When I was in elementary school, the school lunch on Fridays during lent were of fish or no meat. I didn’t think much of it until I was middle school age. No one forced us not to eat meat on Fridays at school. The menu for the month was sent home so that we could bring lunch from home if we didn’t want to eat the school lunch. I never found out if the person in charge of the menu was Catholic or not.
Before college, I didn’t think that not eating meat on Fridays during lent was a fast. I thought fasting meant not eating anything at all. Now I know better. Sure, you can fast the traditional way but I know people who fast on screen time or texting during lent. Fasting is when we give up something we enjoy for something better and it doesn’t have to be during Lent. We can fast any set time of the year.
Fasting isn’t about doing something to make God answer our prayers or to punish ourselves. It is about focusing our attention on God and getting closer to Him. During a fast, we have more time to pray, read the Bible, and worship God.
Eating fish on Fridays during Lent was a tradition I followed until I found out other Christians didn’t do it. The church services I attended during college and after graduating didn’t fast during Lent. In fact, Lent wasn’t even mentioned. I remember being asked as a congregation to pray and fast, if possible, for certain things like healings, elections, and major church decisions.
The Bible doesn’t command us to fast but it was expected of us. Many people in the old and new testament, David, Moses, Jesus, and Paul fasted. They neither ate nor drank anything when they were mourning, humbled themselves, needed guidance, or prepared themselves or others for ministry.
Last month I fasted from checking my emails first thing in the morning to doing a devotional and reading the Bible. It wasn’t easy in the beginning and I was tempted a few times but I stopped myself. Now I’m still doing my quiet time first thing in the morning and checking email after that. I think my day starts off better with me with a better attitude and more peace.
Scott fasted from food during his radiation therapy because his research showed there was evidence that the body started getting rid of bad cells, enhanced immune system, and reduced growth. He used the time for eating to read the Bible and other books on how people dealt with cancer.
What’s your experience with fasting?
Prayer
Almighty God in heaven,
Thank You so much for sending Jesus to us as an example. I don’t understand why You love me so much but I want to have a stronger relationship with You. Help me to let go of my comforts and controls so that I can focus on You more.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
Verses
1 Corinthians 7:5 Don’t deprive each other except by agreement for a specified time to devote yourselves to prayer
Matthew 4:4 Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3, Man can’t live by bread alone but by every word from God’s mouth
Matthew 6:16 Jesus said that when you fast, don’t look miserable like the hypocrites
2 Samuel 1:12 David and his men wept and fasted because Saul and Jonathan died
Deuteronomy 9:18 Moses ate and drank nothing for 40 days and nights
Luke 4:2 After Jesus fasted 40 days and nights, he was hungry
Nehemiah 1:4 When Nehemiah heard the news, he sat down and cried. He mourned, fasted, and prayed to God
Acts 9:9 For three days Paul could not see, and he didn’t eat or drink anything
Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas turned the appointed elders to God’s protection with prayer and fasting
John 6:35 Jesus said, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”
Song
“One Thing” by Hillsong Worship their 2015 version since it seems they have another song of that name. This one reminds me that Jesus is the bread of life and gives us living water. When we fast, we focus on Jesus, our one thing.
Call To Action
If you have already prayed, looked up the verses in your Bible, and listened to the suggested song, then pray about fasting and if God tells you to do it, let us know how it went.