Redheaded Jill

I have some experience with fasting. I have tried fasting for my health several times. Intermittent fasting is something I try to do at least monthly, if not weekly.

In Bible Class recently we were challenged to try fasting as a way to grow closer to God. Let me tell ya… it is hard! I fasted from Wednesday night around eight until Friday at noon. It wasn’t hard in the sense that I got hungry. It was hard because I wanted to focus on God but my mind wanders!

You guys… I woke up Thursday and was like, “Well… I need to distract myself so I don’t eat.” So I deep cleaned my bathroom while I listened to a sermon. Later when I was fixing lunch for my nephews I almost licked peanut butter off my finger, but stopped myself. During the baby’s nap instead of eating lunch I cleaned out my car, while again, listening to a sermon. I also did some journaling and reading.

What I have learned about myself over time is to focus I have to keep my hands busy. I don’t know if that’s an ADHD symptom or if that’s a generational issue because I’m used to fast internet, fast tech and entertainment.

My Bible class group was praying for me and checking on me, which was super nice. But it was a struggle. Thursday night when I was finally at home and in complete control of my surroundings I sat in my favorite chair. I turned on some hymns and I closed my eyes. I didn’t try praying, I didn’t try singing, I just sat and tried to maintain steady breathing. The next day I was reading Philippians 4 and I felt humbled. I kept talking about my fast, but God tells us to do these things discreetly.

To be honest it made me a little emotional. I don’t know if that was the music or frustration with myself.

This morning I listened to a lesson about fasting. I don’t think I did it right. First of all, we are told to do these things quietly. You don’t announce you’re fasting like the hypocrites. You quietly fast and focus on the Lord. My question is, who has time? Who has time to devote an entire day to fasting and thinking about God? But that itself gives me the answer. We make time for the things we want. And if I wanted to spend 24 hours focusing on the Lord I could. But I choose not to.

I will be fasting in the future for my health, and I will be fasting in the future to grow my relationship with the Lord, but I am going to make some changes.

And maybe for me to focus I do have to keep my hands busy and that’s ok. The point is I’m going to be more intentional. To fast and focus on God means I might need to use my day off to really be able to do it, rather than when I am working. A day where I’m not constantly getting interrupted by kids and texts and tasks. Even if it’s just setting aside a few minutes or a couple hours to focus, fast and pray. That would likely do my spiritual health more good than trying to find quiet moments in a hectic day and check all the boxes.

Have you ever tried fasting for your spiritual health?