Empowered Fasting

I would often ridicule myself because I wasn't able to sustain a fasted lifestyle. I would convince myself that today was the day I would go without food. I wanted to prove to God that I could deny my stomach's appetite for one day. I would often fail. There have been a few days when I struggled through and successfully denied myself food for a day. However, I did this begrudgingly.

Laurie Atz, our young adult's pastor, gave me some advice. She said (paraphrased) "Don't try to prove anything to God. He will empower you. When God calls you to fast, He will give you the grace and the ability." Laurie is a disciplined faster, and I have always looked up to her.

I had deceived myself into thinking that a "true" fast was a complete denial of all food. This is simply not true. If you fast meats for a week, it is still a fast. I should have known this instinctively. After all, there are many fasts (like the Daniel fast) that allow certain foods to be consumed. Unfortunately, I had this mindset that radical fasting meant a complete denial of all foods. This isn't true, and I am glad I now realize this. I want to encourage others who have been struggling. Start small.

Don't feel like you have to abstain from all food. Simply giving up that coffee you are accustomed to having each morning. Little steps will empower you to eventually tackle the 40 day fast in the future. God has a fast designed for you specifically. He will show you in His time, and He will empower you to accomplish it.