Fasting
Psalm 23 is a reflection on the provision of God our Shepherd. Fasting (willing abstinence from food for a period of time) is the one spiritual practice which more than any other places the sustaining provision of God’s presence at the center of our attention. Fasting is a means by which we pray with our entire body. After all, you are not simply a spirit in a body; you are a spirit and a body. The discipline of fasting draws our attention to both our spiritual and our physical being. In fasting, the great hunger of the heart and mind for answered prayers permeates the body itself.
Though it’s the practice that our broader church culture has forgotten most, fasting was one of the key weekly practices of Christians throughout history and was one of three practices Jesus assumed of his disciples in the Sermon on the Mount. (along with prayer and giving to the poor)
Discuss as a group your own history and experience of fasting, discern together when and for how long you will fast, and share anything you’re praying for God to speak into or provide in this season.
The ideal would be choosing together the same day(s) and length of time, but adjust as needed.
Below are some guidelines and tips for the practice to review together.
Take baby steps: if you’ve never fasted before then just start with one meal. If you’ve done that a few times, try fasting from your evening meal one day to your evening meal the next day. If you normally fast each week, consider fasting twice this week in separate 24-hour increments.
As you fast, look for what begins to stir in you that you normally keep at bay through comfort eating and drinking (anger, fear, sexual desires, greed). If anger, for example, starts to rise, invite God into your emotions and ask him what the cause of that anger really is.
Use the time you would normally be eating to read your Bible and pray. Bring to God anything shared from your Discipleship Group needing God’s wisdom, healing, or provision.
Breaking a fast early can cause people to feel guilty and like they’ve sinned. Achieving a fast can cause people to feel pride and like they’ve earned favor with God. Watch out for both of these reactions as neither are healthy nor a Biblical picture of fasting.
Talk to a doctor before undertaking longer fasts, and take their advice. If they advise against fasting from food, discern with your Discipleship Group what might be some things you can abstain from during the period (coffee, entertainment, sugar, etc.).