As you are reading this, we are already eleven days into the Holy season of Lent. Today we want to deepen that discussion on fast, which we started last week. Maybe you sometimes wonder why fast is so important. Or do you know it is important but struggle to articulate why?  If this is the case or not even the case at all, I want to use this week’s piece to call to mind some of the spiritual benefits of fasting.

First, fasting is a concrete way to draw close to God. It is a way to intensify our prayer abilities. Other reasons we fast as Christians include:

 

• Fasting is an expectation God has of us as recorded in Matthew 6:16-18, “… and when you fast…” stating that we should fast and not saying ‘if we fast’, it does not make it optional but mandatory as an activity we are expected to engage in.

 

• Fasting helps us focus more on God and hear from Him with greater clarity. It is thus both a spiritual and physical discipline which allows us to grow in our faith. It is a form of self-mortification for our own sake and for the sake of the kingdom. A way to discipline ourselves, practice chastity and put some reins on our appetites

 

• Fasting is thus a tangible way to deny ourselves—to declare before God that we know it is all about Him, not about us. Jesus said, “Whoever wants to follow me must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Further, Jesus fasted (Matthew 4:1-4). Fasting is one way we follow Jesus and we imitate Him.

 

• In Genesis 2:17, God commanded a form of the fast at the beginning of time. However, sin came into the world because our fore-parents, Adam and Eve, broke the fast.

 

• Fasting is, therefore, about fasting from sin and uncovering our dependence on God and not on ourselves or the resources of this world.

 

• Fasting also encompasses almsgiving as a way of saving resources to give to the poor

 

Aside from the humongous spiritual benefits of fasting, as highlighted above, there are significant health benefits backed by science.

Nonetheless, as we have discussed in the last four weeks, our fast as Christians must be accompanied by prayer and almsgiving so it does not just amount to a mere hunger strike with little or no spiritual benefits.

Inspiration.

May the Lord give us the grace to wait on Him in truth and in spirit in this Holy Season and beyond, Amen.

Wish you a truly spiritually refreshing Lent