Fasting the Distractions, to See God More Clearly #MakingRoom
“But He answered and said, ‘It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’”
— Matthew 4:4 (NKJV)
Fasting is the act of giving something up, so we can make room for God.
I remember I was on a 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. fast sometime in 2016 or 2017, and my cousin wanted to go out for dinner. I expressed how we would have to go at a later time, and she paused, confused, after clearly hearing that I was clearly just available. Lol. I admitted I was on day x of my family’s fast. I was delighted by her response because in her same breath she stated, “You know what they say… ‘Fasting without prayer is just starvation.’”
Wow. I did NOT know what they said.
My perspective took an immediate shift. Shortly after we got off the phone, and I completed the task in front of me, I sat silently recanting my hours and my days.
“Have I really been starving myself,” I thought. “Or was I actually fasting?”
That’s one of the funnier aspects, and greatest components of fasting.
Are we actually committed to our divine intentions, are we set on discovering divine intervention… or are we just counting the hours, basically until we eat again. (Or cursing our parents, Pastor, Prophet, or whoever for ruining your plans for the week! Lol.)Either way, it all comes down to intentionality. Fasting is a spiritual discipline that a lot of us don’t fully understand. I have been fasting for as long as I can remember. And, of course, when I was younger, it seemed super inconvenient at times!
I remember sitting in the high school cafe watching my peers eat french fries and big cookies, thinking, “Biko, why am I still be here punishing myself like this?¿”
The art of fasting is all in its value.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline. Spiritual disciplines are acts we do that help us stay attuned to God. To be a Christian is choosing to be a daily follower of Christ (to follow Christ daily), in other words — to be a disciple.
Disciple… Discipline… Disciple… Discipline…
Do you all see what I’m doing here? Are we picking up what I’m laying down? Are we catching the etymology now?
So far, we have learned that:
Fasting is the act of giving up.
Fasting is a spiritual discipline.
Spiritual discipline is something that brings us closer to God as better disciples
Now, that we understand the foundation, let’s add to it!
Fasting helps us make room for God to work in and through us.
We are in a time that our lives are busier than ever, and we have channels to promote that (myself included!) We quite literally configure our social interactions with the expectation of limited time and attention. It’s truly something else.
This is when, how, and where we make poor staff decisions that may compromise our relationship with Christ, or allow ourselves to make Him less than a priority. Take a second, slow down, and run your to-do list by God. Let him make your plans, and organize your agenda for the day. It may sound crazy, but it will make a huge difference.
Instead of asking the world for more, when you have made room, inform God that you are ready for MORE.
In simplicity: When done fully and correctly, Spiritual Disciplines help us become better disciples. They will push you even further along your journey to loving God more, and living the life He created for you. 🤍