This reflection paper explores the practice of biblical fasting as a means of drawing closer to God, with particular reference to II Chronicles 7:14. The author recounts a personal one-day fast undertaken despite a demanding work schedule, examining both the physical and mental challenges encountered. The paper discusses spiritual insights gained, including a renewed sense of God's care and guidance, as well as a practical critique of the experience and suggestions for improvement. It concludes by affirming fasting as an enduring spiritual discipline that fosters a unique and personal connection between the individual and God.
Biblical fasting is a unique and ancient practice through which people seek to connect more deeply with God. Reading scripture reveals that fasting enables the Holy Spirit to illuminate one's true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life. Fasting and prayer are also understood as the disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14. On a personal journey to grow closer to God, I encountered several challenges due to my schedule. Ultimately, however, the experience was a positive one: it revealed that God cares for us even when we feel broken and empty, and I discovered that I also hold the power to push past those heavy feelings.
In order to fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14, I undertook a one-day fast. The difficulty lay in having a busy day. I worked for six hours — from one o'clock until seven — which are far from ideal hours for fasting. Because of this schedule, it was not easy to spend extended time in meditation, though I made use of my breaks to do so.
Truthfully, the fast was not as hard on me physically as it was mentally. At around four o'clock I began thinking about how long it had been since I had eaten, and my stomach quickly made its protests known. From that point until eight o'clock — when I hungrily ate a microwaveable pizza — thoughts of hunger plagued my mind constantly and forcefully. A less critical but still meaningful effect of the fast was a newfound appreciation for having food available at all. It prompted me to consider what life would be like if going without food for a day were normal, as it is for much of the world. I am deeply grateful for having participated in this experience, as it revealed much about myself and what I am capable of enduring — and it also taught me more about the spiritual role of fasting across religious traditions.
God will not give up on us if we do not give up on Him. This is the central lesson I took away from fasting for a day. God guides us through all times of trouble and despair. Not eating for twenty-four hours is by no means a tragedy or a moment of profound suffering, but it is not an easy thing for many people to do. Yet, as the fast ended, I felt well and my body was unharmed. God helped me through the difficult day with His guidance, and I was deeply grateful for it. That experience deepened my love for God, because I became aware that He makes a constant effort to care for me regardless of circumstances. I do not know what "effort" means in the realm of the omnipotent, but I nonetheless felt that I mattered to God — that He truly cares for me.
The fast also reinforced the understanding that fasting as a spiritual discipline is not merely about physical deprivation. It is an act of intentional surrender — a choice to place one's hunger for the divine above bodily comfort. That reorientation of priorities, even for a single day, carries real spiritual weight.
"Logistical critiques and plans for a better fast"
Giving up one day to serve and think only of the Lord through fasting is an ancient concept that remains widespread today. It is a familiar pattern in history for traditions to fade once they are deemed obsolete. Fasting, however, has stood the test of time — most likely because of its power to connect a person to God on a profound spiritual level. Many obstacles can stand in the way of a successful fast, and it may become tempting to abandon the practice when weighed down by those difficulties. But if one keeps in mind the deeper effects the fast will have on one's relationship with God, the sense of reward at the end makes the struggle worthwhile.
Our relationships with God are as unique as we are. There are not many practices through which human beings universally find connection with Him, but fasting is a meaningful exception. Through modest suffering and the devotion of one's mind, body, and soul to God for a twenty-four-hour period, a person opens themselves to a deeper love and knowledge of God that few other disciplines can offer.
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