- Let your hunger pangs be as church bells
By Bill Gaultiere © 2009
I tell people that Fasting is Feasting on God’s Word.
A ministry leader responded: “It’s hard enough for me to quiet my mind when I’m not hungry! How can I learn to enjoy meditating on Scripture when I’m hungry? And why would I want to do this?”
I use fasting (from food, but drinking plenty of water) as part of my own rhythm of life with Christ. I learned this years ago from reading Thomas a Kempis’ classic devotional book, The Imitation of Christ.
I’ve helped others learn to fast and they too have seen great results. In psychotherapy it’s been an important part teaching people how to overcome compulsive sexual behavior, overeating, ambition, anger, and anxiety. In spiritual mentoring it’s helped pastors and other leaders to grow in their intimacy with Christ and to minister in the anointing of the Holy Spirit.
If you want to learn to fast then you probably want to start with a short fast. And if you are medically unable to fast then try a partial fast or fast from something besides food.
When you’re fasting make your meal time a prayer time. And throughout the period of your fast try to let your hunger pangs become as church bells that inspire you to meditate on Scripture as you go about your day (so that you “practice God’s presence”). Try using my “Hungry Heart Scriptures” for this purpose.
And during your fast focus yourself on hungering for Christ and his words as your source of strength, joy, and purpose. You’re training your heart (your will and orientation for life) to yearn for Jesus, to seek Christ alone in all things. (Nothing is more important than that and it’s amazing how many life problems it solves!)
With practice and guidance in your fasting you can become the kind of person who is…
- Is “sweet and strong” in stress
- Can resist temptation
- Pauses to pray before you jump into a new opportunity
- Does not respond to an insult with an insult, but with a blessing
- Sets aside distractions to be devoted to Jesus as your “One Thing”
Be prepared that your initial experience with fasting may be difficult. Like all disciplines of self-denial, fasting may evoke repressed emotion – you might feel irritable, tired, deprived, or depressed. You might get a headache!
Although these things don’t feel good, it may be good for you to deal with them. Fasting can teach you about yourself and the personal issues that you need to pray about and seek help with. Along these lines, it’s important to talk with a spiritual friend or guide about your experience to understand what’s going on for you and to receive support.
To learn more you can read my article on Fasting.
Bill Gaultiere, Ph.D. & Kristi Gaultiere, Psy.D. ~ http://www.soulshepherding.org
