Can't I Grow Spiritually Without Fasting?
Yes, you can! However, growth in itself is affected by many factors. But a believer who wants to grow deep and develop real intimacy with God cannot afford to leave fasting out. We live in a world where we are constantly surrounded by noise and distraction. Fasting shuts down that noise and helps us focus our hearts on God. Every serious Christian must consider having seasons like this often, so that despite living in the middle of the noise, their heart stays reminded and grounded in the truth about who God is.Does Biblical Fasting Speak Only About Food?
No, and this is one of the most overlooked truths about fasting in Scripture. Isaiah 58 is the clearest example. God rebukes His people for fasting from food while continuing to oppress workers, ignore the hungry, and neglect justice. He tells them plainly that the fast He desires looks like loosing the chains of injustice, sharing bread with the hungry, and caring for those in need (Isaiah 58:6-7).This does not mean food is irrelevant to fasting. Daniel's fast in Daniel 10:3, where he ate no rich food, meat, or wine for three weeks, shows that staying away from food when fasting is biblical. But the passage in Isaiah makes clear that the outward act of skipping food is not the point. The point is the posture of the heart. A fast that changes nothing about our heart is not fulfilling its complete purpose.
Biblical fasting, then, is fundamentally about self denial before God and food is the most common expression of that denial, but the fruit of a true fast is humility, repentance, and communion with God.
How Should We Fast?
When you fast, be intentional about it. Start with a purpose. A fast without a reason is just dieting. Before you begin, be clear on what you are seeking, whether that is direction for a decision, breakthrough in a specific area, repentance, or a renewed hunger for God's presence.Then, pair the fast with prayer. Set times to pray in the direction of the purpose you have set in your heart and seek to hear from God. Do this rather than simply waiting for the hours to pass.
Also, keep it private. Jesus speaks to this in Matthew 6:16-18. He instructs us not to look somber or make our fasting obvious to others, but to keep it between ourselves and our Father, who sees what is done in secret. In other words, fasting is not a performance. It is not a way to show off how spiritual you are.
Finally, expect that when you fast, it is meant to shape you and not just your schedule. The goal of a fast is not to survive it. The goal is to come out of it closer to God, more attentive to His voice, and more aligned with His heart.