When Was the Last Time You Were Truly Hungry for God?

Meta Description: Fasting isn't just about skipping meals — it's about reclaiming a kingdom perspective. Discover why this forgotten spiritual discipline still matters today. URL Slug: spiritual-discipline-of-fasting Featured Image: A simple, close-up image of an open Bible on a wooden table with natural morning light — conveying quiet, intentional devotion.

Let me be honest with you about something. After everything we ate on the Fourth of July, the last thing any of us wants to talk about is fasting. But that might be exactly why we need to.

We've been walking through a series on spiritual disciplines — Bible intake, worship, prayer, evangelism, stewardship, and service. Each one is an invitation from God's Word, not just a suggestion. And today, I want to talk about a discipline that most of us have quietly set aside: fasting.

What the Bible Actually Says About Fasting

I want to start in Matthew 6, because I think Jesus settles the question of whether fasting is optional for the follower of Christ.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives three parallel instructions. Look at how he phrases each one:

• "When you give..." (Matthew 6:2-3)
• "When you pray..." (Matthew 6:5-6)
• "When you fast..." (Matthew 6:16-17)

Jesus didn't say if you fast. He said when you fast. Just as he assumed his followers would give and pray, he assumed they would fast. He even gave specific instruction on how to do it rightly — not drawing attention to yourself, not wearing your sacrifice on your face for others to see, but doing it quietly before God.

"But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly." — Matthew 6:17-18

This isn't a fringe practice. It's a discipline Jesus expected his disciples to practice.

The Real Reason We Don't Fast

Here's something I've been sitting with as I prepared this message: times of plenty do not produce hunger.

We live in a nation of abundance — abundance of food, of entertainment, of comfort, of pleasure. And while I am genuinely grateful for the country God has placed us in, I think we have to be honest about what all of that plenty has done to our spiritual appetite.

As I was studying through Donald Whitney's book Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, I came across a quote that stopped me cold: "Self-indulgence is the enemy of gratitude... Full stomachs and jaded palates take the edge from our hunger and thirst for righteousness. They spoil the appetite for God."

That's not just a clever phrase. That's a diagnosis.

When our appetites are filled with the things of this world, there's simply no room — no hunger — for the things of God. And I think that's where many of us find ourselves. Not rebellious, not hostile toward God. Just... full. Satisfied with lesser things.

What Fasting Actually Does for Us

So what is fasting, from a biblical perspective? Here's a simple definition: Christian fasting is a believer's voluntary abstinence from food or drink for spiritual purposes.

In a broader sense, fasting is the denial of the physical in order to give priority to the spiritual. If you recognize that something — social media, entertainment, news, a hobby — is exerting too much influence over your heart, your mind, or your time, a spiritual fast from that thing might be exactly what you need to reclaim a kingdom perspective on your life.

The Apostle Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:7 to "exercise yourself toward godliness." That's what fasting does. It exercises us. It trains us to want more of God and less of ourselves.

In 2 Corinthians 3:17, Paul writes about being "transformed into the image" of Christ. That transformation is the whole point of every spiritual discipline, including this one. We're not fasting to earn anything. We're fasting because we want to look more like him and less like the old version of ourselves — the version that comes out naturally in the Walmart checkout line or when things don't go our way.

Fasting fosters a him versus me perspective. And in a culture that constantly tells us to feed ourselves, indulge ourselves, and center ourselves, that counter-cultural act of voluntary hunger is a powerful declaration: I want more of him.

What Are You Going to Do With This?

Here's what I believe about God's Word: it always carries an inherent invitation. It invites us in and asks us to respond. Dismissing a truth of Scripture isn't really an option for someone who desires to live a godly life and bear the image of Christ.

So as you reflect on fasting this week, I want to invite you to take at least one of these steps:

First, study it further. If fasting is new territory for you, start there. Ask God to give you instruction — a purpose, a time, and a duration. Go into a fast asking God to lead you, not just checking a box.

Second, consider repentance. Maybe, like me, you've practiced fasting in the past but have let it drift. It might be time to repent of the spiritual complacency that comes with living in plenty, and ask God to renew a genuine hunger in your heart.

The question I want to leave with you is a simple one: When was the last time you were truly hungry for God?

Not just attending church. Not just going through the motions. But genuinely, deeply hungry — the way Matthew 5:6 describes: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled."

Fasting is one of the ways we cultivate that hunger. And I believe God is faithful to meet us when we come to him with an open, hungry heart.

I'd love to hear from you — if this message stirred something in you, or if you have questions about fasting, reach out. We're on this journey together.

Social Media Excerpt (Facebook/Instagram): When was the last time you were truly hungry for God? In a nation of plenty, our full stomachs — of food, entertainment, and comfort — can quietly spoil our appetite for him. This week's message on fasting challenged me to ask: what am I filling myself with, and is there still room for more of God? Read the full post at the link below. 👇

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