Fasting needs humility to bring about change

Fasting - a word that is often associated with renunciation and deprivation. But why do people fast in the first place? Many do it for health reasons, to live more mindfully, or to cleanse the body. But fasting is much more than self-optimization - it has a deeper, spiritual dimension.

Fasting as a spiritual path

Fasting is an integral part of spiritual practice in many faiths. In Judaism, the term teshuvah (repentance) is closely associated with the highest holiday of Yom Kippur, a day of fasting and atonement. Believers seek God to gain insight and ask forgiveness for their sins - for everything that separates them from Him.

The Bible also shows that fasting is a means of spiritual repentance. In 1 Samuel 7:6 and Jonah 3:5-10, fasting is described as a conscious decision to turn away from ways alien to God and turn to Him anew. It is not just about abstaining from food, but about an attitude of humility and a new beginning.

Fasting as a step of repentance

Fasting brings us closer to God. But this process requires humility - without it, we are often not ready to face repentance. This distinguishes spiritual fasting from secular therapeutic fasting, focusing on a specific goal such as better health or balance.

While therapeutic fasting is geared towards a measurable result, spiritual fasting means aligning ourselves with God's ways and allowing Him to guide us. If we were to view fasting only as a means to achieve a goal, God would be degraded to a supernatural “fulfiller” of our plans. But fasting is rather an invitation to place ourselves in His hands and immerse ourselves more deeply in His presence.

Jesus and fasting - a spiritual confrontation

We find the most impressive example of fasting in Matthew 4: Jesus fasted for 40 days in the desert. But instead of immediately coming into God's presence, He was tempted by Satan. Fasting, therefore, not only creates space for God but also confronts us with challenges. Jesus remained steadfast and made a conscious decision for God.

Fasting is not a spiritual “elevator” to God. It brings us into contact with our fragility and challenges us. We have a choice: do we follow the voice of accusation or the voice of God calling us to healing and forgiveness?

Next Step: Give up food for half a day and ask God in prayer what He wants to show you. He is waiting to meet you.