The Truth Behind Fasting as a Spiritual Practice

In many different religions, people fast to gain a better understanding of their faith and to allow their spirit to take over as opposed to the flesh. Many people think fasting is more ritualistic then spiritual. Others, who don't fully understand fasting and faith, sees it as taking the religious beliefs too far, and that it could be harmful to the one fasting. Fasting involves more than abstaining from food for a certain period of time and has different meanings for different faiths. Traditionally fasts are abstaining from food the way Jesus did, but nowadays a fast can including withholding from anything that could be coming in the way of your faith such as shopping, football (Steeler fans are thinking "no way!"), or anything else, not just food.

The idea of a fast is to give up something that would be difficult for you to do without. It is done so that the object doesn't come between the faster and God. It combines spiritual discipline and devotion to bring one closer to God and have a better understanding of what God wants us to be. As stated before, fasting doesn't have to be completely giving up food. It could include a restricted diet of 1 meal in the afternoon. Those who are weak or young children and the elderly shouldn't completely fast but restrict their diet. It's supposed to weaken the flesh, but strengthen the spirit. Fasting is a small change in the way you live, and when the fast is over, you may keep that change you have created.

Many people fast as a way of humbling themselves before God the way Jesus did; it's a way to experience part of Christ's suffering. They also fast for self purification which would be ridding oneself of the things that come between their faith and themselves. It can also help defeat evil spirits because you are putting more trust in God than usual and allowing your spirit to have control instead of the flesh. Fasting is also a way to submit yourself and your life to God. Fasting also offers a chance for intense uninterrupted prayer. When we allow things to come between us and our faith, our prayer time is limited and constantly interrupted by one thing or another.