January 22 | Application (‘Give It Up’)

By David Faust 

Why isn’t fasting more common in the American church? The Bible mentions it at least 60 times. Moses and Jesus both fasted for 40 days in the wilderness (Exodus 34:28; Matthew 4:2). Ezra, Nehemiah, and Esther fasted. So did David, John the Baptist, and Paul. Biblical believers fasted when they repented of sin, grieved significant losses, faced national or personal emergencies, and wrestled with major decisions. They prayed and fasted before sending out missionaries or appointing elders (Acts 13:1-3; 14:23). 

Done with wrong motives, fasting leads to self-righteousness (Matthew 6:16-18; Luke 18:12), and some people misuse it as a legalistic requirement or a measure of spiritual superiority (Colossians 2:20-23). But when it’s done in a healthy way and for the right reasons, fasting encourages simplicity and contentment, increases our compassion for the needy, and brings our priorities into focus by reminding us we don’t live by bread alone.  

To be honest, I struggle with fasting mainly because it makes me uncomfortable! Giving up food makes my stomach growl, my head hurt, and my attitude cranky. The truth is, though, there are things more difficult to give up than food. It’s harder to give up our pride than it is to skip lunch. Why do we resist fasting? Because for the Lord’s sake, fasting requires us to alter our schedules, shift our habits, give up control, and change our attitudes. In other words . . . 

It’s Not About Food . . . It’s About Surrender! 

What does surrender look like? It’s Joshua recognizing the Israelites’ fickleness and their propensity to drift from God, yet having the courage to declare, “No matter what anyone else does, my family and I will serve the Lord.” It’s David confronting his own sin head-on and begging God, “Create in me a pure heart and restore the joy of my salvation so I can teach others about you.” It’s Isaiah, humbled and awestruck in God’s presence, crying out, “Here am I, send me!” It’s Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego facing the fiery furnace while insisting, “God is able to save us, but whether he does so or not, our faith will not waver.” It’s Esther summoning the courage to confront the king, believing she had been given a noble position “for such a time as this.” It’s Habakkuk declaring, “Even if the crops fail and nothing else goes right, I will rejoice in the Lord.” 

What does surrender look like? It’s Peter watching with dismay as would-be disciples drift away, turning to Jesus and saying, “Where else can we go, Lord? You alone have the words of life.” It’s Martha grieving her brother’s death but confessing her faith that Jesus is the Messiah. Surrender looks like Jesus himself experiencing the agony of Gethsemane and facing the misery of Golgotha, kneeling before the Father and praying, “Not my will, but yours be done.” It’s the businesswoman Lydia having an open heart to receive the gospel and be baptized, then graciously welcoming the apostles into her home. It’s Paul saying, “I have been crucified with Christ, so my life is all about him—not me.”  

Saying no to ourselves creates more space for us to say yes to the Lord. The purpose of fasting isn’t mainly to give up food or some other pleasure. It’s to give ourselves up as living sacrifices, “holy and pleasing to God” (Romans 12:1). 

Personal Challenge: This week, spend all or part of a day in fasting. If this practice is new to you, start small by forgoing one or two meals and drinking liquids only. Take the time you normally would spend preparing and eating food and instead, use it for prayer.