"So we fasted and implored our God ..." (Ezra 8:23)

Shortly before the start of Lent, an ELMinar asked: Is there such a thing as spiritual discipline? Is fasting a helpful element of being a Christian?

Around 20 participants from South Africa, Myanmar, Ethiopia and Germany enjoyed a lively exchange about experiences of fasting and prayer.

Auditor Lungile Nene spent her youth in the South African ELM partner church ELCSA. She lives in Pretoria and belongs to a charismatic church. "Fasting is very important for us as Christians. Jesus set an example for us by fasting. It's not about repentance, but about focussing on what really matters. It's not just about food either; for me, it can also be fasting from social media. When I give it up, I can focus on prayer and hear much more clearly what God wants to say to me! Fasting renews my relationship with God. Prayer changes; even if I have no intercessory requests, praying means enjoying communion with God. I can no longer imagine my life without prayer and fasting."
She encouraged people to take a pragmatic approach to fasting: "If you do a lot of sport, you need enough food. Just start small and perhaps only go without one meal or give up meat. If you need medication, you should definitely eat enough. It's about focussing on prayer, not doing without, which could be harmful."

Thomas Capelle, a retired pastor, regularly combines fasting and prayer in his spiritual life: "The further I got in my studies, the less prepared I felt for ministry in a church. A retreat then convinced me of the value of fasting. In the very first year of my ministry in the Hordorf-Essehof-Wendhausen congregation (regional church in Braunschweig), two prayer groups were formed that prayed for revival. This soon grew into 20 home Bible study groups.
Nevertheless, fasting was not always a matter of course. It was only when we got into great difficulties in the family that I remembered the beneficial effect of fasting. I started fasting and praying again, with great success: in the midst of these difficult trials, we felt spiritual strength and were able to deal with the challenges.
Fasting helps me to grow in faith. It also makes it much easier for me to prepare sermons."

Many of the participants took part in the dialogue and shared their experiences. Pastor Mai Ki from Myanmar reported how she had already experienced fasting as a natural part of faith with her mother. There are also fasting days every month at the church's training centre, where the presence of the Holy Spirit can be felt.
At some point, she invited her own children to experience fasting. They were very hesitant at first. In the evening, however, they came and thanked her for this positive experience.

There were also critical questions, because it was not the case that the more people prayed and fasted, the sooner God would act. Others fasted just to lose weight.

Exchange pastor Anne Matthys (South Africa & Botswana) emphasised the importance of good preparation for a fast. While the Daniel fast only involves abstaining from meat, an Esther fast involves completely abstaining from food and liquids, which requires a high level of discipline.
Practical preparation is also necessary in order to reduce withdrawal symptoms, e.g. through regular coffee consumption.

The upcoming fasting period invites everyone to find the right form of fasting that allows them to focus on their own faith. It is not about justification and does not make people better. It must come from the heart, as an expression of one's own faith. But then it revitalises faith, gives new spiritual energy and joy.