I never expected to reenergize my practice of fasting by reading Harper's Magazine. It started when I spotted the cover of the March 2012 issue. It featured a three-frame illustration of an overweight, sedentary man becoming thin and active. The title of the cover story: "Starving Your Way to Vigor: The Benefits of an Empty Stomach." I was intrigued. • The story described how fasting not only helps slim the body but has a host of other benefits, including the potential to add years to your life. Beginning with historical anecdotes and moving to his experience with fasting, the author, Steve Hendricks, shook me out of complacency and renewed my commitment to this ancient discipline.
In college I'd established a routine of fasting one day a week, water only. Since I had typically fasted during Lent, when I seem to have greater commitment to abstaining, I decided to renew my weekly, water-only fasting routine during the Lenten season.
During my college and early ministry years, my general approach to the discipline was rigid and legalistic. As I matured I gave myself more latitude. In addition to total fasts, I tried juice fasting. I began to see that juice fasts were valid, especially for prolonged fasts. I had tried a week-long, water-only fast during Holy Week, and although I benefited from the experience, it left me drained.
My greatest breakthrough came from reading Dallas Willard's The Spirit of the Disciplines. In the book Willard explains how after Jesus' 40 days of fasting, he was not weaker but actually stronger and better prepared to resist the temptations of the enemy. So on that Easter my spiritual strength soared, but physically, I struggled. My energy was depleted. My voice had grown weak. Finding the balance between the physical drain of fasting and the spiritual power provided through it often feels like walking the edge of a precipice. I long for God's strength to be perfected in my weakness, yet sometimes I wonder if I should expect God to sustain me in ways normally maintained simply by eating.
We are not accustomed to suffering. We live in a world of instant gratification; we avoid even the slightest discomfort.
One of my biggest struggles comes when fasting gives me insomnia, a common side effect. I know that sleep is especially crucial as fasting has drained my energy. Sometimes I lie awake frustrated and exhausted, debating whether to end the fast so I can get some relief and much-needed rest.
When our church decided to embark on a 10-day fast, I did not expect people to do water-only. Personally, I opted for a routine of water for breakfast, juice for lunch and dinner. The water-only option is fine, but I find it difficult to maintain a full schedule with that level of deprivation. I encouraged my congregation to participate in any way they felt comfortable—juice fasting, abstaining from certain foods, skipping a meal a day—but hoped all would make some commitment to the full 10 days. We read through the Psalms together and opened the church twice daily for people to pray. Most participated at some level and they reported especially enjoying reading the Psalms together. Several commented on how their ability to hear God increased during this time.
Better Together
The second time we fasted, we did it leading up to a Friend Day. We added a prayer vigil. A prayer guide included a verse to pray each day. Participants read the verse, prayed for concerns that had been shared, prayed for those invited to Friend Day, prayed the Lord's Prayer, then spent time simply listening to God. Communal fasting adds power to our communal prayers. During these fasts I don't ask people what they are doing, and I certainly don't brag about my own disciplines. I just try to encourage them to participate.
Last year when visiting the Windsor United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas, I was impressed by their fasting discipline. Windsor United is one of the largest United Methodist churches in the country. They regularly call people to celebrations of feasts and fasts aligned with Jewish practice. During Lent 2012 they held an eight-day fast, leading up to Palm Sunday. Adults without health issues eat just one meal in the evening, and everyone abstains from sugar and junk food. The church provides a guide with specific prayer requests for each day and asks for twice-daily prayer during the fast.
Gregory Chandler, Sr. started the World Outreach Christian Church in Cincinnati in 2003 with a vision for reaching out to the poor and disadvantaged. Because they sought a non-traditional approach to communicating the gospel, they fasted as a way to discern the will of God. Chandler taught on fasting, then asked people to begin gradually by dropping one thing they really enjoyed eating. In addition to pushing away from the table, members were asked to come to God with specific requests. Learning to "mortify the flesh," they slowly omitted additional items. For example, they skipped meat one week, then bread the next, moving toward liquids only, and finally only water. The church fasts for 40 days, culminating with a week of only water. Children participate in a modified fashion by giving up indulgences such as fast food. Members participate because they have learned the biblical foundation of crucifying the flesh in order to allow the Spirit of God to be more alive in them. At least once a year Chandler calls a church-wide fast.
And they look forward to it! They have shared breakthroughs such as experiencing the Word in new ways and discerning the Holy Spirit more clearly. Being asked to give up television, participants have more time to read their Bibles since they are not cooking or sitting in front of the television. Many have permanently given up their cable access and various foods they previously thought they couldn't live without. At the end of a fast, the church gathers to celebrate the miracles and guidance gained, and then break the fast together.
Hungry for God
Reading the Harper's piece challenged me to return to water-fasting. During Lent I set aside each Wednesday to drink only water. I made it three Wednesdays and felt encouraged. The following weekend my son attended an Emmaus Walk. I determined to fast for the entire three-day event. Starting that Thursday when they arrived at the retreat, I fasted until Sunday when we picked up our son. On Sunday I drank some juice to feel strengthened for leading services at my own church.
I returned to my Wednesday water fast the next two weeks. On Holy Week I hoped to fast from Wednesday through Easter. Thursday evening I felt awful, and decided to eat some almonds before sleeping. Later I discovered I had a parasite and that probably triggered my stomach's reaction. That shows the importance of paying attention to your body when fasting. During my first 10-day fast, I felt nausea one night. I ate a few wheat crackers, and felt better. Evidently I needed some salt. My stomach hurt in a different way than just wanting to eat. If you pay attention, you can tell the difference between normal hunger pangs and something that needs attention.
We are not accustomed to suffering. We live in a world of instant gratification; we avoid even the slightest discomfort. Reading about Hendricks's fasting on just water for almost 20 days (without God's help) gave me a new perspective on my quick aversion to pain and discomfort. I don't need to be a martyr about it, but I can push through some discomfort for the sake of spiritual power and obedience. When teaching on fasting, I shared Dwight Moody's wisdom on the topic with my church: "If you say, 'I will fast when God lays it on my heart,' you never will."
In general I find fasting much easier when fasting with others. The accountability and purpose keeps me going when I'd rather quit. I am writing this on a fasting Wednesday. I leave for vacation tomorrow, so I've struggled to maintain the discipline as I anticipate a week away. (By the way, I won't be fasting next Wednesday while enjoying my family vacation.) But earlier this week one of the mothers in our church told me she wanted to fast for the transitions her family is experiencing. I told her I would be fasting today, and praying for her family. I didn't want to renege on my promise, especially as I feel excited that my people are choosing to fast. I plan to continue practicing this discipline individually and corporately. Hendricks entitled his piece "Starving Your Way to Vigor." When fasting for spiritual purposes, however, I would never call it "starving." We are actually feasting on grace and gaining so much more than we ever give up. I'm looking forward to further unleashing God's power through this ancient discipline.
Katherine Callahan-Howell is pastor of Winton Community Free Methodist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio.
