Feast When You Fast

What do you do when fasting? The short answer is: you feast on God. When feeding you feast on food and when fasting you feast on God.

Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, "People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." 

Jesus taught there is both physical and spiritual nutrition, and his followers must have both. As humans we need food, and when we eat some it provides us with physical nourishment. As Christians we need fellowship with God, through Bible reading and prayer, and when we have some it provides us with spiritual nourishment. 

Jesus didn't say "If you fast" rather "WHEN you fast" (Matthew 6:16). It's assumed. If fasting isn't a spiritual discipline you are currently practicing, why not start incorporating fasting into your weekly routine? Start with one meal and work your way up from there. 

How to Begin Fasting

When someone first begins lifting weights they shouldn't do anything extreme, rather they should ease into it. When someone begins running for the first time in a while they shouldn't do anything extreme (i.e. run 10 miles), rather they should ease into it (i.e. walk and jog for 1 mile). And what is true of physical fitness is true of spiritual fitness.

As it relates to fasting, skipping an entire meal might be too much too soon. This may be the physical equivalent of lifting too much and running to far when you're just getting into exercise. A better approach might be to start somewhere small and ease into it (i.e. begin fasting snacks or your favorite food). Then, once your "resisting muscles" are built up a bit you can begin fasting other things (i.e. entire meals).

Of all the spiritual disciplines, I am definitely weakest at fasting. But I want to change that, starting today. And I'm going to begin small, and take things from there.