Forced Lack
Experiencing lack is a curious thing – especially around essentials. Have you ever been so thirsty, but without water for the final mile of your hike? Or need to use the restroom but the next available one is 20 minutes out. Suddenly the seemingly plethora of “life’s problems” fall away and all you can focus on now is getting to the next water source. You begin to realize those other things you considered to be problems really weren’t that heavy after all.
The Bible talks a great deal about lack and provision. There’s the well-known line, “For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 9:10). This referring to God providing His strength when we are acknowledging our weakness. In this same vein, fasting is a Biblical practice – forcing a lack or giving something up unto something else.
Fasting is a touchy topic. Really, anytime you’re talking about specific spiritual practices you run into some difficulty because the practices themselves do nothing, it’s the posture in your heart they are intending to shape that’s the goal. So, what is a fast?
In today’s culture, we fast many things: social media, Netflix, alcohol, the list goes on. Biblically, fasting is nearly always centered around food. The intention is to humble yourself before the Lord in a form of forced weakness or lack in order to turn your eyes towards the Lord. Your body’s need for food functions as a “stop-sign” reminder for your spirit’s need for God. Fasting, very simply, is the giving up of a specific thing for a specific time period for a specific reason.
We see King David fast for the life of his son in 2 Samuel 12. Moses fasted as he was given the 10 commandments in Exodus 34. Jesus fasted as a way of spiritual empowerment before being tempted by the devil in Matthew 4. Fasting is meant to be practiced for specific reasons. That specific reason could be as broad as, I want to acknowledge my need for the Lord and fast as a form of worship. It can be as pointed as, I am seeking after direction for whether to take this step or that step.
Now, it’s imperative to note that fasting is not a form of spiritually manipulating the will of the Lord. It is, however, a practice in seeking after the will of God. There is a truth in that our spiritual senses, if you will, step into a heightened place when we are fasting. This is true because we are constantly reminded of our physical hunger and out of that place we acknowledge our need for God’s guidance and provision over every aspect of our life.
It's a beautiful practice and serves as a healthy reminder. Friend, if God is actually real, then we need God more than we need water. Let that sink in. We all know that if we don’t have water for three days our bodies will literally die. If it’s true we need God more than water, then it’s no wonder that today so many are spiritually starving.
Fasting is meant to serve as a practice, every time you realize your hunger, which of course will be often and intense during a fast, it is to function as a reminder to turn to the Lord in your spirit as a form of worship and seeking.
There’s much more to be said on the topic and I’d encourage you to ask questions to people you trust spiritually before engaging in any extended fast. But I do want to remind us that fasting is practiced extensively throughout the Biblical narrative, and still has immense value when practiced for the Christian today. Forcing lack with the pointed intention of seeking the Lord opens us up in a new way to receive from Him. You can start by fasting even one meal. Skip lunch tomorrow, and when your hunger hits you let that serve as a reminder to pray. Like any discipline – start small.
