For the last several months, the SLD Department has posted blogs on the topic of fasting. We’ve heard from various people around the territory (officers and soldiers and a cadet). We’ve covered fasting from several different angles: Fasting 101; types of fasts; Biblical fasts; reviews of books on fasting; why fast; personal testimonies of individuals’ experience with fasting – or NOT fasting; etc.

We hope that these have been interesting, informative, thought provoking and discussion-causing.

As we come to the end of this series, here are some reflection questions for you to consider privately or discuss with others.

• Did you learn anything new? Did anything surprise you? Was anything clarified for you?
• If you have fasted in the past, what was your motivation?
• Is there a different type of fast that you feel led to try?
• If you have never fasted, is that something you sense God calling you to consider in your own life?
• What results have you seen from your own fasting experiences? Discernment? Closeness to God? Spiritual insight? Revelation of a sin or something in your life that you need to work on?
• If you’ve fasted with others, how do you feel that impacted the fast?

Whatever way God directs us in terms of fasting (or not fasting), we can be guided by the words of Scripture and the leading of the Holy Spirit.

In Matthew 6:16-18 we read Jesus’s words on fasting. He says WHEN you fast, which would seem to imply that fasting is an expectation. He is not addressing whether one should fast, but what your fasting should look like. Humble. Private. An act of worship and obedience to God.

Romans 14 gives us some guidance as it relates to proper Christian behavior and our conscience.

Paul’s words are relevant as well.

“And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17

“So, whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” Romans 10:31

For further information on fasting, check out these books:

• A Hunger for God by John Piper
• Fasting by Jentezen Franklin
• Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough by Elmer L. Towns
• The Spirituality of Fasting by Charles M. Murphy
• Fasting: The Ancient Practices by Scot McKnight

We would love to hear from you if you have a fasting experience you would like to share. You can let us know on our Facebook page (click here)

written by Lt. Colonel Pat LaBossiere, Secretary for Spiritual Life Development, USA East