Fasting has a way of putting everything into perspective. At its core, fasting is about denying your body food and other distractions in order to revive and strengthen your spirit.
On average, we spend 8+ hours on social media, consuming drama and highlight reels of people—strangers, really. But when you fast from social media, it’s like a brain reset. Suddenly, those things—and even the people you “follow”—don’t seem to matter. And truthfully? After about three days, you don’t even miss it. You begin to realize that life is so much more than scrolling. Jesus gave you a whole life to live.
I’m grateful I had a childhood without social media. I remember having time to dream my own dreams about the future—dreams that weren’t shaped by comparison, culture, or pressure. To me, fasting brings that back. It restores hope. It reminds you of what God placed in your heart from the very beginning. Fasting shifts your focus from the world back to God.
“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”
— Matthew 4:4
Because fasting denies your flesh what it craves—food, validation, distractions—you’re drawn back to your source. Back to your manufacturer. Back to God. And you know what? He is so fulfilling.
Honestly, every time I’ve fasted, it’s been hard to “go back” to regular life. God is more than enough. Every single thing we seek—validation, comfort, wisdom, joy, peace, provision—He gives abundantly if we:
- Come to Him
- Repent
- Obey Him
“But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
— Matthew 6:6
“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.”
— Matthew 6:33
Fasting + Prayer = Power
We can’t talk about fasting without talking about what you should be doing with all this newfound time—PRAYING.
When I fast, I pray every time I feel hungry and every time I instinctively reach for my phone to scroll. (By the way—just go ahead and remove those social media apps. Muscle memory is real!)
Prayer is a conversation with God. Say what’s on your heart, but also leave room for Him to speak back. Which leads me to my next point…
Read & Study the Word
Alongside prayer, fasting gives you ample time to read and study your Bible. We all know how to study—whether you stopped at high school or went all the way to a Ph.D., you’ve been through some level of schooling. Studying the Bible is no different.
Here’s the key:
Before you open the Word, pray that the Holy Spirit will guide you and reveal deep truths to you. Ask God questions!
Do you know He wants to give us instruction, direction, wisdom, and knowledge?
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
— Hosea 4:6
Whew. That verse is heavy. But let’s stick to the key takeaway:
The “knowledge” we need is knowing and obeying the Word of God.
And how do we do that?
By studying the Bible.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
— Joshua 1:8
Fasting Is a Gift
At any moment in life, we have the freedom to hit the reset button—to return to our Creator. And when we do, God meets us there. He’s ready to teach, correct, strengthen, and comfort us.
Fasting is my time to become undone.
It’s where I can fall apart—completely shattered—in the safety of the Lord’s presence. And He is the only One who can put me back together again—removing old pieces, adding new ones.
In fasting, I get to abide in Him.
I get to worship Him as He intended—
“In spirit and in truth.”