by Tina Hartley

Created on: August 15, 2011   Last Updated: August 16, 2011

The significance of the spiritual discipline of fasting for Christians is referenced in many areas of the Bible. Fasting was done for a variety of purposes such as; mourning; atonement for sin; the illness of a loved one and other purposes. It is always accompanied by prayer. Spiritual fasting creates a separation of the body from the desires and pleasures of the physical world and helps a Christian to come before God cleansed.. Romans 12:1 states “to make a decisive dedication of your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and well pleasing to God” (Amplified).

The physical body is God-given and a Christian is expected to take great care of this gift. Spiritual fasting indicates a desire to be closer to God and a willingness to abstain from a physical desire in order to accomplish this goal. Modern Science backs up the fact fasting has a cleansing effect on the body. The importance of the act of physical cleansing is again referenced throughout the Old Testament.

Like other forms of spiritual discipline, fasting requires commitment and strength to follow through. In a desire to be closer to God and follow Christ, a willingness to make sacrifices is an important part of a Christian’s life. Routinely following Christian spiritual disciplines can be a great help to becoming more self-disciplined and in turn, becoming more in tune with God.

This may be more important now than in any other time in history. Modern times are riddled with excesses and a focus on the material world. Even well-intentioned families can get caught up in a whirlwind of activities, fast food and time constraints. The spiritual life of a Christian needs nurturing and dedication as does other areas of natural life.

In the modern world, with its many distractions, a focus on meditation, fasting, and/or worship are spiritual aids to be used to enhance a Christian’s desire to focus on God. It can be difficult to maintain a commitment to attend church every Sunday, or spend an hour a day in meditation. It can be difficult for an unmarried person to practice abstinence. Maintaining a commitment to do what pleases God is rarely easy. Nevertheless, it is an important role in Christian life.

Faithfully performing a spiritual discipline such as fasting is an invaluable tool in seeking and developing a more intimate relationship with God. The very acts of practicing a spiritual discipline help Christians to focus on that relationship with God and not be distracted when the human condition interferes with that quest. 

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