FAST TO ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS
Misunderstandings about fasting. Today there are many misunderstandings about fasting. One common assumption is that fasting is related to self-denial in dieting or health with the hope that the self-denial will impress God. But this is not the purpose of fasting according to Scripture. Biblical fasting is when you temporarily eliminate distractions so you can give undivided attention to God through prayer. As you abstain, other things begin to lose their sense of importance, and you gain a heightened awareness of God’s presence and priorities for your life. You do not fast to impress God or other people how religious and pious you are. If you fast in secret, God the Father sees your fast in secret and will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18).
Fasting by going without food to focus on God.
Ways to fast. You can fast in several ways: going without food, eliminating activities, or forgoing sleep in order to seek God. The intent is always to pray without any disturbance so you can focus fully on God. As you fast, you give God your undivided attention for a period of time and deepen your relationship with God.
Purposes for fasting. In the Bible, fasting is often associated with seeking God for a specific purpose. Daniel fasted to plead for Israel’s release from Babylonian captivity, which God had promised (Daniel 9:1-3). Nehemiah fasted for a similar reason when he heard that the Jews that returned to Israel after captivity needed to rebuild the walls (Nehemiah 1:4). Both Daniel and Nehemiah confessed Israel’s sins. When you seek God for a reason, you should also see yourself from God’s perspective and become aware, admit, and repent of your sins and misplaced priorities. God will then use fasting to do spiritual “housecleaning” in your life. This is a good thing because sin can hinder your prayers, stunt your spiritual growth, and keep you from a deeper understanding of God’s biblical truths. Therefore, as you eliminate distractions during your fast, God is able to show you what needs to be cleaned up so you can become more like Christ. Charles F. Stanley, In Touch Daily Readings for Devotional Living (Atlanta, GA: In Touch Ministries, July 2021), 10-11.