The Fasting Function

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them,and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings." - Isaiah 58:6

For Christians, yesterday was Ash Wednesday, marking the beginning of the season of Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter. It also mirrors the 40 days Jesus spent fasting in the desert before he began his public ministry. Traditionally, Lent is a time of fasting with emphasis on self-reflection, self-denial for a time, and purification in preparation for Holy Week. Today I want to look at the purpose fasts serve in our lives, both food-based fasts as well as fasting "things."

In ancient Israel, the people of God observed fasts for different reasons. Let's look at a few here: Observed on occasions of public calamities (2Sa 1:12), Afflictions (Ps 35:13, Dan 6:18), Private afflictions (2Sa 12:16), Approaching danger (Esth 4:16), Ordination of ministers (Acts 13:3, Acts 14:23), Accompanied by prayer (Dan 9:3), Confession of sin (1Sa 7:6, Neh 9:1, Neh 9:2), Humiliation (Deut 9:18, Neh 9:1), Forty day fasts of Moses (Deut 9:9, Deut 9:18, Ex 24:18, Ex 34:28) and Jesus (Mat 4:1, Mat 4:2, Mark 1:12, Mark 1:13, Luke 4:1, Luke 4:2), Habitual fasts (Mat 9:14, Luke 2:37), Mat 9:14, Mark 2:18, Luke 18:12, Acts 10:30, 2Co 6:5, 2Co 11:27); In times of bereavement (1Sa 31:13, 1Ch 10:12, 2Sa 1:12, 2Sa 3:35)


People tend to fast a variety of things for Lent. Some people choose to fast a specific food. For example, I have fasted fast food (say that three times) or sodas. This year I am fasting all sweets and unnecessary sugars. Some people choose to fast time wasters or distractions, such as social media or television. In more drastic cases, some may choose to fast from certain unhealthy relationships. The idea is to abstain from something and refocus on God. I find that a structured fast is also useful for breaking bad habits and addictions, and many (including myself) participate in a Lenten fast for this purpose. 


Fasting can also be a part of a healthier lifestyle. Fasting all food for a day (some sources even encourage 40 day fasts, but I do not unless you have heard a clear call from God) gives your body a chance to rid itself of accumulated toxins, as your body has a rest from digestive processes and energy is directed towards healing. Again, I do not recommend complete fasts for more than a few days, and not at all if you are taking medications requiring you to eat. Partial fasts can still be beneficial. Consider the "fast" that Daniel requested in Daniel 1:8-16: 
But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the royal rations of food and wine; so he asked the palace master to allow him not to defile himself. Now God allowed Daniel to receive favor and compassion from the palace master. The palace master said to Daniel, "I am afraid of my lord the king; he has appointed your food and your drink. If he should see you in poorer condition than the other young men of your own age, you would endanger my head with the king." Then Daniel asked the guard whom the palace master had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah: "Please test your servants for ten days. Let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our appearance with the appearance of the young men who eat the royal rations, and deal with your servants according to what you observe." So he agreed to this proposal and tested them for ten days.  At the end of ten days it was observed that they appeared better and fatter than all the young men who had been eating the royal rations. So the guard continued to withdraw their royal rations and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables.
To me, this sounds more like a lifestyle choice, one that excludes rich foods in favor of simpler, plant-based meals. Hmmm...


Have you chosen to fast this year? If so, what are you fasting?