When you hear the word “fasting,” what do you think of?

Maybe you picture people depriving themselves of food. Or a monk surviving on nothing but dry bread. Or maybe, if you’re being honest, fasting is one of those things you’d rather not think about at all. That’s used to be my camp. The extent of it would be to give something up over Lent. More widely, I knew more of other faiths fasting on a regular basis and I associated it with them rather than with Christianity. Then I started hearing about the health benefits of intermittent fasting and so started doing that on a regular basis in 2022. But in a religious, Christian context, it was never something anyone I knew did really.

But in the Bible, fasting isn’t just about going without food, it’s about making space for God. Jesus Himself fasted for 40 days in the wilderness, and when He spoke to His disciples, He didn’t say if they fasted, but when.

Still, in a world that glorifies comfort and instant gratification, the idea of fasting can feel uncomfortable. So why does it matter?

Three Reasons Fasting is Important

Fasting starves distractions and awakens our awareness of God.

We live in a world filled with noise; constant entertainment, endless scrolling, and quick fixes for every craving. Fasting strips those things away, forcing us to confront what we’ve been using to fill the space only God was meant to occupy. It teaches us to rely on Jesus in a real and tangible way.

Fasting is about letting go of something we love to pursue something we love even more.

Yes, giving up food (or anything else we rely on for comfort) is challenging, but in doing so, we make space for something far greater; God’s presence. True joy isn’t found in indulging every craving; it’s found when we draw our strength from Jesus.

Fasting often comes before breakthrough.

Throughout Scripture, fasting is tied to significant moments of clarity, strength, and transformation. Moses fasted before receiving the Ten Commandments. Daniel fasted for three weeks before receiving a vision. Jesus fasted before beginning His public ministry. On the other side of fasting, we often find a deeper connection with God and the wisdom or breakthrough we’ve been seeking.

When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting.

Matthew 6:16 (NIV)

Take Action: Try completing a 24 hour fast. If you haven’t fasted often, keep this exercise simple; the goal here is to finish. If you start to feel weary during your fast, turn that weariness into an opportunity to talk to God and listen to Him. Once you’ve finished the fast, write down anything that stood out to you during this time. If it helps, we have some prayer resources you can turn to in those times of weariness.

By the time this blog goes out, I will (hopefully) just be wrapping up my first 24 hour fast. I say this not to boast, but a) to keep myself accountable but also b) to share I too am new to this. But as Joe said to me yesterday, about something totally different, if you’re waiting for God to give you the strength to do this, then you’ll always be waiting. He’s already give you the strength, so you need to have the faith and just do it.

Fasting isn’t about deprivation; it’s about realignment. It’s an invitation to step away from distractions and into deeper dependence on God. Will you take that step?