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In a world where we're constantly told to satisfy every craving, feed every appetite, and never let ourselves go without, there's an ancient spiritual practice that feels almost countercultural: fasting.

It's not glamorous. It won't trend on social media. And honestly, it sounds a bit extreme to modern ears. Yet this discipline, woven throughout Scripture with 77 biblical references, was once as common among God's people as prayer itself.

So why does fasting feel so strange to us today?

The Lost Discipline

Between 1861 and 1954, not a single book was written on the subject of fasting. Think about that—nearly a century of spiritual silence on a practice that Moses, Elijah, Jesus, and the early church all embraced.

Two major shifts pushed fasting to the margins of Christian life. First, during the Middle Ages, fasting became legalistic—an outward performance rather than an inward reality. It lost its spiritual power and became something only the "super-spiritual" would attempt.

Second, our modern culture convinced us that we need three large meals a day plus snacks, or we'll somehow be on the verge of starvation. We've been taught that satisfying every human appetite is not just acceptable but virtuous. In such an environment, fasting feels like deprivation rather than devotion.

But here's the truth that changes everything: Fasting reveals what already rules us.

More Than Missing Meals

Fasting isn't primarily about food. It's about desire.

The psalmist wrote, "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God" (Psalm 42:1). That kind of desperate longing for God doesn't come naturally to us. We're too comfortable, too full, too distracted.

Fasting brings our desires to the surface. When we remove the thing we reach for multiple times a day—food—we suddenly become aware of all the other things we use to numb ourselves: scrolling, shopping, binge-watching, constant noise.

Hunger exposes what we normally avoid. It clarifies what we actually need versus what we've simply grown accustomed to wanting.

Here's the beautiful paradox: fasting doesn't weaken our faith—it clarifies it. It trains our desires so that God becomes our deepest hunger.

Jesus Expected This

Notice the language Jesus used in Matthew 6:16-18: "When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites... But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret."

Not "if you fast." When.

Jesus assumed His followers would practice this discipline. But He also made it clear what fasting should not be: a performance for others, a way to appear spiritual, or a manipulation tactic to twist God's arm.

True fasting is:
- Normal – an expected part of following Jesus
- Quiet – between you and God, not broadcast for approval
- God-focused – about intimacy with Him, not impressing others

Fasting is not spiritual punishment or self-harm. It's an act of trust and dependence, a way of saying, "God, You are enough for me."

Creating Space for God to Speak

In Acts 13:2-3, we find the early church leaders engaged in a powerful pattern: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off."

Notice the sequence: worship, fasting, clarity, direction.

Fasting doesn't force God to speak—but it removes the competing noise that drowns out His voice. When we interrupt our normal patterns of consumption and comfort, we become more attentive to the still, small voice of the Spirit.

The Science of Stillness

Here's something fascinating: modern neuroscience actually confirms what Scripture has always known.

Our brains run largely on habit loops—stimulus, reward, repetition. Food is one of the strongest loops we have. We eat, we get a dopamine hit, we feel comfort, we repeat when stressed.

When we fast, we interrupt that automatic system. The brain is forced to slow down, pay attention, and adapt.

Research shows that fasting increases something called Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF)—an enzyme that improves mental clarity, sharpens focus, helps regulate emotions, and strengthens the brain's ability to form new pathways. Low BDNF is linked to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline.

In simple terms: fasting helps the brain listen better and perceive more clearly.

This is why people often say, "Prayer feels clearer when I fast" or "I notice God more." Science would say your brain is becoming more receptive. Scripture has always said, "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

Stillness often comes after discomfort.

Practical Wisdom for the Journey

If you're considering fasting, here are some helpful principles:

Replace, don't just remove. Fasting isn't merely not eating—it's replacing consumption with communion. When hunger shows up, pray the Lord's Prayer, read a Psalm, sit quietly and listen, or pray for someone specific.

Use hunger as a prayer trigger. Every time you feel hungry, whisper, "God, I need You." Let that physical sensation become a bell calling you back to God.

Expect resistance. Irritability is normal. Distraction is normal. Wanting to quit is normal. Resistance doesn't mean failure—it means formation is happening.

Fast together. This discipline is easier when carried by the body of Christ together. Consider fasting with your family, small group, or friends.

End with gratitude. Don't rush back to consumption. Thank God, eat slowly, reflect on what surfaced during your fast, and ask yourself: What did I notice?

The Invitation

Fasting is not about denying the body to impress God. It's about training our desires so that God becomes our deepest hunger.

In a culture of constant consumption—of food, media, opinions, and noise—fasting is disruptive. And that's exactly the point.

When we create space, God fills it. When we quiet the noise, we hear His voice. When we acknowledge our hunger, we discover that only He truly satisfies.

The question isn't whether fasting is extreme. The question is: what are we hungry for?