It is with prayer and fasting that I begin my website in earnest. This is something I have long wanted to begin. So I have to begin well.
I grew up in a denomination in which fasting was never spoken of, except as a throwaway to something the disciples did. But when I moved overseas and began worshiping at non-denominational Protestant fellowships, I was introduced to the idea of fasting at Lent. But they never meant to fast from food. Rather, there were many ways to fast – giving up chocolate. Giving up tv. Giving up social media. Giving up sleep. Giving up something for the purpose of remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. I gave it a try and liked it.
But then I moved to the Middle East and right into Ramadan. And it is only now at the end of my time in that region that I seriously considered giving up meals. I thought it would be … well, I don’t know what I thought it would be. But the first time I truly fasted from eating, I was blown away by the way my Lord Jesus came close to me. I was amazed by the way the Holy Spirit instructed me and answered so many questions I had been pondering. He even answered questions I wasn’t specifically fasting about. This blog, for instance. I was simply fasting and praying for a friend to receive direction for his life.
And it was at this time I understood why the month of Ramadan is so powerful for my Muslim friends who take it so seriously. It is painful. It won’t be ignored. It does get easier, but is never easy. And now I see why the early Church made a common practice of it as they sought the Lord’s guidance in their decisions.
There are some great resources about fasting out there.
John Piper’s sermon series about the history, the why, the how of fasting is highly recommended. You can find that at desiringgod.org.
Here are some things that helped me get started with fasting.
Purpose: To get spend time drawing close to God, praying through specific questions.
How: My younger students who said they were starting to fast simply fasted from their early breakfast through their snack time, which was longer than they were used to. If you normally have a morning snack, follow the lead of my students and give that up. Spend that snack time in prayer.
If you are beginning to sudy the Bible, either for the first time or for a new season of your Christian life, you might consider doing a fast. Start with a one day fast. Ask God to show you what He wants you to study. I hope you will find the studies here helpful as you go.
God bless you as you begin.
Faith Gym 