The Dangers of Fasting

Wait….there are dangers to fasting?

Aren’t there only blessings that come with fasting? Nope.

As in any progressing relationship with God, there are positive and negative aspects that one must be aware of. There are indeed, dangers to fasting.

Danger #1: Work for Love

I think we can all agree that we cannot do anything to make God not love us. No matter how deep the sin, no matter how deep the hurt, God still loves us. It’s true to be said that Jesus loves the murderer just as much as He loves the person that was murdered. That’s hard to fathom because we don’t love people like that. We love with conditions, on performance. God’s love, however, us unconditional. It never fades or fails.

With this in context, you we cannot do anything to make God love us more. No matter how much we pray, fast, read, attend church, mentor others, pay our tithes, etc., God will not love us any more. We can’t DO things to bid for God’s love.

This is why there is a danger to fasting.

Fasting sometimes gives us the notion that “Yeah, I’m doing this for God, He will answer my prayer now”. We can allow our works to determine how we view God’s love. Newsflash: fasting is an obedience to scripture and out of a pure heart to draw closer to God. It starts to eliminate our flesh in our walk with God. It’s not an action one can take to buy God’s love; He doesn’t work that way.

Danger #2: Self-Righteousness

Fasting takes a lot of self-effort sometimes. Not eating. Not listening to music. Not going on social media. Only eating certain things. Not eating certain things.

It’s an aspect of the Christian walk that requires our action.

However, the reason that it’s a danger sometimes is for the simple fact that WE’RE the ones fasting. We are giving up this. We are giving up that. We’re SO spiritual, that WE are doing this for God.

At that moment, we have totally missed the point.

This is why Jesus wasn’t a fan of the Pharisees. They made an effort for people to see them fasting and doing good works for God’s Kingdom.

Posting a Facebook status or tweeting about your fast isn’t drawing you closer to God, it’s begging for man’s attention and acceptance.

By the grace of God can we not only ‘get through’ a fast, but come out the victor in to a deeper committed walk with God that subdues our flesh and earthly desires.

It's better to have a walk with God that includes fasting without having to think we are more spiritual for doing something, or having to require attention of others. 

Danger #3: Attack from the Enemy

Once a Christian understands and knows the benefits of fasting, it develops a deeper understanding and appreciation for it. Newsflash: this scares the devil. The third danger in fasting is a heightened attack from the enemy. It’s the bulls-eye on your head that grows twice its size during said time of fasting. The enemy is aware of how much fasting eliminates flesh. Are you?

When fasting, it’s imperative to be aware that in a weak state of mind and body, the devil will begin his festivities. He will begin to lie. He will begin to persuade. He will begin to show how fasting isn’t worth it.

This hurts Christians a lot. When fasting, be vigilant. Be aware. Be on your A-game, because the devil is on his the moment you decide to fast. Know that he will try to tell lies.

Remove flesh from the equation. Stand firm on the Word of God. Fight the devil with the very foundation you stand on.

And win battles through fasting. 

Encouragement

During my 11 mile run on Friday, I had plenty of time for thinking. As I run, I tend to think. I never run without music, so there’s a constant feed of musical notes and words into my brain. Yet, somehow, my brain shifts around those words, and begins to create its own thought patterns not related to the music. As I run, I began to think. School, church, girlfriend, family, friends, Bible stories, moments with God, etc. All kinds of random thoughts come to mind. One thing leads to another.

During my run on Friday, one word kept traveling through my brain.

Encouragement.

I am currently training for a full marathon this spring. I have done two half marathons. One in Sheboygan, one in Oshkosh. The last one I did was in Oshkosh. The weather was horrible. Cold, rainy/snowy, etc. The one thing that got me through the run was encouragement. Had it not been for the hundreds of people lining the streets throughout the course cheering us on, I probably wouldn’t have made it. Complete strangers looking me in the eye and yelling “Come on!” “You can do it!” “Great job!” “You’re almost there!” It was the cheers and support that gave my weak legs the motivation to keep moving.

When training for a full marathon, I often think about that encouragement. The feeling of crossing the finish line and having people cheering for me is unexplainable. They didn’t know me, but they applauded my efforts and accomplishments. When I’m running by myself for training, at times I think of those people cheering, and it gives me encouragement to keep running.

As I was reflecting on this, I began to think of the church. How common is it for me to give some encouragement for new believers? How often to I compliment a new saint in their walk with God? Do I give support to youth members that have been raised in church? It’s so necessary to give encouragement to the people in the body of Christ. That compliment might give them motivation to keep running the race they’re on. At times, they (we) get weak. A compliment just might do the trick to keep running in that weakness. Even a simple “Hey, how are you doing? Can I do anything to help you out?” or a “I just want to encourage you, you’re doing a great job with _____. Keep it up” is an easy way to make somebody’s day. Days later, that compliment might be the gasoline needed to keep moving with the tank feels weak. 


Give some encouragement. It may carry that person through their next battle. 

1 Corinthians 9:24

2 Timothy 4:7

Hebrews 12:1

Battle

Ever had a goal that you made and didn't accomplish? 
Maybe you decided to get really good grades, and a bad test ruined your drive to study. Maybe you had a goal weight you wanted to be at and a bad weekend pushed you in the opposite direction.
 
I am currently training for a marathon. I had a bad week. Little running, and the running I did do wasn't really productive. It's easy in my mind for me to thing "well, I didn't do well on this week, so there's no point in trying now." This mentality is  more common than we realize. Dropped goals because of unmet benchmarks. Failed exams because of bad homework grades. It's everywhere. 
In that moment, I must reel back from everything my brain is telling me to do: stop. I must jolt my body into a realization that it's possible to keep going. I have to prove to myself that I CAN do it. When I have a bad week running, I can't quit. I'm committed. I will be running this marathon. I will complete it. 

You see, it's easy to take this mentality into my spiritual man. Maybe I have a goal to read more or pray more, then don't meet that goal, so I stop altogether thinking its not worth it. I somehow have concluded that by reading God's word or praying, I can be more spiritual; therefore God's love being conditional. Brake check. Wrong. 
I actually can't do anything or not do anything to change God's love. So, I cannot believe the lie that once I have made a mistake or had a bad week, it's pointless to try anymore. 
I have to look the enemy square in the eye and say I WILL continue. I will be victorious.
When failure comes to my life, I cannot say "well, I might as well keep sinning". 
It's easy to say "well, I am 10 minutes late to class, so might as well not show up". 
But when it comes to our spiritual man, we must be VIGILANT about attacking that mentality, and waking up accepting grace, mercy and love. 
The enemy may have won a battle, but I have the opportunity to win the war.