Fasting From Pleasures & Distractions
God wants our obedience, not our sacrifice (1 Samuel 15:22). What matters the most to Him is that you are willing to make the effort to set aside something you desire in the flesh for something only He can give you.
God says fasting is for all who desire to draw closer to him. A “proper” biblical fast is anything that allows you to replace what you want for a chance to draw closer to God. It is that simple.
Fasting from our pleasures and weaknesses allows His strength and power to shine in our lives (2 Corinthians 12:7–10). He wants us to turn to Him. We each have different needs and levels of faith. God may have you modify your fast to suit your individual situation. In the end, it might not look like anyone else’s. If you aren’t doing it in a way that is “right” for you, Holy Spirit will bring it to your attention and show you how to do it differently.
What’s a Bigger Sacrifice Than Food?
Just because you cannot give up food or choose not to fast from food does not mean you can’t participate in the fasting experience. It is not necessarily what item you give up, but more about what that item means to you and how it reminds you to stay focused on the Lord. For example, it might be a bigger sacrifice for you to give up a favorite video game or television show, rather than food.
Choose Something That Is Meaningful
When choosing something to fast, it’s important that it is meaningful to you. Many people “cheat” by choosing something that wouldn’t ordinarily be missed. But choosing what to fast is an important decision that shapes your experience and connection with Jesus. You should miss its presence in your life, and the lack of it should remind you of your purpose and connection to God.
If something on this list doesn’t fit for you, then do some searching to find something you can give up that is challenging to you. It can be anything that is important to you, such as watching a favorite sport, reading or any other hobby you enjoy. It should be something that is a part of your regular life and that you enjoy.
Things You Can Give up Instead of Food
Listed below are some alternative ways to fast:
Television
One of your favorite weekend activities may be binging on whole seasons of shows, or you may enjoy watching your favorite shows throughout the week. However, sometimes tv can be a distraction, and you can become so focused on your programs that you neglect other areas of your life, such as your faith. If you find television to be a challenge for you, then giving up watching television for a certain period of time can be a meaningful shift.
Video Games
Like television, video games can be a great thing to fast. It may seem easy to many, but think about how many times each week you pick up that game controller. You may spend hours in front of the television or computer with a favorite game. By giving up playing games, you can instead focus that time on God.
Weekends Out
If you are a social butterfly, then maybe fasting one or both of your weekend nights out may be more of a sacrifice. You can spend that time in study and prayer, focusing on doing God’s will or getting the direction you need from Him. Additionally, you will save money by staying in, which you can then donate to the church or a charity of your choice, making your sacrifice even more meaningful by helping others.
Cell Phone and Electronic Devices
Texting, talking, watching movies, and reading on the phone are big deals to many. Fasting your time on the cell phone or electronic devices or giving up text messaging may be a challenge, but every time you think about them, you’ll definitely remind yourself to focus on God.
Social Media and Electronic Entertainment
Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, SnapChat, and Instagram are a major part of daily life for millions of teens and adults. Most check into sites several times a day. By banning these sites for yourself, you can get back time to devote to your connection to God.
The Lunch Hour
You don’t have to give up food in order to fast your lunch hour. Why not take your lunch away from the crowd and spend some time in prayer or reflection? If you have the opportunity to go off campus for lunch or have quiet places you can go, taking some lunches away from the group can keep you focused.
Secular Music
Not every Christian listens only to Christian music. If you love mainstream music, then try turning the radio station to strictly Christian music or turning it off completely and spend that time talking to God. By having silence or soothing music to help you focus your thoughts, you may find you have a more meaningful connection to your faith.
Other things to fast from:
- Unnecessary social gatherings
- Shopping (or spending money unnecessarily)
- Physical intimacy
- Idle conversation
- The news and talk radio
- Watching sports
- Secular reading material
- Bad habits (e.g., profanity, pornography, gossiping, etc.)
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Corinthians 10:31 (NKJV)
As a Christian, we are called to follow Jesus, not the world around us. Being a Christian means being a follower of Christ, and Jesus wants us to follow Him in all areas of our life.
23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it. 25 For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and is himself destroyed or lost? Luke 9:23–25 (NKJV)
In this Bible verse above, Jesus raises the question, ‘what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but are lost or destroyed yourself?’ He tells us that gaining the whole world means nothing if we aren’t following Him wholeheartedly with our life.
Jesus also warns us not to love the things of this world, because everything in the world is not from the Father.
15 Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. 17 And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. 1 John 2:15-17 (NKJV)
Instead, the Bible urges us to set our hearts on things above, not on earthly things that consume the world.
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1–2 (NKJV)