You might have asked yourself, “How can I get closer to God or hear His voice more clearly?” Well, one way is through prayer: sincerely talking to God from your heart. But there’s another important thing that can help us grow in our faith too: it’s fasting. If you're not sure what fasting is, it’s when you give up something, like food or other comforts, for a certain amount of time to focus on God.
In John 3:30, John the Baptist said something really powerful: “He must increase, but I must decrease.” This is exactly what we do when we fast; we let the flesh decrease so that Christ can increase within us. The ‘flesh’ refers to the part of us that craves pleasure all the time. When we fast, we put our own desires and the “flesh” under God’s control, allowing Him to become greater in our lives. In Romans 12:1 (NLT), the Apostle Paul puts it this way: “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” When we fast, we're giving up things that we enjoy to show God that we want Him more.
In 1 Corinthians 9:27 (NLT), Paul gives us a great example of how to control our bodies: “I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.” Just like an athlete trains to get stronger, fasting helps us train our spiritual lives by saying "no" to things that might distract us from God.
God doesn’t force us to fast, but He loves when we show our commitment to Him through sacrifice. When Jesus died on the cross, he showed us that real love involves sacrifice. And fasting is one way we can show God that we love Him back.
While you're fasting, make time to read the Bible, pray, and focus on growing your relationship with God. Jesus himself fasted for forty days in the wilderness to prepare for his mission, and he is the perfect example for us. In Ezra 8:23 (NLT), it says: “So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and He heard our prayer.” This reminds us that God hears our prayers when we fast and seek His Will.
Fasting is all about loving God and showing our devotion to Him. It’s an act of faith that brings us closer to Him. So, whether you're struggling with something in your life, need more wisdom, or just want to show God how much you love Him, fasting is a powerful discipline that God has given us to use. And the best part? It not only blesses God, but it also blesses us too.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“The Discipline of Fasting”, written for aheartforchristdevotions@blogspot.com by Kraiapril©2025. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord!
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