See, I’m FASTING !
“When you fast, don’t make yourselves look sad like the hypocrites. They put a look of suffering on their faces so that people will see they are fasting. The truth is, that’s all the reward they will get. So when you fast, wash your face and make yourself look nice. Then no one will know you are fasting, except your Father, who is with you even in private. He can see what is done in private, and he will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18
In 2017, Katy Perry had a new album coming out called Witness. To increase her spiritual clarity for the event, she fasted — drinking only juice for 10 days. By the third day of her fast, she was feeling a little crabby and announced to the world via Twitter: “Day 3, hangry but spiritual!”
I admire Katy for her efforts; ten days of only juice is no joke. But when I think of Jesus telling us to fast in secret, without groaning in public, I think of Katy Perry digitally spreading the state of her fast around the globe. You can still find that tweet under the hashtag #Humblebrag.
People can fast from lots of things: social media, sugar, gossiping, negative thoughts. I am sure it is all useful, but fasting from food is what is most effective for me. If I need to be reminded throughout the day that I am not in control of anything, just take away my meals. There is nothing better than a giant, rolling hunger pang to shift my focus from “What’s for lunch?” to “What is actually eternal?”
I don’t know if it’s the stomach’s proximity to the heart, or the lowering of blood sugar overall, but the body sensation is one of humility, of neediness, of shakiness — and, feeling a deepening, a burning away. The focus turns from external daily events to an inward call. And that call acts to remind me of who I truly am beyond my body.
So when Jesus reminds me that this is a private time between us — to sharpen my focus on Him, not to go looking for human applause — I hear that plainly. When I want to play the victim in my own show — “Oh! I’m so hungry!” — I am reminded that I can even look for kudos from myself, complimenting me on my own inner grit and determination. My mind will play lots of tricks to keep me from experiencing the quiet grace that is hiding behind my opinions of myself.
If your fasting is from food, you might find it helpful to attach a short prayer each time you have a physical sensation of hunger. When your tummy rumbles, maybe something like: “You are the food I need, Lord”. (John 4:34.)
If the fast is from social media, you might attach a prayer to the almost automatic act of scrolling. When the desire to see your screen comes up, maybe something like: “I am actually looking for YOU, Lord.”
And when you reach Day 3 of your juice fast, rather than posting the state of your hangry-ness, perhaps keep that moment between you and God, where it belongs.
by Carie Grant
