Sometimes, on our journey of growing together in God’s grace and understanding of our new covenant reality, some questions can come up that we are either unsure how to answer, or over zealous to answer for others. It can be a little tricky, because we all need one another. We all want to journey and grow together, but what we don’t want is to be belittled or dictated to. We want a conversation.
I guess when we boil it down, we simply want our hearts to be heard.
Fasting is a topic that I get asked about from time to time, I was recently asked about it again lately, so I decided to share my thoughts on the topic. Like I said above, I’m sharing as an equal, I don’t claim to have the answers, but I can share my heart and belief on the subject, and perhaps it will be a help to you also.
So, fasting under grace, is it right or wrong for Christians to do? I think as soon as we start asking questions of “Is it right or wrong” we fall back into the old covenant ‘check list’ mentality. But the new covenant is not defined by a checklist, it is defined by the Spirit of God living in us, to guide us and lead us into all truth. When trying to understand anything in our faith, I think it helps us all to remember that our covenant is a covenant of the Spirit. We all have the Holy Spirit living in us, and he is our leader.
I wouldn’t ever recommend fasting to someone, because I’m not the Holy Spirit. Sure, I could look at their situation, and make some suggestions, but that would just be me thinking of ways to get God’s attention. If we think we can ‘do something’ to get God’s attention, we are in danger of wandering back into a law based idea of God, and that is never a good sign.
But does that mean Christians shouldn’t fast? Well, here is my take on it.
- If you want to fast because you heard an amazing testimony about fasting. Don’t do it.
- If you want to get God’s attention. Don’t do it.
- If you think you are required to do it. Don’t do it.
- If you genuinely feel the Spirit encouraging you to do it. Do it.
There are no rules to follow in the new covenant. There are no principles to get closer to God. The new covenant is about rest. It is about trust. God is with us always. We are holy and blameless in his eyes. He is pleased with us.
In the place of rest, allow the Spirit to lead you. Maybe he’ll lead you to fast, or maybe he’ll lead you to eat a juicy steak. Maybe, like my testimony about fasting below, you’ll get it all a little mixed up and try to fast because it feels religiously right to do so, but actually the Spirit really just wants you to enjoy a nice meal and praise God that you are his beloved.
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All said and done,i appreciate your writing but i notice it is falling shy of the entire truth. Its true we are led by the Spirit in the New Covenant but since the entire New testament no one has ever been led by the Spirit to fast;why do we think the Spirit will lead us to fast? Okay so if we fast,what is the benefit that the Spirit is so weak to accomplish in us because of Jesus Christ’s work?I think it this notion of Spirit leading one to fast.when it has never even been mentioned anywhere in the new testament is really a shy way to mix law and grace.
Hi Kimbowa, check out Acts 14:23
Hello Mick,
Great post here! I agree that our covenant is a covenant of grace. However, I believe that fasting is an important principle for believers, one that ALL believers should be encouraged to pursue. Note. They are not required! All things are permissible for me but not all things are beneficial. Fasting is beneficial but it is not required. Like you rightly said, under grace, it is love moving us to do things.
Under grace, we fast not because we are required to fast. We fast because we want to. Now, why would anyone want to fast? Note that even when the spirit tells a believer under grace something to do, the believer can say NO and don’t do it. You would know this because if believers followed the voice of the Holy Spirit and didn’t speak themselves out of God speaking to them, believers would be much more effective. Back to the question I asked. Why would someone want to fast. The answer to that question looks at what fasting does.
1) Fasting doesn’t change God.
2) Fasting changes the person who fasts. Fasting is like prayer and the two go together. Fasting is also like worship and the three go together. All these things DONT change God, they change us! We live under grace. We as believers all have God’s unconditional love, his unmerited favor and blessings. We sit in heavenly places with Christ Jesus, yes! But we access these things by faith. In spite of all these things, we still live in the flesh. Read Romans 7 & 8, writen by Paul, a preacher of grace who himself knew the law very well. Our flesh still wars with us and against the spirit’s control of us. A person who is perfectly controlled by the HOly Spirit NEVER sins. Jesus never sinned because God gave him his spirit without limit. He was ALWAYS controlled by the spirit and yielded to him. Fasting has its greatest impact on the flesh. Physical food feeds the flesh, it doesn’t feed the spirit. Depriving the flesh of food weakens the flesh. Under grace, pray is still a commendable thing. Is it required? NO. Under grace, giving is still a commendable thing. Is it required? NO. Fasting is still commendable, but is not required. See, law has two components – Instructions and the punishment that comes if you don’t do the rule. The law is perfect, good and holy. The punishment for breaking the law has been born by Christ. We are not judged by how well we obey the law. Why? God is more interested in our hearts. He wants us to do good because we know that it is the right thing to do and because we want to please him, not because we will be punished or lose fellowship with him if we don’t. Under grace, many of the good things that were good under law are still good. God has fulfilled the law so that you can do good without fear of punishment. He wants your heart to be a heart that loves and naturally does good. Even under grace, praye STILL moves God to act!!!! If it were possible (and it’s not) for a believer to get to the point were he just decides to fast frequently to pray and agonize before God so that he can save orphans around the world or protect America etc, that would be a good thing.
Most believers don’t know what it means to listen to the spirit. While this is important to learn, a good way to tell the believer is to desire what is good. Desire to pray and fast for God to cause good change where you see there is need. YES, even if you heard a good testimony frome someone. I’ve read many credible stories of revivals that started because believers went and saw and heard testimonies of a community praying and then the Holy Spirit came down mightily. They went and did the same thing, encouraged by the last one and God came powerfully. Yes, the Holy Spirit told them. But many times, they don’t even know the Holy Spirit did. They just do it because they know it is good for believers to desire God to come and win souls and fascilitate repentance among believers…
You wrote a great post!!!
Wow, what a simple yet effective writing. I would not mind reading more literature by you. I am in agreement with you.
Glad you like my writing Lusani. I’ve got a few book out that you might like if you want to read more of my writing. Just type in ‘Mick Mooney’ into amazon and they should come up for you. You can also click on the ‘free e’book’ link in the navigation button to download one of them for free.
Just to let you know, Mick, that I shall be using this post when I do a short devotional in our meeting tomorrow. It was the day after you posted it that I remembered I was due to do the welcoming and devotion. As I wondered what I could share I was aware that this topic would be a good one to use. And my conclusion was that what you have written pretty well sums up the subject, so I will be sharing your thoughts and a reworded version of my comment.
I will be introducing our fellowship to Searching for Grace – you might even get some new followers.
good stuff mate, go for it.
The Christian life is so NOT about doing something, anything, because we feel we SHOULD! It’s all about living in His presence, being open to Him.
Over the past couple of years I haven’t tried to become more spiritual, I haven’t fasted at all, I haven’t decided to spend any more time praying (and that’s not because I already spend long periods in prayer – I don’t!), I haven’t even decided to do all the things I should and avoid the things I shouldn’t. But God has become so incredibly real to me, through no effort of my own, that I WANT to spend more time in His presence.
It fact He spoke to me so powerfully a couple of weeks ago while I was listening to the story of wonderful happenings 100 years ago that I was actually sobbing with the emotion – and I have always considered that I am not an emotional person!
The change has come, I am sure, because I chose to make myself open to Him and to listen to His voice, not because I adhered to any rules that others insist are necessary. It wasn’t even about following a particular discipline…..
that’s it Brian. Just live by the Spirit, and not by religious disciplines. Love is the Way.
I would like to share my experience with fasting. Several years ago I was in a very bad marriage. With two young boys at my side, I was victim of domestic violence. Not only was he abusive to me physically and emotionally he was abusive to himself with drugs . Having no one to turn to and not knowing how to escape, I turned to God with a cry that only heaven could hear me. Through my prayers, I turned to fasting because Jesus said some things could come through prayer and fasting. Not knowing how to fast I had only liquids such as water and juices and had it in my heart that I will fast as long as it would take for God to deliver the boys and I from a life that was unhealthy. On the eighth day God delivered us and I can remember asking shall I continue to fast and the Lord said, Go and eat! …PS The boys are young men now learning to walk in Gods grace. : ) and me… praising God still today!
that’s wonderful Lorraine. Thanks for sharing.
That was well put Mick, moving from principles to relationship, love, and grace can be messy. Years ago, I worked at a Drop Forge plant, the metal we worked with was 2500 degrees. It was hot, and I felt an obligation to fast. I wouldn’t even drink water, I’m not sure how I survived it looking back. It was such a roller coaster ride or performance in order to get God’s attention. I haven’t fasted for years, but I have lost 100 lbs. over the last 5. Not that that has anything to do with it, it just struck me as funny. I like what you said, and I think it is a good place to live; if the Spirit of God is asking you to fast, fast. If not, enjoy the blessings that God has put in your life, and be thankful for them. I really enjoyed the last podcast, thanks for doing what you do.
that’s great Rick. Thanks for sharing. And great to hear you enjoyed my last podcast too
Wonderful Mick!! Liberating!
thanks Mark
I agree completely with all of your statements regarding fasting. Unless the Holy Spirit leads one to fast, it can become a work of the flesh to try to manipualte God into action on our behalf. In the New Testament,however,there seems to be an expectation (not a requirement) that Believers will want to fast after the physical presence of Christ is gone (Matthew 9:15). It has been my experience that fasting moves me to a place total focus on Him. After a couple of days of fasting, many of the physical functions of the body quiet down (even physical hunger goes away)leaving one very sensitive to the voice of God. For me, fasting requires a quite a bit of intentionality. I want to remove extra activities from my calendar and plan focused time alone with God. I cannot fast without being absolutely dependent on Him to carry me through it. It is not something I would normally choose to do, but sometimes the hustle and bustle of living on this earth just seems to get in the way of experiencing Him in my soul. In those times, He invites me to come away for a time of refreshing. Actually, it has been several years since I have fasted on a regular basis (He still loves me just the same),but it has been coming to my mind a lot recently. Perhaps I have been so busy that I have not heard His still, small voice inviting me to come away….
Yep, we live by the Spirit Gina. That is the beauty of our covenant. Its love not law that motivates and directs us.