Why Fast?

Why Fast? What we reject & receive about Lent.

By Pastor Justus Froman

What Do We Reject About Lent?

It's important to understand what fasting and Lent are not about. There are some practices that we reject because they don't align with what the Bible teaches.

What We Reject About Lent:

1. We Reject Ashes & Public Displays of Fasting

• Some people wear ashes on their foreheads at the beginning of Lent to show they are fasting, but Jesus taught us not to make a big show of our fasting. Fasting should be a personal, private matter between us and God.

  • Matthew 6:16-18: "And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. 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."

  • Joel 2:12-14: "Yet even now," declares the Lord, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments."

2. We Reject Fasting as Penitence

• We can’t make God love us more by fasting. We are saved by God’s grace, not by anything we do. Fasting is not a way to get God to love us; He already loves us, and that’s why we fast—to grow closer to Him.

  • Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."

  • Matthew 3:17: "And behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'"

3. We Reject Lent as a Requirement

• Fasting is not something you have to do to be a good Christian. You don’t need to fast to be saved, and God won’t love you more if you do. It's a personal decision between you and God.

4. We Reject Fish on Fridays

• Some people don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent, but there is no command in the Bible that says we must do this. If you choose to fast from meat, that's fine, but the Bible doesn’t require it.

5. We Reject Self-Help Lent

• Fasting isn’t a diet plan or a way to improve your body. It’s about focusing on God, not on your appearance or health. Fasting is for our souls, not our figures or our bank accounts.

Why Should I Fast?

There are several great reasons why fasting is important for us and how it helps us grow spiritually.

What We Receive from Lent – Why We Should Observe Lent:

1.     It Aligns Our Calendar with the Life of Jesus.

• Fasting helps us align our year with Jesus's life. When we choose to focus on Him, we grow closer to Him and remember His sacrifice. It's a way of setting aside time for Him and making His life a priority.

  • Philippians 3:10-11: "That I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead."

2.     It Helps Us Identify with the Temptation and Suffering of Christ.

• Fasting helps us reflect on what Jesus went through. He suffered for us, and fasting can remind us of His struggles. (Philippians 3:10-11) When we fast, we share in His suffering in a small way, and this draws us closer to Him.

  • Matthew 4:1-3: "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. And the tempter came and said to him, 'If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.'"

3.     It Reminds Us of Our Sinfulness and Need for a Savior.

• When we fast, we often feel the hunger or longing for what we gave up. This reminds us how much we need God. It's a chance to reflect on our sinfulness and recognize how much we rely on His grace and mercy.

  • Jonah 3:6-10: “The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes.  And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water,  but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands.  Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.”  When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.”

4.     It Helps US Gain Direction from God.

• Fasting is a great way to seek God’s guidance before making important decisions. When we fast and pray, we can hear from God more clearly and ask Him for direction in our lives. The early church often fasted before making big decisions, like choosing leaders.

  • Acts 13:2-3: "While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, 'Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.' Then after fasting and praying they laid their hands on them and sent them off."

  • Acts 14:23: "And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed."

5.     It Prepares Our Souls to Better Celebrate Easter.

• Sometimes, in the rush of life, we forget to prepare our hearts for Easter. Fasting helps us slow down and focus on what Easter truly means. It’s not just a holiday; it’s a time to remember Jesus's death and resurrection. Fasting during Lent helps us celebrate Easter more deeply.

6.     It Heightens Our Hunger for God.

• When we fast, we often feel hungry. Physical hunger can remind us that we need God even more than we need food. Jesus told His followers they would fast after He was gone, longing for His return.  Just like fasting makes us crave food, it can make us crave God's presence in our lives.

  • Matthew 4:4: “But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

  • Matthew 9:14-15: "Then the disciples of John came to him, saying, 'Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?' And Jesus said to them, 'Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.'"

7.     It Empowers Us to Live for God and Overcome the Enemy.

• When Jesus fasted in the wilderness, He was tempted by the devil, but He was able to resist. Fasting strengthens us to resist temptations and grow stronger in our faith.

  • Matthew 4:1-3 “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.  And after fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.  And the tempter came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.”

  • Matthew 17:21 (NASB): "But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting."
    
    

What Should I Fast From?

When you decide to fast, you can choose what to give up. Some common things to fast from include:

• Food: You can choose to skip a meal, give up a favorite snack, or fast from a specific type of food to focus more on God.

• Media: Giving up time spent on TV, social media, or your phone can help you spend more time with God and less time distracted.

• Pleasure: Fasting from things you enjoy, such as sweets, entertainment, or shopping, can help you focus on what really matters.

What Should I Fill Myself With?

Fasting is not just about giving up things but also about filling ourselves with good things. During Lent, we want to fill our hearts and minds with:

• God’s Word: Reading the Bible and spending time learning about God helps us grow spiritually.

• Prayer: Taking time each day to pray allows us to connect with God and listen to His voice.

• Worship: Singing songs of praise and worshiping God helps us honor Him with our lives.