Spiritual and Mental Muscle Building
Sometimes we must clear ourselves from all the noise that happens in our life and start with a clear mind and heart. You can call it “de-fogging” your mind and heart, cleaning out the things that are taking up space and leaving no room for God’s will and plan to come in. For us to be faithful followers of Christ, we need to take out the negativity that lives inside of us and let positivity come in and fasting is a good way to defog and refill ourselves. It is the practice of penance of self-denial along with prayers that will lead us to a more perfect union with Christ.
The Sacred Discipline of Detachment
Fasting is the voluntary offering of something good, such as food, media, or comfort, as a prayer of love to God. It is not punishment. It is the soul saying: “God, I want You more than this.”
“When you fast… do not make it obvious, but only to your Father who sees in secret.” — Matthew 6:16–18
Types of Fasting
Food Fasting — Skip a meal, fast until noon, or choose simpler foods: a Daniel fast, bread and water, or full abstinence.
Media Fasting — Social media, news, streaming. Replace with Scripture, silence, or prayer.
Word Fasting — Fast from complaint, criticism, or idle words. Let words be few and purposeful.
Comfort Fasting — Coffee, sugar, shopping. Every fast pairs with a feast — more Scripture, prayer, or service.
Fasting in the Journal
In 12 Weeks to Love and Witness, you will build your own fasting plan — the days you will fast, your intention and offering for the fast, and what you will feast on instead. The 12-week fasting log tracks each week’s type of fast, fast/feast pairing, and revelation, and the weekly Fasting Examen asks: What did this fast reveal? What freedom emerged? What was God inviting me into?
“Fasting is the soul’s prayer in the language of the body.” — St. John Chrysostom