Fasting is a spiritual discipline practiced by many people throughout the Bible. Jesus, Daniel, and others practiced fasting. Although not everyone can fast from food due to health issues or medication requirements, there are many ways to fast and still gain great spiritual benefit.
Because I take certain medications, fasting from food is not possible. However, last Lent, I fasted from secular music for forty days. I did miss the music, but it was easier than I thought. Additionally, I noticed my attitude and outlook on life changed after not listening to that music. When I surrounded myself with worship music that worshiped God rather than myself, I found my attitude improved, I was more focused, and I experienced more joy throughout the day.
Fasting can have many emotional, mental, and spiritual benefits. Here's how I learned to grow spiritually from the discipline of fasting:
It Made Me Rely on God
Although the fast during Lent was not difficult at first, it did get harder towards the end of the forty days. I noticed I was craving listening to the songs that I really enjoyed. I also ran out of worship songs I knew and liked, which made it equally difficult. I could no longer fill that empty time with worship music, so I settled for silence or other forms of entertainment.
However, during that time, I found myself praying more and becoming more focused on Scripture. For example, when I was dealing with a challenging situation, Scriptures came to mind more readily. Instead of filling it with messages that are not aligned with Scripture, I was able to focus on God because I was spending my time worshiping him.
Additionally, I woke up several mornings during that time with a worship song in my heart. Often, I wake up with a secular song that I've either heard that day or one that I have not heard in a while. When I start my day like this, I find myself dwelling on the lyrics and humming the tune throughout the day. When a worship song came to mind, I felt more peaceful and joyful. I also find myself enjoying activities and smiling, even while showering.
It Helped Me Die to My Flesh
Because I'm human, I will always struggle with selfishness. While God wants us to give freely to others, the more I do things that I want to do, the more my flesh rules my soul. However, when I fast from something that I really like, like secular music, I find myself becoming more like Christ and less selfish.
However, during a significant fast like a forty-day one, this is the time when Satan preys on my mind the most. I find myself getting annoyed or irritated that I'm fasting while others aren't. I'm more cognizant of what is going on in my social media feed, and I find myself becoming more jealous of other people's lives. Furthermore, I find myself getting upset that I must sacrifice while other people get to do whatever they want.
But these lies are nothing new. These are the same lies that Satan tempted Jesus with when he was in the desert. When Jesus practiced a forty-day fast from food, Satan used it as an opportunity to get Jesus to take his focus off his father and onto him. Satan wanted his worship and to be the ruler of that world. When Jesus didn't budge, Satan tempted him more.
In the same way, when I become envious over other people's lives or what they have, the sting of comparison is a scheme that Satan uses to help me take my focus off God and onto him. Soon, I believe lies like God only loves other people more than he loves me, or that I'm the only one who's required to make sacrifices.
When I focus on the Scriptures and remember my place and identity in God, I'm far less envious and able to make the sacrifice. When I keep the perspective that it's growing me in my spiritual walk and making me more mature in the faith, I am more ready to make the sacrifice than if I forget what's at stake.
It Changes My Relationship with Others
Whether I fast from food, social media, secular music, or some other guilty pleasure, I find that my relationship to others changes. I am more focused on them, more attentive, less irritated, and more willing to participate in conversation. Often, my discussions are greatly enriched because I'm not focused on something else that's entertaining me. Instead, I'm giving someone my full attention and listening to them.
When I'm fasting from food, whenever I feel a pang of hunger, I'm able to pray to God and ask him for his help not to buckle under the weight of temptation. God and his sovereignty are always good, allowing me to receive his goodness and helping me avoid succumbing to temptation.
During fasting, it is essential to find people who will help keep you accountable and cheer you on. It's not good to fast on your own. It is better to do it with people who love you and want you to do well. This is also a great way to report to someone if you find yourself tempted to break the fast.
It Helps Me Become like Christ
Although I will never understand what it is like to be crucified or to go through the horrific pain and anguish Jesus faced, there are ways for me to become like him. One of which is fasting. If Jesus chose to sacrifice his own comfort in food and drink to satisfy his stomach, then I can also make the sacrifice of abstaining from secular music or other entertainment for forty days.
When I did the fast from secular music, I found myself becoming more creative. As a writer, I found I had more innovative ideas for books and articles than I'd had before I started listening to that music. The shift in focus and perspective helped me to keep my mind focused on what God wanted me to do, rather than being distracted by secular entertainers whose only aim is to get us to enjoy the sinful pleasures of the flesh and worship them instead of God.
Although it is not a sin to listen to secular music or enjoy social media, it can be if it becomes too excessive, changes our attitude, or takes our focus off Christ. In the end, we were wired to worship. However, when we're worshipping things and people other than God, they can easily become idols in our lives that are very difficult to tear down.
If you have not tried fasting before, I want to challenge you to give it a try. Pick something that you find yourself doing more often. Find an entertainment outlet, like television, music, or social media, if you cannot fast from food. Try it for ten days and go from there. If forty days is too much for you, pick a smaller goal and stick with it. Smaller goals like these help you to increase in your faith like never before.
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/ Bohdan Bevz
