The Cost of Living

“God, You are my God; I eagerly seek You. I thirst for You; my body faints for You in a land that is dry, desolate, and without water” (Psalm 63:1).

Have you ever tried to weasel your way out of a loophole? During a business deal, a lawyer might read over a contract to see if there are any loopholes that one party might use against another. In all sorts of instances, people try to push the envelope and ride the line as close as they can without tipping the scale.  

This does not work when it comes to God. He cannot be manipulated, and He cannot be tricked. You won’t pull a fast one on Him and pull the wool over His eyes—He knows if your heart is in your actions. When you fast, it’s got to cost you something. There are no loopholes. Whatever it is that you choose to give up, it needs to be something that will be difficult for you to lose.

Fasting is a very personal experience. As we’ve discussed before, there are many things that you can abstain from and many ways you can go about it. The four most notable fasts are: a complete fast, a selective fast, a partial fast, and a soul fast.

A complete fast would mean no food at all for a specific number of days. If you are considering giving up full meals for multiple days, be sure to consult your doctor, as this can take a toll on your body.

A selective fast would mean you remove certain foods or elements from your diet such as bread or sugar. This is what’s called a Daniel fast. The point is for you to take out something you know you’re going to crave. You can substitute items but do so within reason. Don’t cut corners.

A partial fast can be when you fast for a long period of time during the day. For example, from sunup to sundown, you don’t eat anything. You would eat early in the morning, wouldn’t eat all day, and then you would eat again when the sun goes down.

A soul fast is removing certain things that you might be addicted to or that might be taking God’s place in your life. This might be a hobby, streaming TV shows or movies, social media, and in some cases, even people. Give up something that controls you, distracts you, or devours your time.

The point is, it needs to cost you. Living fully and being completely invested in the Lord’s will and His abundance is a high cost, but it’ll never go unrewarded. You need to miss what you give up because whatever you’re missing for the sake of the Lord, He’ll give back to you something greater.