The October Fasting Challenge

Welcome to the Fasting Challenge!

Hey friends - Pastor Chris here. Thank you for your interest in joining me in the Fasting Challenge! 

Through the month of October, I'll be fasting from food from sunup to sundown on Wednesdays and Fridays, setting aside time to pray and allowing my hunger to remind me to turn toward God. I’d love for you to join me.

If you’ve never fasted before, that might sound a little intimidating. Most of us have spent our lives responding to hunger by opening the refrigerator. Sometimes we open it when we aren’t even hungry, just to see if anything interesting has happened in there.

Fasting invites us to respond differently. We let that hunger become a reminder to pause, pray, and offer our attention to Jesus.

You don’t have to follow my exact schedule to participate. Here are a few questions to help you make a plan.

1. Which days will you fast?

We’ll be practicing together on Wednesdays and Fridays throughout October. You might join in both days, or begin with one day each week.

Choose your days ahead of time and put them on your calendar. Give this practice an intentional place in your week.

2. What kind of fast will you practice?

You might go without food during your chosen time, while continuing to drink water. Or you might practice simplicity by replacing your usual meal with something plain, like a bowl of cereal or a simple meal without the extras.

Choose something that creates a meaningful opportunity to turn your attention toward God.

Your health matters. If you have a medical condition, take medication affected by food, or have concerns about whether fasting is appropriate for you, talk with your healthcare professional before changing your eating. A simpler meal isn’t automatically a safer option.

3. How long will you fast?

I’ll be fasting from sunup to sundown. You might do the same, or begin by fasting one meal: breakfast, lunch, or dinner.

If this is new for you, starting with one meal is a meaningful beginning. Choose a clear start and finish so you know what you’re committing to that day.

4. How will you turn your attention toward God?

This is the heart of the practice.

When you notice hunger, let it prompt prayer or intention towards God.

You might spend part of your usual mealtime reading Scripture, taking a prayer walk, or sitting quietly with God. You could pray for someone you love, someone who is struggling, or even someone you find difficult to love.

You don’t need impressive words. Just begin a conversation with God.

Make your commitment before you begin

Decide on your plan before the fast starts. Write it down if that helps.

It will probably be challenging. When you’re hungry, you may suddenly develop a very convincing argument for why you should have chosen a different plan!

If the challenge is simply that it’s difficult, pause and pray before changing your commitment. Give yourself a chance to practice following through. Afterward, reflect on what you learned and adjust your next fast if needed.

If you feel unwell or have a health concern, stop or modify your fast. You never need to ignore your health to keep a commitment to God.

And if the day doesn’t go as planned, give yourself grace. You can begin again.

We’ll practice together

Each Wednesday and Friday in October, you’ll receive a text with a short devotional and encouragement. Use it to pause, pray, and remember that others in our church are practicing alongside you.

My hope is that these small interruptions in our ordinary routines will help us become more attentive to God and more available to the people God calls us to love.

I’m looking forward to doing this with you.

Chris

P.S. If you're the pen and paper kind of person, here's a one page PDF you can print to plan your fast this month!