I have a deep love for food. Dining out with my wife, exploring new restaurants, and savoring different cuisines are some of our favorite shared experiences. We're passionate about cooking and enjoying delicious meals.

But the year I turned 40, I spent some time reflecting on my life. It was a big milestone. I wanted to evaluate my life holistically - spiritually, physically, emotionally, and socially. Fasting came up as a way to go deeper in a few areas of my life. 

 A quick online search about intermittent fasting reveals its growing popularity in the health and wellness industry. I also believe that fasting holds profound spiritual significance. Every major religion has a place for fasting as a spiritual exercise.

And then there’s the personal struggle—I just don't like being hungry.

My experience with fasting up until this point was not extensive. Growing up in a Catholic family, fasting was an annual tradition. On Ash Wednesday, I'd pack a smaller lunch for school, and Good Friday meant participating in a 30-hour fast with my youth group, starting on Friday morning and ending on Saturday. We'd spend the night in the church gym, and Saturday morning, we'd organize Easter activities and an egg hunt for the kids in our parish. Picture a group of hungry teenagers, surrounded by kids and chocolate!

After the fast, we'd feast on eggs, bacon, pancakes, and chocolate. I never really questioned why we fasted; it was simply one of those sacrifices we made growing up as part of our Catholic tradition. I didn't fully understand the underlying purpose.

As an adult committed to being a disciple of Jesus, I decided to rediscover the spiritual significance of fasting. I had already determined that fasting was good for my physical health, but why was it good for me spiritually? If I were to really imitate Jesus’ way of life I would need to know why He did what He did. I wanted to take my discipleship of Jesus more seriously and to do so would mean to imitate him more closely. In the gospels, we hear that Jesus fasted. Jesus also instructed his disciples to fast. In fact, all Jews would have fasted as it was a spiritual discipline described throughout the Old Testament.

I realized that if this practice had been a part of our tradition for so long, there must be a meaningful reason behind it. I dug in and found that fasting was a way of offering a sacrifice in our bodies as prayer and worship to God (Luke 2:37, Acts 14:23, Acts 13:2). Fasting was a way to humble yourself, coming back to God in mourning or repentance (Joel 2:12-13, Pslams 35:13). Fasting offers a way to deepen our connection with God and to pray for others (Acts 13:3). And, I found out it's not merely a yearly ritual; it can become a way of life when embraced as a spiritual discipline.

This wasn’t a new thing in the Catholic tradition. Early Christians would fast on Wednesdays and Fridays every week! Wednesdays to atone for sins of injustice and impurity and Fridays to draw closer to Jesus on the day we would traditionally recall his crucifixion. 

I decided then to try fasting as not just something that happens to me twice a year on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, but as a spiritual discipline to adopt on a regular basis. I would fast on Wednesdays to pray for others and on Fridays to draw closer to God.

Here’s what happened when I started to fast.

Some days I forgot to fast. Other days, hunger and temptation got the best of me. It required me to endure moments of hunger and resist the temptation to eat. I was tempted to be frustrated with my inability to hold down this discipline in my life so I had to be constantly reminded that my disposition needed to be perseverance, not perfection. I didn’t give up on the practice of fasting when I didn’t get it right. I remained committed and looked forward to the next fasting day. I reflected on why I didn’t get it right to help master the practice the next time. Sometimes it was as simple as drinking a glass of water when hungry or avoiding the pantry at certain times in the day.

On the days I completed the fast I felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude. 

I noticed that every day committed to fasting, whether actually successful or not, would bring me closer to God. On the days I didn't complete the fast, I became more aware of my need for mercy and humility in my life.

I didn't feel sad or disappointed for not completing the fast. But the difficulties I encountered while fasting made me think about the things I struggle with when it comes to sin and where I need to get better. It was like hearing God say, “you gave it your best and I’m proud of you for it. I’m here for you. For strength, encouragement, and mercy.” On the days I successfully fasted, I was grateful for the opportunity to offer this sacrifice to God and for others. I also noticed a transformation—the hunger pangs served as a reminder of my spiritual purpose. My decision to fast redirected hunger as a call to prayer and a way to draw closer to God, rather than just satisfying a physical need.

And the things I was worried about? The barriers to fasting? They weren’t that big. I still got to enjoy food with my wife, and arguably appreciated it even more. I did get hungry but I learned that it didn’t have to control me and that pushing through it was really rewarding on the other side, when I had a purpose behind it. And even more, I came to know the voice of God and his love for me in a deeper way. I grew in my heart for others as well.

Fasting isn't just a relic of the past; it remains as relevant today as ever. It invites us to imitate Jesus more closely in our rhythm of life. It challenges us to live our faith not just as a yearly ritual but as an everyday commitment.

Incorporating fasting into my life as a spiritual discipline has provided a unique way for my body to communicate spiritual truths. It serves as a reminder of my longing for God's presence and a call to love others through acts of devotion and prayer.

Some tips on how to get started: 

  • Determine beforehand when you’ll fast, not when you forget to bring your lunch to work. For me, I aim to fast on Wednesdays and Fridays. Not every Wednesday and Friday afford me the opportunity to fast, but my goal is to remain consistent.

  • Align your fast to a spiritual reality. On Wednesdays I fast for people I want to pray for and on Fridays I fast to draw closer to Jesus’ suffering and love for me.

  • Decide how you’ll fast. What are you giving up? For me, I give up breakfast and lunch. I don’t eat until dinner. I still drink coffee though! A simple way could be to skip a meal, like lunch, and avoid all snacking. This may vary depending on your current health and circumstance. If you’re unsure, consult with a medical professional.

  • I find that the clearer I am with what I am doing on fasting days, the easier it is for me to accomplish it. If I’m unclear, my hunger will tell me what to do. For example, If I determine I’ll just eat a “small meal” at lunch it never ends up being a small meal. I’ll just eat bread could mean I’ll just eat a loaf of bread. The more specific you can be, the more likely you’ll succeed at fasting.

  • Include times of prayer. Simple prayers can help. Like “Jesus, I trust in you”, or if you fail, a prayer from Psalm 73:26—”My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”