How To Incorporate Fasting Into Your Spiritual Life

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The boys were engrossed in a basketball game last night. The team’s star was on a hot streak and seemed to make every shot he took. Crazy shots. Off-balance, over the head of a defender who must have been a foot taller. From nearly mid-court. Three pointers from way beyond the three point line. He just couldn’t miss.

We’ve all seen examples like this – in sports or in other endeavors – where someone is “in the zone,” totally focused and excelling at whatever they’re doing. What’s the secret to such success and how can we tap into it for ourselves? In the case of this basketball player, my husband explained how he practiced and warmed up. How he practiced until the basketball became like an extension of his arm, until the movements became fluid and natural.

Get “in the {spiritual} zone” through prayer and fasting

Can we apply the same practice to our spiritual lives? How can we practice and focus so that we’re “in the zone” in our spiritual lives, living a life more connected with God?

In Mark 9:14-29, Jesus explains that we need to be consistently in prayer and fasting in order to be “in the zone” with him and be able to push back the demons from our lives and stay firm in our faith. In this passage, Jesus has just returned from the mountaintop where he met with Elijah and Moses and was transfigured. He finds the other disciples in an argument with local religious leaders. The disciples had tried, unsuccessfully, to drive out the demon who possessed a young boy. They had done such acts before, but were unable to drive this one out. The disciples seemed stymied by their lack of power and the people seemed to be questioning.

Jesus rebukes the group for their lack of faith. The boy’s father exclaims one of my favorite statements, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” Then, Jesus drives out the demon and heals the boy.

The disciples later asked Jesus why they’d been unable to drive out this demon. What was the difference in this one versus others they’d been able to cast out? Jesus explained in Mark 9:29, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”

The interesting part here is that Jesus didn’t first stop to pray and fast before he healed the boy. He didn’t send everyone home to pray and fast for several days. He was able to cast out this demon because he’d already been engaged in prayer and fasting. He was already “in the zone” and fully ready after praying and fasting on the mountain.

As we seek to become closer to God and stay “in the zone” with Him, we need to keep our eyes fixed on him. We do this by studying His word in the Bible and praying regularly. However, Jesus tells us here that we also should be fasting regularly.

3 Ways We’re Purified Through Fasting

1) Fasting reminds us how much we need God. We give up food, trusting God to fill us with His nourishment.

2) Fasting helps us focus and hear God’s voice. Instead of eating, spend that time with God. Listen for his voice. The more you incorporate fasting and prayer into your life, the more attuned you’ll be to His voice.

3) Fasting purifies and strengthens our souls. Fasting can bring actual changes to your body, removing both physical and spiritual toxins and impurities.

Fasting shouldn’t just be a special event, but a regular spiritual practice

Some guidelines for incorporating fasting into your spiritual life:

• Don’t fast just because you think you should. Listen for God’s nudge and check with Him in prayer if fasting is what He wants you to do.
• Don’t fast if you’re sick, pregnant, nursing, or have other medical reasons not to. Fasting shouldn’t be forced. Listen to your doctor and to God on whether it’s safe for you to fast.
• You don’t have to take on a lengthy fast. Start small. Maybe skip one meal a week. Start your fast after dinner and do a one-day fast, only skipping two or three meals. Work your way up to longer fasts, if that’s where you feel called.
• Always drink plenty of water and liquids. Stay hydrated.
• Don’t make a big show about fasting (Matthew 6:16-18). This is your personal time with God to focus on hearing His voice more clearly in your life.
• Set aside time during your fast to focus on God. Spend your meal time worshipping God, praying, and listening for His voice.
• Don’t expect fasting to always provide immediate results. You may not hear an immediate answer to your prayers.
• Use your fasting as a time of reflection, self-denial, focus, listening, and cleansing. Allow God to penetrate your soul to cleanse and purify it, strengthening it for the journey ahead.

For more ideas on how to do a fast (and also when a fast is not appropriate), check out these great resources:

Basic Steps to Successful Fasting & Prayer @ creatingfutures.net

Your Personal Guide to Fasting and Prayer @ cru.org

5 Spiritual Benefits of Fasting @ guideposts.org

I’d love to hear your experiences with fasting! How do you fast? What have you experienced from fasting? Will you leave a comment and share your experience?

[Full disclosure: I’m no expert in fasting. I’m only just beginning to try it, but I believe it’s something important to add into my spiritual life.]

[This post is part of the Visible Faith series. Click here to learn more about this series on how to live a vibrant, visible faith.]