“One of this week’s core passages is Jesus’ own definition of discipleship—the foundation for our three pillars of spiritual formation at Formation Church: Denying Self. Surrendering Fully. Following Daily. (Matthew 16:24).
The spiritual discipline—or Practice—of Fasting invites us into this very posture. Through fasting, we actively participate in denying ourselves and surrendering fully to God. Yet, it’s crucial to remember this truth: there is no power in the Practice itself. The transformation that takes place within us comes only by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit.
The Practices of Jesus—Sabbath, Solitude, Prayer, Scripture, and Fasting—are not ends in themselves, but means of grace. They are sacred spaces we open in our lives, allowing the Spirit to shape, renew, and form us into Christlikeness.
So what does the Fasting Practice enable within us?
It enables us to grow in holiness—not through striving, but through surrender.
As we Fast, we are reminded of our dependence on God. We turn physical hunger into spiritual longing, allowing our whole selves—body, mind, and spirit—to become an offering before Him. In this way, Fasting becomes not a burden, but a blessing—a rhythm that helps us be with Jesus, become like Jesus, and do what Jesus did, for the sake of others.
When we say that Fasting helps us grow in holiness, what do we mean? We mean that through Fasting, we are shaped into people who more naturally deny selfish desires, surrender control to Jesus, and align our hearts with His worldview and rhythm of life. Fasting invites transformation—not by striving, but by allowing the Holy Spirit to reorder what we love, what we seek, and how we live.
In its role as a spiritual rhythm, Fasting opens four key pathways for the Spirit to work in us, forming a Godly rhythm toward holiness:
1. Fasting Weans You Off the Pleasure Principle
Fasting stands as a countercultural act in a world driven by the pursuit of comfort and pleasure. The hedonistic mindset says, “I do whatever feels good in the moment,” placing self at the center. Yet, this is not freedom—it’s bondage. When you Fast, you deliberately choose to deny even the most basic instinct—hunger. In doing so, you confront the illusion of control and declare that your body and desires are not your master—Jesus is.
2. Fasting Reveals Your Heart
In Fasting, hidden desires often surface. You begin to notice how food (or other comforts) may have become a way to manage emotions—stress, sadness, boredom. These cravings reveal attachments that can quietly take God’s place. When Fasting exposes these things, it’s not to shame us, but to invite healing. The Spirit lovingly brings to light what needs to be surrendered so that we can be set free.
3. Fasting Reorders Your Desires
Over time, as fasting becomes a rhythm, your appetites begin to change. Just as regular exercise can reshape physical cravings, Fasting recalibrates your spiritual hunger. You begin to desire what nourishes your soul rather than what merely satisfies your flesh. In this transformation, the Spirit purifies our longings, aligning them with the heart of Christ.
4. Fasting Draws on the Power of God Over Sin
Fasting strengthens spiritual resolve. As you deny yourself and surrender to God, your will is fortified by grace. You learn, through practice, to say “no” to what is destructive and “yes” to what brings life. Each Fast becomes an embodied declaration that your life belongs wholly to Him. In this space of surrender, the Spirit works deeply, transforming both thought and action.
Finally, it’s important to be clear about what Fasting is and what it is not. Fasting, in its biblical form, is the abstention from food, and at times even water, as a physical act of surrender to Jesus. It is different from abstaining from certain pleasures like chocolate, social media, or entertainment. Those forms of abstinence have value—but Fasting, at its core, is the offering of our entire self (soma), including our bodies, our hunger, and our dependency to God.
In this way, Fasting is denying self, not as an act of deprivation, but as a sacred invitation to deeper intimacy with Christ—the One who is our true sustenance and strength.”