Ep. 422 The Grace That Comes to Those Who Practice Fasting

Shows Main Idea – When we consider our spiritual disciplines, where does fasting rank? Most Christians pray, read, and study their Bibles regularly. Many engage in fellowship, discipleship, and even evangelism. Yet, fasting often falls lower on the list of practiced disciplines. Why is this? I propose fasting is among the most powerful spiritual disciplines a believer can adopt, impacting our lives in ways that prayer, study, and fellowship alone cannot achieve. Perhaps the significance of fasting as a means of grace in the Christian life will challenge common misconceptions and encourage us to consider fasting’s place in our pursuit of holiness.

Show Notes

You may want to read:

• A Practical Three-Step Plan to Lose Weight
• Let’s Talk about Weight Loss, Practically Speaking
• Two Keys to Mature into the Best Rest You Can Have

Not Medical Advice

We do not provide medical advice, and if you are thinking about fasting, we urge you to talk to your medical provider, family, and other close friends who know you and your physical condition and needs. We are not responsible for any actions or results from this content. If you want to watch a few excellent videos on fasting, you may go here, here, and here.

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Fasting History

• Eating lamb chops with Randy Smith
• Fasting with Lucia while dating

Fasting Lengths

• Some people do intermittent fasting, but that’s typically more about weight loss, which misses the spiritual benefits.
• These fasts can work, but it’s better to have a lifestyle practice, not a season of trying a special diet or routine like intermittent fasting.

Fasting Types

• Water
• Juice
• Various lengths
  • (Warning on short fasts)
• Longer fasts are easier

Results

• Greater clarity.
• More energy.
• Maturing self-control. Also, this one area motivates self-control in other areas.
• More time you’re not buying, preparing, eating, cleaning up, or eliminating food.
• Financial savings.
• There is more joy, optimism, outlook on life, and an overall spike in vitality.
• You provide your body time to do what God designed it to do: heal.

Downsides

• One downside is you can’t stand up quickly. You’ll become light-headed.
• Your tongue will become chalky white as the toxins leave your body.

Not Medical Advice

We do not provide medical advice, and if you are thinking about fasting, we urge you to talk to your medical provider, family, and other close friends who know you and your physical condition and needs. We are not responsible for any actions or results from this content. If you want to watch a few excellent videos on fasting, you may go here, here, and here.

Call to Action

1. Please talk to your medical professional if you’re thinking about a fast.
2. The first three days are the hardest. Perhaps starting a fast when you have the time to rest to get over the three-day hump.
3. Prepare for your body to “be angry with you.”
4. Realize it will stop bothering you because it wants to survive and will find a way to survive.
5. It may prove wise to pre-commit with a close friend, so you follow through with the fast. Let someone know what you plan to do.
6. If you’re part of a family, they need to know so they support and speak about what you want to accomplish.

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