JULY 26, 2026

EMPTYING OURSELVES TO BE FILLED BY GOD

True fasting is the intentional abstaining from physical nourishment—or other distractions—to feast more deeply on the presence of God.

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Today we are leaning into a practice that is often misunderstood, sometimes feared, but deeply transformative: fasting. Fasting is not a spiritual hunger strike to force God's hand. It is not a diet wrapped in religious language. True fasting is the intentional abstaining from physical nourishment—or other distractions—to feast more deeply on the presence of God.

FASTING IS A MATTER OF THE HEART

When we fast, our motivation matters. Jesus directly addresses how we should approach this discipline in the Sermon on the Mount.

"When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who is unseen, will reward you." — Matthew 6:16–18

Jesus reminds us that fasting is an intimate act of devotion between us and God. If we do it for human applause, that applause is all we will get. But when we fast in secret, emptying our hearts of pride, we make room for the Father to fill us.

THE TRUE FAST: JUSTICE AND FREEDOM

Fasting is not just about what we stop doing; it is about what we start doing as a result. In the Old Testament, God corrected His people because they fasted while continuing to oppress others. Through the prophet Isaiah, God defines the fast that actually moves His heart:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?" — Isaiah 58:6–7

True fasting breaks spiritual chains. It softens our hearts toward the hurting, the broken, and the needy. When we deny our own physical appetites, our spiritual eyes are opened to the needs of the world around us.

OUR ULTIMATE SUSTENANCE

Finally, fasting teaches us what truly sustains us. When Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to fast for forty days, Satan tempted Him to turn stones into bread. Jesus responded with powerful truth:

"Jesus answered, 'It is written: "Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God."'" — Matthew 4:4

Fasting exposes our dependencies. It shows us how often we run to comfort, food, or screens to cope with life. When we fast, we declare to our flesh and to the spiritual realm: "My ultimate survival and satisfaction come from God alone."

CONCLUSION

Let us not view fasting as a heavy burden, but as an open invitation. It is an invitation to disconnect from the noise of the world so we can connect to the whisper of God. Let us empty ourselves, trust His word, and allow Him to fill us anew.

Amen.

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