“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18  

When I was a senior in high school, I met a new friend that was super kind. We had several classes together and would eat lunch together each day. After about a month of school she started to not bring her lunch to school. I offered her some of my lunch. She then explained that her family was following their religion’s fasting days. She could eat before sunrise and after sunset. I had heard of fasting. I knew that Jesus had done it. I remember a pastor sharing that he had fasted before entering ministry, but this idea in practice was new to me.   

This prompted many conversations with my dad. He shared with me that he had fasted many times but had not shared it with me because I was younger and that is how it is to be done. As Jesus taught in Matthew 6, it is done so that no one will notice. My questions began a journey for me that helped me look closely at fasting in the Bible. With my dad’s guidance, I tried it for one meal, praying when I felt hunger pains. I didn’t like it. I didn’t feel closer to God. Then, in college, I was in a spiritual formation class, and we were given an assignment to fast. We were practicing different disciplines. I completed the assignment of fasting from sunrise to sunset, like my friend.

Again, I didn’t feel closer to Jesus or like God spoke to me in any way; however, my professor unpacked fasting in a way that changed my perspective: fasting is an act of self-denial. It is a shift in our attitude and practice of consuming to an attitude and practice of sacrifice and surrender. It is to focus my time, actions, and heart on God through prayer. This conversation helped me see further how fasting is meant to move me and my heart towards God.  Denying myself food or other things that consume my attention gives me the time and space to turn more toward God than myself.  

Fasting can feel like a big step in our faith walks. In the Matthew 6 passage, Jesus approached it as a regular practice in the lives of those around him, “When you fast…”.  It can be a regular practice for anyone. Today, we see more conversation and practice of fasting (for those in the church) during the observation of Lent. Yet it can be more often as you sense the need to change your focus from yourself to God. It can come in the form of giving up food, shopping, social media, or whatever consumes your heart’s attention from God. It can be part of your prayer time, in conjunction with other spiritual disciplines. Most important is that it moves us from focusing on our needs and hearts to our gracious and kind creator.

Written by Suzanne Martin