Whenever Lent comes around in the Church Calendar a common question usually accompanies: “What are you giving up?” For many, the answer is something like chocolate, caffeine, social media, or some other small indulgence. But have you ever wondered why we give things up during Lent? Is the purpose to reach a new spiritual level? Is the purpose to be obedient? Is the purpose to check a box? These questions are all about fasting – the act of giving something up in order to get more clarity, peace, faith, and connection with God. Thinking about why we do something gives clarity to motivations behind purpose which is so important in the life of faith.
If we’re not careful, fasting can become an empty practice that makes us feel holy but does little to draw us closer to God. Fasting is not about deprivation for its own sake. It is not about chasing a spiritual high or proving our devotion. Fasting is about freedom.
When we fast, we are not simply giving something up; we are giving in to a deeper reliance on God, giving in to stronger trust, giving in to the abundant life that comes from walking with God. Jesus said, “Man is not meant to live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Fasting reminds us that our ultimate sustenance comes not from food but from the presence and provision of God.
Let’s consider what Fasting can look like during the season of Lent.
Fasting and Freedom
Jesus fasted, most notably for forty days in the wilderness before beginning His public ministry (Luke 4:1-2). In this time of hunger and physical weakness, He resisted the temptations of the enemy, demonstrating that strength comes from dependence on the Father. Fasting reveals the places where we rely too much on physical comforts, habits, or routines in place of God. Fasting reminds us of our limits and reveals that our limits outline the canvas of freedom. Fasting is about learning that freedom is found not in satisfying every craving but in surrendering to God’s provision.
Paul also spoke of the power of self-discipline, saying, “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified” (1 Corinthians 9:27). Fasting cultivates this discipline, not as an end in itself, but as a means to a deeper, freer, more surrendered life.
Modern life can stifle us into routines where we are just getting by but not really living. Fasting is meant to tear us from the very day and remind us of the simple hope that God can and does sustain us moment by moment.
Incorporating Fasting During Lent
Fasting should be both intentional and realistic. It is not about proving our devotion through extreme measures but about creating space for God to work in us. Here are three meaningful ways to incorporate fasting into the Lenten season:
1. Fasting and Families
Fasting doesn’t have to be a solitary pursuit. It can be a beautiful practice for families to try and experiment together. What would it look like to set aside one meal a week where the family fasts from food and instead spends that time in prayer, playing games, swapping stories, or worshiping? For children, this could be adapted to fasting from sweets or screen time while engaging in conversations about what it means to hunger for God.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Fasting as a family creates an opportunity to model reliance on God and invite children into a faith that is active and real.
2. Fasting and Rest
One of the often overlooked aspects of fasting is its connection to rest. True fasting is not just about taking away but creating new spaces to know and understand God. What if fasting was not just about food but also about resting from busyness, technology, or constant noise? Isaiah 58:6 reminds us of the heart of fasting: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”
Consider fasting from distractions that consume your time and energy. Maybe this means setting aside social media for a portion of the day (or nixing it completely for the entire season. Who are you without social media?) or carving out space for silent prayer and reflection before your day and at its end. This kind of fasting creates room for real rest, where we cease striving and simply receive from God.
3. Fasting and Prayer
Fasting and prayer are connected for a reason. When we fast, we create a tangible reminder to turn to God in moments of weakness. Instead of dwelling on what we lack, we are training ourselves to be grateful for what we have. Jesus taught, “But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18).
Fasting without prayer is just an exercise in willpower. But when we combine fasting with prayer, we align our hearts with God and open ourselves up to new levels of understanding. Set aside specific moments throughout the day to pray when you would normally be eating. Use your hunger as a prompt to intercede for others, confess sins, or simply sit in God’s presence.
A Call to Deeper Freedom
As you move through this Lenten season, consider how fasting can be a pathway to freedom.
- What areas of your life have become too dependent on comfort, routine, or control?
- What would it look like to release those things and find deeper reliance on God?
Avoid rigidity, don’t make this a perfection contest. You don’t have to prove anything. Simply start where you are and invite God into the process. Whether it’s fasting from a meal, social media, or the distractions that keep you from rest, let this be a season where you learn to hunger and thirst for a new relationship with the one who can satisfy all your needs.
As Jesus said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied” (Matthew 5:6). May your fasting lead you not just to an experience but to an encounter with the God who is your ultimate source of life and freedom.
By Brandon Gilliam
