Written By Amanda Christopher

Fasting & Self Denial

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.” But he answered, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Then the devil took him to the holy city and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you,’ and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, lest you strike your foot against a stone.’” Jesus said to him, “Again it is written, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve.’” Then the devil left him, and behold, angels came and were ministering to him.
Matthew 4:1-11

And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:16-18

To fast is to voluntarily abstain from food or drink, or denying one’s self other comforts, pleasures, or gratifications for a set period of time as an act of dependence on and devotion to God. Fasting and self denial, combined with prayer, Scripture reading and meditation, is a way for believers to seek God’s guidance, to repent and seek forgiveness, to intercede for others, and to focus on our spiritual growth and draw near to God. Jesus teaches us that fasting should be done with a sincere heart and not for public recognition. It provides us with a practice of intentionally turning away from the physical to be close to God in a focused way. As we practice fasting and self denial, we meditate on and allow the Holy Spirit to satisfy us in ways that only He can.

Practical Suggestions

  1. Pay attention to your habits and identify the things you run to when you feel sad, discouraged or stress. Choose one day a week to replace that thing with prayer and meditation on Scripture. (This may happen at specific times throughout the day.)

  2. Practice fasting with your MC. Commit to fasting from the same meal and spend that time praying. Share with your MC what you are praying for.

  3. Identify something that tends to take up a disproportionate amount of your time. (Eg- tv, social media, gaming, other types of entertainment) Take a break from this thing one day a week, or set intentional daily limits to ensure you are taking time to be with Jesus.

Resources

Amanda Christopher
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