different in a good way

In a world where the consumer reigns supreme, fasting can be a hard thing to understand. We are taught that we should have whatever we want whenever we want it; everything is just a click away. Fasting pushes against this and helps us to remember that what we really need, more than anything, is God.

Fasting has been a key practice for Christians for thousands of years. Israel fasted regularly each year during certain holidays as well as at key times of national repentance, grieving, or danger. We know the early church fasted during seasons of worship, when they made big decisions, and during times when they needed extra grace or strength to keep going.

what is it?

At its core, fasting is an opportunity to lay down an appetite. This is most commonly seen in giving up food, but can also be done by giving up other things such as social media or television. This small act of self-denial confronts us with the hunger at the core of our being.

We become aware of how uncomfortable we get when there is no food to satisfy us, and how fidgety we are when there are no programs to entertain us. We are reminded of the many who daily go without food, and how Jesus himself suffered for us. Then we take the time we would have spent consuming, and instead spend it praying and seeking God. It’s in this space we remember Jesus is the bread of life that truly satisfies us.

Fasting is not magic. It’s not a diet plan, nor is it a hunger strike to twist God’s arm into doing what we want. It’s about eliminating distractions for a spiritual purpose; it hits the reset button of our souls. Fasting puts us in a better position to hear God’s voice and to obey His call. As we become aware of the appetites that drive us, we turn them to God and discover how He fulfills all our needs.

There’s some great material available here – or you can talk with one of the Pastors here at BBC.