Week 22: The Spiritual Discipline of Fasting
Weekly Digital Detox Reflections
Peace be with you, lovely readers! Welcome to The Endeavor. Last week this publication hit 200 subscribers! A truly amazing feat considering it’s been accomplished with very few shares on the major social media platforms. If you are new, thank you for joining! You’ve arrived at an interesting time. Alongside my weekly digital detox routine, I am exploring spiritual disciplines that one should consider adding as one subtracts or reduces the consumption of digital tech. For the next nine weeks, we will follow the book “Celebration of Discipline” By Richard J. Foster as a guide to explore each discipline.
For the new and old alike, I sincerely hope you encounter something here that leaves you better than when you arrived. It will be a few more weeks before I once again share my digital detox routine with you all. If anyone new is curious and unwilling to wait, I will direct you here, here, or here, to give you a sense of my routine and what this newsletter is about. If you are enjoying these newsletters and would like to offer support, please consider becoming a paid subscriber. Your support is currently used for student loan payments and is becoming tremendously helpful in that regard. Thank you all so much for your generosity. It’s truly humbling and I am exceedingly grateful.
Progress Report
Taking last week off was exceedingly fruitful. Along with my normal digital detox routine, I dedicated myself to a consistent prayer, contemplative prayer, and scripture reading routine spanning morning, afternoon, and evening each day. I feel on fire for the Lord in a way I haven't since my baptism in college. Following the liturgical mass readings every day, praying the Lord’s Prayer, the Jesus Prayer, and a novena prayer recommended to me by my man
has filled my heart with grace and compassion for others to an extent I've never felt before. Also, I perceive God at work in my life, and I believe I can sense Him cleaning up the ecumenical mess I have found myself in over the past few years. I am 100% being pulled in the direction of a church that follows more liturgical traditions. Orthodox Christianity, Catholicism, and Anglicanism have all piqued my interest and I plan on diving into each of these traditions eventually finding one that I will call home. I understand the concerns of Christian brothers and sisters who are concerned with people caring more about the liturgy and tradition than they do about The Creator. However, my experience up until now has been the liturgical practices aiding people in their worship of God. If I encounter anything else, I’ll know it’s time to move along. The endeavor to settle into a particular denomination/church has not been without benefit. As I have continued to seek God, exploring these spiritual disciplines has shed light on how unified we are despite our denominational divisions. The previous disciplines covered, meditation (contemplative prayer), and prayer are practiced across all Christian traditions. The same can be said for the discipline of fasting.Where My Thoughts Have Been
One thing I love most about books is that they act as a sort of time capsule. The covers of a book hold within them both timeless truths and/or outdated anecdotes. This is particularly true for the chapter in “Celebration of Discipline” on fasting.
“In a culture where the landscape is dotted with shrines to the Golden Arches and an assortment of Pizza Temples, fasting seems out of place, out of step with the times. In fact, fasting has been in general disrepute both in and outside of the Church for many years. For example, in my research I could not find a single book published on the subject of Christian fasting from 1861-1954, a period of almost one hundred years.
Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline.
Just as in 1978 when this book was originally published, it still holds that our landscape is dotted with fast-food chains. What’s changed is that now, in 2023 (almost 2024) fasting is highly reputable in and outside of the Church. In the Church, many denominations, both liturgical and non-liturgical, participate in some form of fasting. Outside the Church, fasting is as popular as ever. If you’ve given any thought to dieting or healthy lifestyle changes over the past decade you have most likely come across the term intermittent fasting which has been rightly recognized for its health benefits.
As you may well know, fasting is not exclusive to the Christian faith. All major religions of the world see fasting as a valuable practice. Confucius, Plato, Socrates, and Aristotle all fasted. Here, we will be focusing on fasting as it pertains to the Christian life. As I did in my last post, this is a great place to say that our mind, body, and soul are not and cannot be separated from our spirit. If fasting is beneficial to your body, it is beneficial to your mind, soul, and spirit as well. That said, we should establish that Christian fasting centers on spiritual purposes. No hunger strikes to gain attention, no abstaining from food for bikini season. Christian fasting is done to nurture and embolden our spirit and to remind ourselves that we do not sustain ourselves but are perpetually sustained by God. Our priority is to conform our spirit to the ways and wills of the Holy Spirit so that we may then be nurtured in mind, body, and soul. “Biblical fasting always centers on spiritual purposes”(Foster 49).
Fasting in Scripture
Many, if not all important figures in the bible fasted. Moses, David, Elijah, Daniel, Ezra, Esther, Jonah, Nehemiah, Anna, John The Forerunner, Paul, Barnabas, Cornelius, and most importantly Jesus are all documented as having fasted in scripture. There are four forms of fasting we see practiced in scripture.
The normal form of abstaining from food but not water.
The partial fast is where there is a restriction of diet but not completely abstaining from food.
The absolute fast with no food or water for 3 days.
The supernatural absolute fast with no food or water for 40 days.
The normal mode of fasting in scripture entails abstaining from food, solid or liquid, but not water. During His 40-day fast, Jesus ate no food and was hungry when Satan tempted Him to eat, which implies abstaining from food but not from water (Luke 4:2).
The most well-known example of the partial fast is that of Daniel.
“In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”
Daniel 10:2-3 KJV
One may wonder why Daniel chose to deviate from the normal practice of fasting, but following the partial fast he was visited by an angel of God and given a message, so he must have done something right.
The absolute fast “appears to be a desperate measure to meet a dire emergency” (Foster 49). Saint Paul participated in an absolute fast following his dramatic encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. I imagine a confrontation with Christ qualifies as a dire emergency for one to repent. An execution might also call for an emergency fast. As Esther learned of the execution awaiting herself and her people, she told Mordecai to gather the Jews and hold a fast, and to eat or drink nothing for three days (Esther 4:16)
Both Moses and Elijah dove into apparent supernatural absolute fasts where for 40 days and 40 nights they ate no food or drank no water. Human beings can not go without water for much longer than three days, meaning these men were being completely sustained by God (Deut. 9:9; 1 Kings 19:8).
Scripture shows our ancient brothers and sisters in the faith understood fasting as a discipline God permitted and gave us several ways in which we could practice. But why would one choose to do something so difficult especially when it was never something God required of them?
Why Fast At All?
If our fasting is not unto God, we have failed. Physical benefits, success in prayer, the enduring with power, spiritual insights- these must never replace God as the center of our fasting.
Richard J. Forster, Celebration of Discipline
The primary purpose of fasting is to remind us throughout our mind, body, soul, and spirit that man does not live on bread alone, but by every word to proceeds from the mouth of God (Matt.4:4). There should be no ulterior motive to attempt to control the outcome of a fast because by doing this, you are trying to manipulate or control God. You should not do that first of all, because it won’t work. Secondly, that’s how pagans approach their gods. The disciplines of meditation, prayer, fasting, or any other practices are used in an attempt to appease their gods so they can then coerce them to give them what they want. Christian fasting is an act of vulnerability where we refrain from good things to show God that we know worshipping Him and being in His presence is better and more sustaining than any earthly good that even He has provided. “In experiences of fasting, we are not so much abstaining from food as we are feasting on the word of God” (Foster, 55). It is important to remember here the counsel of Christ in Matthew 6, telling us not to disfigure our faces or act miserable in an attempt to receive praise and attention for our fasting. If we are being sustained by God, how could be miserable? Once we understand this primary purpose of fasting, we can then acknowledge secondary purposes.
More than any other Discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface.
Richard J. Foster, Celebration of Discipline
When we think of going without food, we know we’ll get hungry. What we often don’t anticipate is the pride, anger, fear, bitterness, or any assemblage of ungodly feelings or ideas that inevitably surface during a fast. In the early stages of a fast, it is easy and normal to write off these issues as the result of hunger. Yet after some time in discomfort, prayer, and worship, we must face the fact that these issues come from within our hearts. Once identified, through repentant prayer and time spent in worship, we can rejoice for we know we can and will be healed by the power of the love of Christ.
How to Fast
The following is intended for those who may be new to fasting. If the discipline of fasting is part of your tradition and you would like to add any practical tips or advice, please leave a comment and let others know what has worked for you.
There are practicalities to be considered when fasting. When starting, consider starting small with a partial twenty-four-hour juice fast. Remember, you should be focused on the spiritual aspects of the fast. The physical and mental benefits will be interesting and should not be ignored, but they should not be the focus. Make sure that along with your regular daily routines, you should be regularly engaging in prayer and worship. When it’s time to break your fast, do so with a light, vegetarian meal. After about a month of practice with this partial fast, you should consider a twenty-four-hour absolute fast. You will be hungry and you will be uncomfortable. This is normal. Do not overreact get scared and break your fast. Drink a healthy amount of water, pray, spend time in worship, and you will get through the hunger. Believe it or not, eventually, your hunger pangs will subside and you will be better for having fasted. When eventually you feel comfortable with a 24-hour fast, consider a 48-hour fast. When comfortable with this, progress to a three-day absolute fast. Eventually, you may progress to a seven-day absolute fast. Prayerfully consider each stage of progression and do not proceed if you sense God is not calling you to do so. Any fast you decide to go forward with when properly centered upon worshipping God, will leave you amazed by the power of God.
I’ve gone back and forth about whether or not to share a personal story about my first long fast and have decided that I will. I am doing so only because I believe it is a story that brings glory to God.
About twelve years ago, after practicing this discipline for a few months I decided I would do a week-long partial juice fast. During a break from college, every day, morning, noon, and night, I prepared a place for myself at the table in our kitchen. My bible took the place of my plate, and a small cup of juice sat next to it. I would begin with a prayer and read scripture for 30 minutes to an hour as I drank the juice and conclude with another prayer. I will never forget that week. I anticipated agonizing hunger and to my surprise, I never got beyond the feeling of just being casually hungry. I was completely amazed. I’ve always had a very good appetite. To this day I wake up hungry and ready to eat. This fast showed me, that scripture is not only true, but alive. I felt truly sustained by the words of God.
There are many more practical steps to consider and amazing stories of spiritual growth than I have time to write about. If you would like to read more, check out this website, which was founded by Richard J. Foster. If you would like to share your own experiences and encourage others to begin fasting, leave a comment on this post.
Cause for Pause
Fasting may not be for you. Fasting is an ancient, biblical, God-approved discipline we should all consider adding to our lives regularly. However, there are legitimate reasons for deciding not to fast. If you are a diabetic, pregnant, have heart issues, or other physical ailments, fasting may be unhealthy for you. It would be wise to consult with a doctor before deciding to participate in a prolonged fast.
Fasting is not a required discipline. I believe prayer is required in the life of a Christian, but fasting is not. Do not feel like you are less than just because you have not and will not fast. If You pray regularly and feel led by God to fast so that you may become more like Him, do it. But it should be something you feel personally comfortable with. Do not participate in a fast if the only reason you are doing so is to go along with a group. If your heart is not in it, do not do it. I’m saying this from personal experience. When I joined the leadership team at Chi Alpha campus ministries, they were starting a fast. I was not up for it. I thought about just doing it because the rest of the leaders were but not because I wanted to. I prayed about it, spoke to my pastor, and decided not to participate and to my surprise, my pastor applauded the fact that I did not participate.
Lastly, for our purposes here, I would advise each of you to be very deliberate and disciplined when adding a fast to your digital detox. Most of us turn to our phones, TVs, tablets, or laptops out of boredom. When those options are made unavailable, many of us, myself included, will turn to food. I find it highly likely that many would be tempted to forgo a digital detox and use digital tech as a way to distract from their abstinence from food. Remember, the purpose of a fast is to focus on God. This will not happen if we are distracted. Now look, I get it. Days are much longer and temptation is greater during a fast. If you find it impossible to go without your smartphone or tablet and you think limited use may help you stick to your fast, then with some discernment, allow yourself on a device. But should you do that, use it for things that bring you close to God. Read the Bible on your phone or tablet. Watch a sermon from a pastor you like. Listen to a Christian podcast. Connect with your friends through whichever platform and use your time and words to be encouraging. But try to keep this to a minimum.
If you can, use your time fasting to disconnect even more from digital technology. Read scripture, meditate, and pray. And don’t forget that you can pray and meditate upon God as you complete other tasks. All you homeowners out there know all too well there is always something that needs to be done around the house. Your time spent fasting and away from digital technology will free up plenty of time to get things done. Clean the shower, organize your cabinets, move the furniture that hasn’t been moved in months, and vacuum up that mess (talking to myself here). All of this can and should be done for the glory of God and can be accomplished as you fast.
There is so much more I could say when it comes to fasting. I didn’t even address corporate fasting but honestly, I’m not in any position to do so. Should I one day become ordained or once again am a leader within a church, I’ll learn more about it and perhaps write on the topic again. Or, better yet, I’ll keep practicing fasting, grow closer to God, and let Him do the talking.
Prayerfully consider adding the discipline of fasting to your life whether or not you decide to remove digital technology. Should you decide to fast, push yourself to make the most of it by doing the best you can to remove the distractions of digital technology. Put the smartphones away, set your table around the Word of God, and seek Him through prayer and worship. Your endeavors will not be in vain for we have been told those who seek shall find (Matt. 7:7).
Thank you all for reading The Endeavor. I’ll be back next week with reflections on the discipline of study. Have a great week and weekend. God Bless you!
Benediction
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy upon us, sinners.
Thank you for reading! Do your best to disconnect from the artificial, and connect with others.
And as always,
Keep thy head cool and thine eyes true.
Howard Pyle, Man of Iron
Scripture of the Week
“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
1 Corinthians 6:12 KJV
Word of the Week
(adjective) Tremulous- shaking or quivering slightly
Example: The fasted monk was tremulous but calm as he approached our Lord in prayer.
Why Tremulous? It’s just a good word.
Music of the Week
Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silence (feat Sarah Kroger)- FOCUS
I feel funny commenting on a post about fasting as someone who hasn’t participated in the two required* major Catholic fasts in three years, BUT this was such a lovely reflection! I hope that someone more knowledgeable than me can chime in, but I wanted to share the (little!) ways that the Catholic tradition is still incorporating forms of fasting in the daily and annual rhythm of the Church!
- Any day you attend Mass and intend to receive the Eucharist, there is a requirement to fast for at least an hour beforehand. Only water and medication. This (in my understanding) used to be three hours, and before that used to be all day.
- Weekly on Fridays (the day we remember the Passion in a particular way, such as the option for a Votive Mass of the Sacred Heart or by praying the Sorrowful Mysteries of the rosary), abstaining from meat, or if that is not possible, making some other sacrifice.
- On Ash Wednesday and Good Friday every year, fasting all day. The minimum (maximum?) is one meal and two small snacks per day, but many people do more (less? lol) than this. This is *required for individuals in good health between ages 14-59 and never for pregnant or breastfeeding women. I can get the citation from the Code of Canon Law or the Catechism if you’re interested!
I know lots of people feel like this is super wimpy, and certainly compared to other denominations and to what was required in the past, it’s not much! As someone who has been pregnant and/or breastfeeding for three Lents in a row, I’m trying to hold that tension: I’m grateful for the acknowledgment that fasting is probably not prudent in my current season of life AND I miss the invitation and obligation to participate in those two major fasts. There’s something so powerful and beautiful about approaching fasting in a mature way, where you can make the decision not to complain about hunger, not to compare and size yourself up against others, but just to enter more deeply into the Lord’s call.
Thanks for sharing, brother!
I'd recommend "To Love Fasting: The Monastic Experience" by Adalbert de Vogüé. This book poses the question: are people capable of fasting in this day and age? Unsurprisingly, the answer is yes.
The longest fast I have attempted has been having dinner on Holy Thursday and not eat anything until after Easter Sunday Mass. It's rough. I wouldn't recommend it if you haven't built up your tolerance, so to speak.
I have to say I "cheat" in that I allow myself to drink coffee, tea, and sparkling water when I fast. I was in a good groove with Alternate Day Fasting but I was mostly doing it for weight loss. However, I could see how I would be more patient with the kids while fasting. So there's definitely a benefit for the soul as you mention. Lord give me temperance (but after the Christmas octave)!