Why Fasting Matters for Men of God
When was the last time you fasted? Maybe it was for weight loss, or before a surgery. But have you ever fasted for spiritual reasons? And what is the point of biblical fasting, anyway?
Fasting isn’t just an Old Testament relic or something reserved for monks in the desert. It’s a discipline God designed for His people, and it has everything to do with us as men who want to live out biblical manhood in the real world. By removing food, our most basic daily compulsion, from the equation, fasting helps strip away distractions and shows us what we really depend on, deep down. Spoiler alert: it’s not steak, coffee, or that last slice of chocolate cake calling to us from inside the refrigerator.
When we fast, we’re reminded of our weakness. But that’s the point. Jesus Himself said, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4) Food sustains the body, but God’s Word sustains the man. Fasting forces us to recognize that our deepest hunger is for Him, not for whatever’s in the pantry.
Training the Soul Like Training the Body
Most of us know what it’s like to push through a workout, run that extra mile, or get under the bar when our muscles already feel spent. We know the value of discipline in building strength. Fasting is that same principle applied to the spirit. By temporarily denying our flesh something it wants, we train our spirit to lean harder on God when things get tough.
It’s not about showing off or checking a religious box. In fact, Jesus warned us not to fast in a way that draws attention. (Matthew 6:16-18) Fasting is private, intimate, and meant to tune our hearts to God’s frequency. It sharpens our dependence on Him, and that kind of training prepares us for real-life battles: temptations, stress at work, struggles at home, and every moment where we’re called to step up as men of God.
Fasting and Prayer: A Powerful Combination
Fasting without prayer is basically just dieting, and that’s not what God is asking of us. The purpose is to take the hunger we feel and let it push us toward deeper prayer. That gnawing in the stomach becomes a reminder: talk to your Father. Press in. Ask Him for wisdom, strength, and clarity.
There’s a reason we see fasting paired with prayer throughout Scripture. In Acts 13, the early church fasted and prayed before sending out Paul and Barnabas. They sought God’s direction, and fasting created the spiritual space they needed to hear Him clearly. When we fast, we aren’t trying to manipulate God. We aren’t bargaining, or earning “points” to get something we want. We’re putting ourselves in a position where we can better listen to His voice and align with His will.
Brotherhood in the Journey
Fasting is often a personal discipline, but it doesn’t have to be a lonely one. Just like with workouts, it helps to know other brothers are running the same course. When we encourage one another in fasting, share what we’re learning, and pray together, it strengthens the whole body. Imagine a band of brothers, hungry for God in every sense of the word, backing each other up as we seek Him. That’s powerful.
And yes, we’ll joke about how much we want a cheeseburger, but beneath the humor is something deeper: solidarity in pursuing our eternal God over temporary comfort. That’s what biblical manhood is all about; choosing the eternal over the instant, the lasting over the fleeting.
Stepping Into the Practice
We don’t fast to prove how tough we are. We fast to put ourselves in a place where God’s strength fills our weakness. Start small if you’ve never done it before. Skip one meal and use that time to pray. Ask God to reveal Himself. As you grow in this practice, you’ll find fasting shapes you into a man who relies more on God’s provision than your own strength.
We don’t fast to get something from God, but to give Him our undivided attention. The hunger we feel in our bodies is a physical echo of the hunger our souls have for Him. And when we let Him satisfy that hunger, we find ourselves more grounded, more equipped, and more ready to live out the faith we’ve been called to.
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If you’re looking to grow deeper in your walk with Christ and connect with other men pursuing biblical manhood, check out Man in the Mirror. You’ll find resources, encouragement, and practical tools to help you live out your faith with strength and purpose.
