Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’” The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor; it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. If you worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.’”The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. For it is written: “‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.’”Jesus answered, “It is said: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” Luke 4:1-12

The practice of fasting is not a part of the normal rhythm of most of our lives, but it seems to have been so in the world in which Jesus lived. The 40-day period of fasting in the wilderness as described by Luke occurred between Jesus’ baptism and His standing up in the synagogue in Nazareth where he began his ministry. It was a defining moment in his life. In scripture we see many examples of God’s people motivated to seek Him through fasting from food at crucial junctures in their lives. These times of fasting were often when people found themselves in a spiritual wilderness seeking God in mourning, tragedy, repentance or in response to God’s grace.

While there are many motivations for fasting, it should never be an attempt to manipulate God. Fasting is not something we do to appease or bargain with God as if He were an idol. It is instead a discipline that emphasizes our complete dependence upon Him. As in the case of Jesus fasting in the wilderness, it is a time of taking away all our distractions as we seek God’s presence and resist the many temptations in our lives. Fasting strips away the things we think we need and reminds us that “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” In scripture, fasting is related to the consumption of food. However, a spiritual fast can include going without food, social media, material goods or some other thing that we crave for the purpose of seeking the presence of God. Ultimately that is the reward of fasting, experiencing the presence of God in our lives.

For Reflection

Have you had a time in your life when you felt far from God and lost in a spiritual wilderness?
What is something from which you could fast and create space to experience God in a fresh way?

Prayer

Lord, there are times in our lives when we feel lost in a wilderness and in need of hearing a word from you. In those times, Satan offers us many options for coping with our fears. We ask that you give us the grace to resist his temptations and, like Jesus, stay focused on you. Help us to hear your voice and resist “the kingdoms of this world and their splendor.” Instead give us the courage to fast from the things that distract us from you and experience the truth that you are with us and that we can live an abundant life by your word and your word alone. Amen.