Fasting: Choosing Humility and Opening Space for God
When Jesus spoke to His disciples about giving, praying, and fasting, He framed them all in the same way: “when you…” (Matthew 6). Fasting, then, is not a fringe discipline, but part of the normal rhythm of a life with God.
At its heart, fasting is not about impressing God or denying ourselves for the sake of denial. It’s about humility—choosing to step aside from our usual comforts to realign our hearts with Him.
Derek Prince once said:
“Fasting is the appointed way for us to humble ourselves before God. It is not God who humbles us; we must humble ourselves.”
This perspective reframes fasting as an intentional act of surrender. In a world that teaches us to grasp for more, fasting is a counter-cultural choice to lay something down in order to receive more of God’s presence.
Why Fasting Matters
Humility: Like David, we can say, “I humbled my soul with fasting” (Psalm 35:13). It is a physical way of bowing our hearts before the Lord.
Clarity: Fasting quiets the noise of appetite, distraction, and pride, helping us hear the Spirit’s voice more clearly.
Strength: Jesus Himself fasted before stepping into His public ministry. Fasting doesn’t earn us power, but it makes space for God to fill us with His.
Transformation: Even a simple fast—one meal or one day—can interrupt our routines, expose our dependence, and draw us into deeper intimacy with God.
Reflection Questions
In what areas of your life do you sense the Spirit inviting you to practice humility?
How do your desires, habits, or comforts sometimes crowd out your awareness of God?
What fears or excuses arise when you think about fasting? What might God want to reveal through those fears?
How could fasting shift the way you pray—for yourself, for others, or for the world?
What would it look like for you to approach fasting not as deprivation, but as a sacred exchange: less of self, more of God?
Prayer
Lord, I humble myself before You. Teach me to fast not for show, not out of duty, but as a pathway to Your presence. Quiet the noise of my heart so I can hear You more clearly. Shape me through this discipline into a person who hungers for You above all else. Amen.
