Today is the beginning of Lent, a time when many Christians practice fasting in preparation for Easter. Even if you personally don’t observe Lent, this is a good opportunity to learn about fasting and why Christians do it. Lent isn’t the only time for fasting by far— there are several reasons people fast, and it can be done at any time.
In many Christian traditions, Lent is observed for 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter. It’s a somber time for practicing spiritual disciplines like fasting, repentance, and reflection. It can be used to help prepare for Easter and focus on Christ’s sacrifice and the salvation He provided through His life, death, and resurrection. The word Lent actually refers to springtime. The 40 days echoes the amount of time Jesus spent in the wilderness fasting and being tempted by Satan after His baptism.
Ash Wednesday is a date when many churches across the world start off Lent with a special service. Catholics and some Protestants will have crosses drawn on their foreheads in ash, symbolizing death and repentance. The ashes are a reminder that “dust [we] are and to dust [we] will return” (Genesis 3:19). Ash Wednesday is also the day when many Christians begin fasting for the Lenten season.
Fasting means to abstain from eating food for a period of time. Some go without food or without a certain type of food (such as meat), while others choose to practice self-denial by giving up something else. Because of health issues, going entirely without food might put some people in physical danger, so partial fasts or abstaining from something else such as TV, social media, etc., can be a helpful alternative.
There are many reasons Christians fast. One reason is to spend more time in prayer or in God’s Word. The person fasting will sometimes take the time they usually prepare and eat food as special times to spend studying Scripture, praying, or meditating. Many gain a renewed sense of intimacy with God when they renew their focus on Him this way. Another reason to fast is to seek God’s direction in a special time of prayer or preparation. Esther did this when she and her people fasted and prayed for deliverance (Esther 4:16), and the church in Antioch prayed and fasted before sending out Saul (Paul) and Barnabas into ministry (Acts 13:2-3). A third reason for fasting is to practice humility and repentance (Daniel 9:3, Nehemiah 9:1-3). The hunger that comes from abstaining from food can be a reminder of our dependence on God for provision and life. And it can also be a way to express grief over sin. This is not necessarily just about “feeling bad” or a sense of guilt, but about acknowledging how seriously God takes sin, how it separates people from Him, and what Jesus sacrificed so we could overcome it.
However, God’s Word suggests that there is a wrong way to fast (Matthew 6:16-18, Isaiah 58:3-7). When fasting, we must be careful not to become legalistic. Fasting will not earn us anything, and it should be voluntary and not forced. When we fast, our goal should not be improving ourselves or meeting a goal for our time, health, etc., like in a New Year’s resolution, but focusing on God more by thinking of ourselves less. We shouldn’t do it to please others or to make ourselves feel righteous. Isaiah 58 suggests that pairing fasting with caring for others might be a good way to make sure the humility of our heart in fasting is reflected in our actions toward other people. Fasting should turn our attention away from ourselves and onto God and how He would have us love Him and love our neighbors.
If you choose to fast, first, make sure you can do so safely and in a way that does not unnecessarily risk your health. Second, make sure you are clear about your purpose for fasting and that it is a purpose that is pleasing to God. Third, make sure to spend time in prayer and listen for what God would have you learn through your fast.
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