Facts of Fasting

FALSE - fasting is something that means you literally starve yourself.

TRUE - fasting is done to bring clarity, seek God and drown out the distractions of this world.

I was unclear on the benefits of fasting until last year. I fasted for the first time - and not for any physical benefits, but for spiritual clarity.

Fasting also doesn't have to be limited to food.

I have fasted a few times. The first time I did not eat for one entire day; I only drank freshly squeezed juices that I made myself the night before. The second time I fasted, I rid myself of the distraction of social media.

Social media can be a tool, but it can also be a distraction. I found myself aimlessly swiping up and down my Instagram feed, spending idle time on my phone instead of occupying it with productivity. I could've been reading my Bible, reading a book, working out, taking a nap, or trying out a new recipe.

But most of all, I learned how social media distracts the mind and makes us fall into the trap of comparison.

All of a sudden, you become less grateful for the apartment you live in because you see someone with a house that looks like it should be on the cover of Architectural Digest.

You are no longer content with the body God gave you because you see a model with bigger hips, a plumper butt and a flatter stomach.

You might start second guessing your line of work because other people travel four times as much as you do, and you're wondering- "How did they get the money to do that and how come my lifestyle doesn't afford me the same experiences or opportunities?" Once I started to think negatively about my own life and blessings, I knew it was time to fast.

Fasting is an efficient way to seek the Kingdom of God. His word says that when you seek Him, you will find Him (1 Chronicles 28:9 and 2 Chronicles 15:2). Sometimes the best way to seek Him is to quiet down any distractions that you may have in your life. For me, social media is one of them.

Alerted by a daily alarm and reminder, I log out of Instagram every day at 10:30pm. And, I don't log back in the next day until I've read my devotionals and my Bible. I limit my time on the app because I noticed that it was hindering my relationship with God. While I do get some of my favorite content from certain pastors and listen to snippets of sermons on it, I realized that I would go to the app out of habit - I didn't even mean to half of the time!

It was a way of taking control of my flesh. We are in a constant battle with our flesh as Christians and deciding if we should do what 'feels' good to it (Galations 5:17).

Denying our flesh is an important part of feeding our spirit.

Take the time to identify one area in your life where you could deny your flesh. Try to limit whatever that is - at least for one day, and then build on it.

Notice how much closer you feel to God because of it.