting becomes a way of chastening the soul and is intentional on denying the flesh to bring it to subjection.
My fasting is seasonal at this time. God seems to be bringing a change of focus and giving me the opportunity to seek Him more through fasting, prayer and study of the Word. I feel this is to do with a ministry change that must come from an inward change. I just feel that as a couple we engage with many Christians and desire to be more open to God using us to encourage and challenge others in their journey of discipleship, in spiritual warfare, and be bolder in speaking to non-believers with the gospel.
My desire as is “to cultivate a hunger and thirst for the gift of the Holy Spirit, to open my heart to the real presence of Jesus, and approach God the Father as His child.”
Job 23:12b I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread.
This verse has always challenged me as very often this is not true in my life. Fasting for me readdresses that balance. It is a time when the Spirit’s voice is louder than my flesh’s demands because I choose to deny them by the strength of the Spirit. Derek Prince said: “The stomach is a wonderful servant but a terrible master.” When my body is empty of food, I find this a time when I am more aware of the voice of God, it brings a clarity that is usually dulled in day-to-day living. It can also be an uncomfortable time as my flesh objects and I see more clearly what is in my heart. Pride is a powerful force and I live in denial of much of it in my life. Fasting brings truth into my life but the amazing thing about God revealing my heart is that I also see how much God loves me and shows me his mercy and grace through the blood of Jesus. When all the above is true, I still find it frustrating that I struggle to be faithful to the things of God which reminds me of Romans 7 which was shared in our meeting, “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do I keep on doing“!!! I thank God for Romans 8 “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
Maybe that is why Jesus taught us to pray ‘give us this day our daily bread.’ He knew that we would need to keep on asking because we keep on forgetting that HE is the only one that can satisfy us and keep the enemy at bay.
The words discipline and intentionality are big in my vocabulary right now. I can see where the discipline of fasting is part of living intentionally, and that the practice of fasting can bring about a closer relationship with God. In that closeness, I can be nurtured and loved, disciplined and forgiven; and be commissioned and equipped.
My difficulty is engaging spiritually while fasting. Last week I was able to be more intentional and was more engaged. Now, I think my focus needs to be less on “what I am doing, how I am doing it” and more on the presence of Jesus and setting my heart to hear from Him. Isn’t it amazing that even trying to be intentional can be a distraction! How can that even make sense?!
The penitential Psalms are some of my favorites. I especially appreciate Psalm 102 as it was such a comfort to me in a very dark time. Verse 7 was especially helpful: “I lie awake; I’m like a lonely sparrow on the housetop.” Knowing that someone wrote this and that the Holy Spirit guided it into the scriptures and that I read it thousands of years later – I know that I am not alone
Teach me thy way, o LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name.” Psalm 86: 11
This is part of my reading for this morning, and today it seemed like an underline of what I’m seeking — unite my heart, O LORD. Give me clarity of the distractions, give me the grace of a singleness of heart. The next verse seems to tell what can happen: “I will praise thee, O LORD my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.”
Distractions certainly keep my heart divided. I pray to send those distractions packing – maybe by using discipline to fast and turn my heart toward Jesus and allow Him to increase my hunger for more of Him. Maybe if I’m hungrier for Jesus distractions will not have that powerful appeal they seem to have.
I was pondering this on my walk yesterday and something popped into my head that has made think a lot about fasting from words! What if one of the skills of spiritual conversation is silence?! Not the kind of silence that abdicates responsibility. But rather a skill for listening to the Lord and not jumping right in with what ‘I’ think. I need to practice that one a lot!
But what particularly came to my mind was the way that Jesus used silence when words were not going to make any difference at all. In fact they might make matters worse, or even derail the purposes of God. The picture I have been thinking on is Jesus before Pilate. There are a lot of words I might have tried to use to argue my case in that situation but Jesus chose to remain silent. I wonder if the conversation in his head was “Father should I say anything right now? It all seems a bit futile really. I know what you want and where I need to go. Is silence the most powerful weapon against the powers and principalities in this moment?”
I feel challenged this week to exercise fasting from speaking too quickly – the discipline of silence – and being intentional about discerning what, if anything at all, I need to say.
My behaviour is an outward expression of my devotion. My deeds and speech reveal what is in my heart. I can’t change the inward by changing my behaviour as this has only brought failure and frustration, it is only God’s grace and love that can change my heart and the things it shows devotion to. The other side of the same coin though is by choosing to change my behaviour with regards to time and priorities, it is making room for more of God in my life which allows the Holy Spirit to bring a true inward change of heart which will ultimately change the outward.
It reminded me of the scripture “So whatever you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” 1 Cor 10:31. So whatever our circumstances, wherever we find ourselves in life from the important to the mundane it can bring glory to God and show our devotion to Him.
It reminded me of Romans 6:12-15 which explains that all the parts of the human body should be presented to God as instruments of righteousness and not let sin reign in our mortal body.
I began fasting again regularly within the last year or so. Before it had been spotty, irregular, and painful. I rarely focused on God, but the focus was on not eating and my mind engaged on that. We practiced “intermittent fasting” for quite a while, but even the same mindset would take over, and I would eat lots and lots when my “window” was open.
These days it seems easier, but I am more focused on seeking God than just not eating. Maybe that’s part of dying to self — and I loved that sentence in the reading of “turning every pang into a prayer.”
Thank you all for going through this class; it is an especially rich time in the Lord.
I am not sure I have ever done a complete fast, though I have done fasting in extreme circumstances. But I do like the idea that fasting (of any kind) is for courage and freedom from fear. Whilst there are extreme circumstances that might be a matter of life and death, literally. I think that following Jesus is a always a matter of life and death – taking up our cross daily. And fear is the greatest tool of the enemy to cripple us.
An ordinary fast is a more common practice for me, often weekly. A partial fast has become a helpful practice for me during Lent or Advent or other seasons when I want to be reminded daily of the need for God to be my distraction (as Sandra mentions elsewhere).
It can also be good to weave different kinds of fasting together for a season. We’ve done that sometimes in our house fellowships so that everyone can participate at some level and experience hungering and thirsting for more of Jesus.
I love to play games! Word games are challenging and are said to help keep our brains active as we age. However, they are huge distractions and I find myself allowing them to take up waaaayyyy too much of my time. I have deleted games from my devices multiple times and would pray or complete a task when the temptation to play a game came about. This could go on for days or even weeks, but eventually I would put one game, then another back on my phone and start with discipline, but end up in addiction!
I notice that fasting in order to break the addictive power may be what I am missing. I fast from games out of my own will power, and I do replace the game time with prayer and work, but I don’t pray and ask God to break the addictive power of the games. I will pray for a greater hunger for God as I fast from games – not just “do something different.”
I have pondered Brother Lawrence’s words and I think they are very applicable here: “…I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue inThey presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections. Amen
The prayer of Brother Lawrence this week made me think of how we can be close to God and aware of his presence in our everyday living. Often I can be busy at work for most of the day and realise that my thoughts or heart have not turned to God at all but have been caught up with tasks. How can we know that continual presence when we are busy with life? How can we intentionally walk with him whilst carrying out every day tasks? We have shared about distractions. How does God become part of our distractions so they are longer distractions? The prayer finishes with ‘possess all my affections’. What affections do we have that take us away from that closeness? Brother Andrew asks that God would ‘grant him the grace to continue to continue in His presence’. The Lord hears the cry of our hearts for a greater intimacy and closeness to Him.
During the pandemic many of us had to fast from all kinds of things! This year I have been challenged not to forget the lessons of the wilderness. And it is not the first time the Lord has reminded me of that because when I went to look for an article I had written I found it re-published in 2022 (see link below). How quickly I seem to forget!
What struck me as I read it again was the emphasis not on the things we give up but the things that we ‘take up’, the benefits and joys. As I look back to Christmas 2020 I am thankful for the lessons of that wilderness. We were forced to change our family traditions that year but actually we have never gone back to them. We found better ways of celebrating God’s love and faithfulness that do not pander to the ‘festive-season’ but focus on what it means to be joy-full and joy-giving because of Jesus in us.
https://inspiremovement.org/advent-fasting-2022/
Fasting is intentional, and as so, practicing fasting to grow closer to the Lord would be intentional. That should be reason enough to fast. I have a desire to grow closer to our Lord and Savior and fasting would perhaps lead me to repentance about why I don’t seem to find enough time to devote to God. In contemplation, I find myself resting on what He has already done for me and celebrating that. I know He has much more for me if I would just seek Him. Fasting as an act of obedience should lead to that closer relationship and I am excited about that.
I think gratitude is often overlooked in my life, and linking fasting as a time of contemplation and gratitude may help with the distractions as well
Part of my fasting journey has been to surrender to God those things in my life that had become consolations for me that the ‘world’ offers not the Holy Spirit; food, alcohol, TV, self-focused with regards to my priorities and time. Billy Graham said, “What we starve will die and what we feed will grow.” So what am I starving in my life and what am I feeding? I have been seeking the consolation of the Spirit rather than the fridge or the TV. I am intentionally making room for God by clearing out those things that have been filling up my life and I have done this as part of the fasting process. In becoming obedient, God has shown me the truth of how sin so easily entangles (Heb 12:1) that I shouldn’t ‘entertain it’ but flee from it. I have also felt ‘loss’ giving up those things which shows me the affection I had for them above my desire for God.
I pray for each of us that God would illuminate our hearts and draw us closer to Him.
This is certainly a challenge for me. I like your phrase “I have been seeking the consolation of the Sprit rather than the fridge or the TV.” If I truly believe that living in greater fellowship with God is the best way to live and that It brings the most joy and fulfillment I can have, why do I continue to seek the “consolations” the world offers.
This really does challenge us to think more about what a simple life of discipleship looks like and not allow the temptations of the culture to distract us. I am reminded that the decline of methodism began when people became more affluent and gradually abandoned bands and then class meetings. What was actually a blessing from God as the methodist movement helped to draw people out of poverty became a source of distraction and no longer a means of grace.
Lord, let us not fall into the same temptations.
There was a big football (not soccer) game between two college rivals this past weekend. An enormous spread of food, drink and fellowship just down the street. I ate more than I needed because I just wanted it. I think fasting makes me realize how much I will eat, or drink, or any other feature of gluttony self-absorption — there’s a spiritual component here, and I think I’m being called to pay attention.
I felt like that on Friday as I was fasting and praying after a eating waaaay too much for Thanksgiving dinner. I realised it was so unnecessary. Just because there was an abundance of food did not mean that we had to consume it all in one sitting!
I wonder if that is why God only gave the Israelites manna for each day. He knew that they would be tempted to eat more than they needed and store up trouble if they tried to keep things for themselves instead of depending on God for their ‘daily’ bread.
One of the scriptures this week is from Deuteronomy and is about God providing manna daily for the Israelites during the wilderness. It occurred to me that God used this physical dependence as a way for the Israelites to look to him for provision in their day-to-day lives. Fasting does this for me spiritually. It is a time when I am focused and looking to God to provide spiritually when denying the body of food. It helps me to be more sensitive to the Spirit in my life as I focus on him and brings clarity to my daily walk. I see the benefit of doing this regularly and implementing this as a means of grace.
Our relationship with God is one of trust. A trust that brings obedience and truth that allows us to see God’s love as a father who desires good for us and not a God who just wants us to give up things!
The daily manna was a tangible way that the Lord tried to help the Israelites see God’s love – desiring good for our wholeness of life. He measured their portions to make Him their portion!
I think it is also a stark reminder of the abundance that we live in. There are many people in this world who do not have to practice giving up food because they do not have enough to start with.
