You might be fasting if …
- You look up at the clouds and all you see is fluffy mashed potatoes.
- You read your Bible at lunchtime and have to skip the part about Jesus feeding the 5,000.
- You considered putting a cheeseburger in your blender so you won’t break your liquid-only fast.
- You aren’t on social media and find yourself double-tapping a paperback book.
- You start to wonder if “fast food” was actually intended to be food consumed during a fast.
- You start to secretly envy your dog’s treats.
- You begin to wonder if Chick-fil-A’s waffle fries could pass as a vegetable for your Daniel Fast.
- You know exactly what meal you’re going to eat when the fast is over.
- You stop by your favorite coffee shop just to say “hi” to the baristas because this is the longest you’ve been apart.
- You don’t know why it’s called a fast because there’s nothing fast about it!
Sometimes we just need to smile at ourselves and our humanity. Pastor Daniel reminds us that we should never take ourselves too seriously, but we should always take our mission seriously. Fasting is meant to bless us, not grieve us. It makes room for God. The practical sacrifice of fasting directs our steps, centers our focus on our Heavenly Father, and honors our great God:
“Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High,
and call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”
–Psalm 50:14–15 (NIV)
Fasting: Clearing Space for What Matters Most
In a world crowded with constant distractions, fasting offers a supernatural and powerful way to refocus our hearts. Fasting isn’t mainly about giving something up—it’s about drawing near to God.
Fasting is an act of surrender—creating space for God by laying down whatever fills our lives: food, shopping, screens, and even our own agendas. The Lord says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13, NIV). A complete surrender invites honest prayer, humility, and a shift from obsessing over problems to trusting in God.
This ancient practice should be a normal part of the Christian life, following Jesus’ example in the wilderness. To prepare us, Jesus said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4, NIV). He knows that fasting humbles our hearts, sharpens our spiritual focus, and helps us seek God’s guidance—especially during major decisions.
Whether abstaining from food or distractions, this holy calling should be done with the right spirit. Jesus reminds us, “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do … wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others … and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:16–18 NIV). Fasting is a holy exchange; it’s a quiet, urgent surrender to God’s will, where self-restraint is given in exchange for greater intimacy with the Father. It’s in this place of surrender where virtues like patience, gentleness, and deeper faith are cultivated.
After fasting silences the rapid pace of life so we can hear God more clearly, this sacred pause recenters us on what truly matters most: God’s presence and power.
The teachings of Max Lucado, Billy Graham, and Francis Chan influenced the biblically based direction of this article.