Fasting for a Time

When Fasting, Keep in Mind

Every time my husband and I have had a major decision to make in the last several years, we have prayed. We have then added fasting as a spiritual discipline to our prayers. I first began this practice on a mission trip in Greece. During the beginnings of the refugee crisis in Europe in 2013, we travelled to work with some organizations making great efforts with those who were without home, without hope, and without any recourse in a foreign country.

We went to areas where people needed jobs, food, and most of all, hope. We prayed and fasted that they would know the truth of newfound freedom in Christ.

The experience amazed us, but it was difficult; we probably walked five miles a day during that trip, spending 8-12 hours outside in parks and plazas talking with people, trying to provide comfort at a time when they most needed it. Then one day, we decided to fast and spent the entire day without food. The experience stretched me in more ways than one. While our specific prayers went unanswered, as far as we know, that experience of fasting prompted a stepping stone to greater faith in my journey with the Lord.

I learned that I could go all day without eating when I sought the Lord. I was still hungry, sure, but missing food for one day wasn’t going to kill me, as I once thought it might. I mean, I’m the kind of person who always carries snacks, even pre-kids, because I’m hungry every 2-3 hours. H-anger is real.

During that time in Greece, I became more disciplined about prayer during the day, praying without ceasing with new clarity (1 Thess 5:17).

That was ten years ago. I’ve since incorporated the discipline of fasting here and there as issues arise.  Overall, the Lord has confirmed or made himself clearer every time I’ve fasted.  Although it’s not always what I walk into the fast praying about. Many times, something will come up that I’m not even aware of, but it becomes an issue or sin I’m newly convicted about, or reaffirms a belief I’ve been doubting. Paul describes how the Holy Sprit will direct our prayers in Romans 8: 26-27.

Overall, the fast is not about getting what you want, but practicing a different discipline in a way of knowing the Lord better. I have fasted over things I’ve been broken over or wanted to change, and I don’t always change; circumstances don’t necessarily change. It’s not a magic bullet, but it is a spiritual discipline, which means the more you practice, the more disciplined you become in your faith, no matter the outcome. God looks at the heart and he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Another principle to keep in mind is this kind of fasting is not to lose weight or get healthy; it’s to break strongholds and grow in the faith and knowledge of God. We see this modeled in scripture often through Moses, Daniel, Nehemiah, Anna, and Paul and the apostles (Ex 34:28, Daniel 1, Nehemiah 1:4, Luke 2:37, Acts 13:2-5, 14:23). Remember, Jesus says “When you fast…” (Matthew 6:16).

Fasting Ideas If you’re feeling a tug…

Fasting Social Media

Increase your flex time and decrease mental clutter through fasting social media. I have fasted completely from Insta and FB for two months…maybe longer. Why?

A few reasons:

1. Difficult life stage: new baby or struggles with relationships, etc, makes it hard to see that other people are out and about enjoying the world. Hello, highlight reel.
2. Anxiety: 24 hour access to global news is overwhelming. Seeing tragedies over and over, and now you can’t stop thinking about them. You can stop the cycle.
3. Comparison: Take yourself out of the comparison trap. If you’re not seeing everything someone else is doing, getting, buying, seeing, etc., then you’re going to be dealing with this so much less. It’s an easier fight if you’re not fighting all those people you don’t even know. This way, we only compare with the people we actually know and actually see in our day to day, not whoever girl on the internet. Yes, I realize the irony of this statement…
4. Huge news moment you don’t want to keep reliving…we’ve had too many of those in the last several years. It doesn’t mean you don’t care if you need a break from the images/video. You can go online and check a news outlet if that event interests you, but it won’t be put in your face to surprise you or remind you if you need time to process.

Ways to fast social media:

1. Cut it out completely! Go off all the way. See if you can go 3 days, 3 weeks, 30 days? Or maybe, start with a weekend?
2. Cut it off for a time each week. Some people fast from food regularly, one day per week. You can choose one day or even choose days to help you streamline your productivity. I used to take Instagram off my phone on Sunday and Monday. It helped me not be anxious about the work week and jump into my tasks full steam ahead.
3. Set App limits & Down Time: Go into your Settings, help yourself to create those limits. You determine the number of minutes, and don’t ignore it.  The warning will remind you five minutes before shut down time. You will get your time back. Social media is a time vacuum. Ever sit down for a few minutes to check Instagram and then all of the sudden it’s 25 minutes later? Same.

Fasting Online Shopping

1. Feeling a pinch in your budget? Amazon cart “saved for later” adds up to about 1.2 million dollars? Quit online shopping. Decide here and now that if you need something, you will walk into a store, stand in line, and buy it at the register.
2. Delete all of those shopping apps from your phone. Unfollow or mute for 30 days those bffs on social media who always have the best thing that’s a “lightning deal of the day.”
3. Limit the scarcity mindset. All of that language tells us to buy, buy, buy because there’s not enough. Have you noticed that the BEST sale of the year happens throughout the year?
4. Unsubscribe to retail stores where you are tempted to “add to cart.” If they’re your favorite store, you’re not going to forget about them after the fast. You can always sign up for emails later.
5. Reply STOP to alllll those texts coming in. I almost forgot this one because I hardly ever sign up for a text reminder. I do sometimes, but hate those texts. It’s so disappointing! Respond and press STOP. You don’t need those stores creeping in your messages.
6. Tell a friend, team with your spouse, tell a mentor. Put it out there for accountability.
7. Realize that more than likely, you’re not going to miss it.

Fasting TV/Shows

1. Know that you can always catch up later.
2. Decide here and now what you’ll do instead. Is there a book you’ve been dying to read? A puzzle? An actual game to play with family or friends? Fill the time. Decide in advance how you’ll fill it.
3. Decide in advance if there’s ever an appropriate time to watch TV/shows, so that you don’t feel guilty when you want to unwind this way, like for example nights on the weekends.
4. Choose a particular day(s) of the week that you will watch tv and set a limit. We used to say, one show. It was easy to then say, but this one is so good, and we have to find out what happens next! The producers know this. If it’s hard to watch one show, set a timer. Keep each other accountable.

Waking Early

This is not really fasting, but deciding in advance for the week when you will wake up and get to it. For this, you’ve got to work backward and make sure that you’re setting yourself up for success the night before.

1. Decide on your downtime. When will your phone shut off? So much research around what being on social media and blue light screens does to the brain. For me, it’s 8:45, which is tricky when I’m out past that time, especially if I’m trying to pull up maps to get somewhere.
2. Finish the nighttime routine, kitchen cleaned, clothes set out, keys ready to grab, water bottle filled, coffee maker set.
3. Decide on your absolute get in bed time. For me, when I turn off the light changes, but it starts with committing to getting in the bed. and get in the dang bed.
4. I set multiple alarms. My husband only ever sets one. More than likely, you fit into one of these two camps. Do what works for you.

Fasting Food

Decide on what fasting option is best for you.

1. Fasting all food one day per week as a routine or part of Lent, Advent, etc.
2. Fasting most food one – three days for a specific purpose
3. Fasting during daylight hours. This one is tough for me with little kids who need so much 4pm-7pm, when I’m most hungry and ready to give in.
4. Fasting certain foods for an agreed upon time.
5. Daniel Fast: Eating only whole grain, fruits and vegetables for 10 days or 21 days. This is the most common choice I make. More on that and recipes too, on this post.

These are some ideas that have worked for me and my family, but there are a myriad of ways to grow in this discipline, above all, remembering that there are seasons. Jesus performed his first miracle at a party, a feast! There is a time for fasting and a time for feasting. This is one way to fast.