Fasting in 2024

Spirituality vs Self-Sabotage

My wife and I run an online business where we help hundreds of people (mostly women) build an additional income stream. About 98% of this is done via social media.

I write this so you’ll understand the context. The people we work with make their income primarily through the use of social media.

Well, every year around New Year's and Lent, we have to remind our folks that God is probably not calling you to fast the most crucial component of your online business… social media!

In fact, this is what I just posted:

Hey @everyone!

Just a semiannual reminder that God will not call you to fast social media, which is central and crucial to your business.

Sincerely,

Rev. Jason D. Mayfield

I am not against seasons of fasting or consecration. If you feel like you need to experience a season of decreased routine for increased spiritual growth… I’m standing with you in faith!

I write this because I’ve learned that when traditional seasons of fasting come around, people will often confuse their own spirituality with self-sabotage.

Several years ago, we were helping people lose weight through a ketogenic diet. Without fail, right around Lent, we’d have someone who had lost 15-20 pounds post in our Facebook group, “I’m giving up meat for lent.” I don’t know how familiar you are with keto… but meat is pretty essential.

I’d be sitting back thinking, “Well honey, I think God would rather you lose the extra 100 pounds you’re carrying rather than give up chicken for 40 days…”

What was actually happening was self-sabotage disGUISED as spirituality. 

Here’s the question I ask: Is the thing I’m about to give up going to sacrifice the progress I’m making?

If your teenager came home and said, “I’m not going to do my homework for the next two months so that I can grow closer to The Lord.” You’d say… yeah, right!

Imagine calling your electrical company to inform them that you’ll redirect your bill money to fund missions. That’s fine… but they’re gonna shut your power off.

In the same way, don’t allow yourself to make a destructive decision in the name of spirituality.

A Further Thought on Fasting…

Now, this is where I might be getting up in your business a little bit…

I always find it interesting when people who haven’t developed the most basic spiritual disciplines participate in fasts.

It might be more fruitful for you to bypass fasting altogether and try:

These habits have a greater long-term impact than a 3, 7, 14, 21, or 40-day fast…