March 17, 2025 • 23 mins
In this episode, Senior Pastor Damein Schitter interviews Sarah Williamson about her practice of fasting. Sarah shares her initial experience with fasting in college, where it was primarily seen as a special measure for significant spiritual needs. Her perspective shifted when she began practicing regular fasting as part of her church community's "common rhythm," transitioning it from an occasional to a habitual spiritual discipline. Initially, fasting provided Sarah with profound spiritual encounters, described as moments where she felt deeply connected to God's love and presence. Over time, this experience shifted to a sense of "simulated suffering" that fosters deeper dependence on God, preventing spiritual complacency.
Sarah also emphasizes the importance of communal fasting, describing how fasting regularly with her church community deepened relationships and mutual dependence. Practically, she details her approach, typically fasting once a week from dinner to dinner, acknowledging challenges such as balancing fasting with family responsibilities and daily tasks. Sarah concludes by encouraging listeners, even if hesitant, to begin fasting in small, faith-driven steps, as a pathway to greater intimacy with Jesus, despite its initial discomfort or confusion.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:14):
Sarah, it's great to be with you.
Thank you, yes, and today we'retalking about everyone's
probably most misunderstoodChristian practice.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Maybe Could be.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
And that is fasting.
And so I'm curious for you whatfirst led you to explore the
practice of fasting?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, so when I was in college I was involved in a
campus ministry and there weresome upperclassmen there who
were into fasting for big things, and so it seemed I mean, that
seemed logical to me when youhave something like really big
you really got to get serious,and so you fast, and so that was
(00:56):
my introduction into fasting.
And it wasn't until New Citystarted the common rhythm that I
was introduced to regular,habitual fasting.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, so before that did you have some type of
practice for the larger thingsin your life, or that's just
what you had seen?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
before.
Well, I mean.
So fasting is not typicallysomething that I get super eager
to do, so I would use it as alike.
We got to bring out the bigguns.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah right.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
So that's, I would fast for a 24 hour period, or I
think once or twice I might havedone 48 hours.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
And then.
But that was it, and then thatwas.
You know, in college I had moretime and more energy.
I had more time and more energy, and then I think that practice
kind of waned as I got married,got kids all that kind of stuff
.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah Well, actually let's pick up on that, Just this
idea of how your practice offasting has changed and evolved
over time.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Okay.
So yeah, like I said, I startedout just viewing fasting as
(02:29):
something that to me and again Istill don't feel like I
understand fasting.
It seems unusual and mysteriousand I believe in it because
Jesus fasted and instructs us tofast, but I don't really
understand what it does or howit works.
So my fasting which is kind oflike a best guess of like I
think this is what, like I havea really significant issue in my
life and I think fasting willmaybe open some spiritual doors
that just regular prayer mightnot do.
So then New City started theCommon Rhythm and I had not
(02:55):
thought about fasting on aregular basis.
That would not be an idea thatI would come up with on my own.
But again, I really do believein fasting.
So I started doing it and whatwas interesting is for, again,
none of fasting makes sense tome.
(03:17):
But when I first startedfasting on a regular basis, I
had this experience and I'vetalked to other people, it's not
exclusive to me.
I had this experience and I'vetalked to other people and it's
not exclusive to me.
I had this experience where Ifelt like heaven had opened up
and there was like a ray ofGod's goodness and beauty and
love just being poured into myheart, and it was so significant
(03:40):
that I started being excitedabout fasting on a weekly basis
because of that experience.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
It was so enjoyable and then, for whatever reason,
over time that faded and so thenfasting became more of just
something that I did, again outof faith and a habit, and I kind
(04:13):
of have grown to.
In my current season I seefasting as like simulated
suffering.
So it's something that I dothat is very physically
unpleasant and I don't enjoy atall, but it requires me to ask
God for help, especially duringmy workday or when I have to be
(04:36):
patient with my kids or when Ineed my brain to be at its peak,
and none of those things areeasy to do when I'm fasting.
So really requiring me to askJesus for help and also I feel
like it's something that kind ofmaybe prevents slide.
(04:58):
So I'm in a season right nowwhere it's easy to kind of just
go through my life and I've kindof reached a rhythm where I've
got this.
So I feel like fasting and theother spiritual disciplines help
keep me grounded in Jesus in away that prevent me from just
(05:23):
drifting off into even greaterself-sufficiency than I would
have otherwise.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, that's so good.
So at the beginning I almostexperienced in the best way
bookends there.
So you started by saying thatyou view fasting as a stimulated
form of suffering, which Iwould imagine some people might
be hearing that and being like,well, that's cool that you're
into that.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
but I'm not into that .
Speaker 1 (05:50):
But then, as you continue to elaborate on what
that means and how it actuallyfunctions in your life, you got
down to really it's not aboutthe suffering, it's about the
increased dependence upon Jesusand connection with him.
And there is this way in whichyou've experienced.
It sounds like and me too, andI think most of us listening to
(06:10):
this podcast that we havefigured out life enough to be
able to get by without a deepsense of dependence, which is
actually where true life is.
And the most counterintuitivething that fasting does, and
(06:31):
maybe always has done, is thatit short circuits that
proclivity of of the flesh todepend on itself.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yes, and so, as you mentioned, it's not suffering
for suffering's sake.
I see it as a protectivemeasure.
It keeps me safe because my ownself-sufficiency is dangerous.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, wow.
So what is the hardest partabout fasting been for you.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I would say, well, I did not realize.
I really honestly had no clueuntil I did this on a regular,
continued basis.
I had no idea how often I usedfood and drink to make me happy.
And I'm not.
I wouldn't consider myself tobe like a food addicted person,
or even a foodie really, but ifI have to do a task that I find
unpleasant, I have developedhabits of saying, well, I'm
going to make myself a latte andI'll have my latte, and then I
(07:35):
can get on with XYZ unpleasantproduct, a project, and so I
can't do that when I'm fasting.
And then the other thing thathas been difficult is being not
hangry, so like being patientwith my kids or my husband,
(07:56):
because those are the peoplethat I see at the end of my day
when I'm kind of at the peak ofthe fast, and so that's when
it's the hardest.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt about that.
It might be one thing if youcould sort of go into your inner
castle and get through it butto have to interact and continue
to live your life and pour outin the ways that are required of
you and your vocation, yeah,life and pour out in the ways
that are required of you andyour vocation.
Yeah, that really, I mean it.
It almost adds another layer ofof the power of it, right.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Right and I.
I work in a college dining hall, so I'm surrounded by food and
food smells and people eatingall day long, so man yeah.
I'd love to go into a castle, acave castle, anywhere but this.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Okay, wow, that's fascinating, truly.
I mean, there's so many things,okay.
So I want to ask more questionsas it relates to what fasting
has been cultivating in you andthat's what we've been talking
about.
But one thing I don't want toskip over for some of those
people out there who what theyneed in this podcast is a little
(09:09):
bit of clarity on what itactually looks like, so maybe
some of the logistics.
So for you, when do you fast,typically, when does it start,
when does it end?
Those types of things.
I'd love for you to take aminute to speak to that.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Well, I mean theoretically, I try to do a
24-hour fast, but it reallydoesn't.
It's not really a full 24 hours.
I eat dinner and that might endanytime between 6.30 and 7 on a
regular day, and then I don'teat after that.
And then my goal would be tomake it until 5 pm the next day,
because that's when I startmaking dinner and I have not yet
(09:49):
become sanctified enough towhere I can make dinner while
I'm fasting.
At that point I'm like I haveto have something.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yes, yes, so for me that's what it looks like,
that's great.
Yeah, I mean, so do you have aregular day that you fast?
Yes, for me that's what itlooks like, that's great.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Yeah, I mean.
So, do you have a regular daythat you fast?
Yes, yes, I actually fast withmy circle one day a week, and
that's been really helpful.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Oh, that's really great.
I want to come right back tothat fasting in community and
I'll start with a quick story ofmy own on that.
But what I would say is, asI've talked to people who have
been practicing the commonrhythm, and as we say, that's
really the word practicing andsometimes we fail, sometimes we
(10:31):
don't, but we never get it right.
So we're practicing the commonrhythm.
As I've talked to people, evenpeople who consider themselves
not structured, like hey, I'mnot a very structured person as
it relates to fasting, I think,to find some type of consistency
.
It's been this is the day Ifast, this is when I start.
So I've talked to some peopleactually it's lunch to lunch.
(10:52):
Others, like, what I do is whatyou do.
It's like I eat dinner and thenI don't eat until the next day
at dinnertime, which is 24 hours, although we don't think about
that because we sleep at night,right, which is 24 hours,
although we don't think aboutthat because we sleep at night,
right, but historically that'sbeen a very common way actually
to fast.
People who fast regularly, likethe common rhythm, suggest that
we can.
(11:17):
So that would be my suggestionto those who are listening is do
what you've done, which ischoose a consistent time a day
and then decide when is it goingto start and when is it going
to end, and begin in that way,and one of the things that I
don't know if this is part ofyour story, but there are some
people who they start by fastinga meal, which is great.
So, rather than 24 hours, theymay say I'm going to fast from
(11:39):
lunch today, or I'm going tofast from breakfast, or
something like that lunch today,or I'm going to fast from
breakfast, or something likethat.
I think that the key is, thegoal is what you described,
which is there are ancillarybenefits right, I think, like
some people would say, my mind,although toward the end of the
fast it gets a little rough, but, yeah, I feel like my mind is
clear during the day and allthose things are wonderful.
But the goal is to practicedependence, to practice
(12:03):
inflicted suffering, as you said, to experience more dependence.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Yeah, I want to grow in my ability to abide in Jesus
and I find that difficultbecause I get distracted and I
forget about Jesus functionallythrough most of my day and
fasting interrupts my thoughtsbecause my stomach is crying.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Yes, that's right, totally All right.
Well, let me come back to whereI said I wanted to, and that is
community fasting in community.
But one of my favorite seasonsof fasting in the common rhythm
(12:49):
was a season of about threemonths long when I was auditing
a class with some other pastorsat RTS and we, after that class,
would go feast together.
And so I paired two practicestogether fasting and then
feasting.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So I would?
Speaker 1 (13:07):
yeah, so I would.
I think the class was on aTuesday and I would eat dinner
on Monday night and then I wouldfast until dinner because the
class was over at 430, and thenwe would drive and we would go
eat together and it was justthis wonderful experience and
even though I wasn't fastingwith them, I was, they knew I
(13:28):
was fasting and there was this.
It really was.
Community was involved becausethey knew that they were a
significant part of these twopractices coming together and I
remember that as a really sweetthing.
And so you had mentioned thatyou fast with your circle.
So I'd love for you to talkabout how that has maybe
(13:50):
thickened or deepened yourexperience, or added to just
tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Um, well, it's been very helpful, um, because so our
circle will.
Um, the day before ourscheduled fast, we will send out
prayer requests to each otherOK.
And so then we know that we'reall fasting together, but we're
also praying for each other.
So there are women who aregiving up their food and praying
(14:18):
for me.
So you better believe I'm notgoing to skimp out on this.
So you better believe.
I'm not going to skimp out onthis, so it's just been another
thing that's been helpful, likeif I feel tempted to skip a week
.
I would feel guilty because ofthe community aspect, and then
we can also laugh about howwe're so hungry.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yes, but yeah, I feel like doing it in community.
(15:01):
We I feel like, as you said,not this thing where we do
something hard for the mere sakeof doing something hard, which
isn't always bad, but that'sjust not what this is.
This is a we're doing somethinghard together because we're
leaning into mutual dependenceupon one another, but ultimately
, dependence upon the Lord.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
There's something really.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
I mean, there's something so rich and beautiful
about that and it just dawns onme that, in the same way that
it's true that we always shouldbe dependent we all, really we
always are dependent on the Lordwe should be growing in our
awareness and practice ofdependence.
As you said, abiding, there'salso the sense of where we need
each other.
We're interdependent, and sofasting sort of the way in which
(15:45):
you guys are practicing ittogether, doesn't only heighten
your awareness of your stomachtelling your brain oh I'm
dependent on the Lord as mybody's dependent on food, which
is part of what fasting trainsus to do.
But you guys have done in sucha way where doing it together
has heightened your sense oftrue interdependence, which is
(16:05):
what the church is.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yes, and deepened our love for each other.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yeah, so good.
So you said you spoke to thisalready earlier, but I want to
come back to it and see ifthere's anything else you'd like
to say, and that is how hasthis practice of fasting shaped
your relationship with Jesus ordeepened it in any way?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Mm-hmm.
Well, I mean, as I mentioned, Ifeel like fasting is a
protective measure that helpskeep me closer to Jesus,
probably in ways that I don'teven know about.
You know, I don't know where Iwould be had I chosen not to do
this.
(16:46):
All I know is where I am, but Ibelieve that God is at work in
that.
But also, I have had not a lot,but I have had experiences on
my fasting days, like one inparticular where I was in a
season one of my kids was in asuper, super difficult spot and
(17:09):
I was terrified and kind ofwalking through a season of
low-lying terror for this child.
And one day was fasting and notwe were just spending time
together.
It was like our family day.
So I wasn't like in prayer oranything.
We were actually out on thelake and I felt like out of
(17:29):
nowhere, the Spirit said to meno matter what happens to your
kids, you will be okay, andalthough I at the time would
have wanted God to tell me likethis child will be okay, or this
situation will be okay, butwhat I felt was okay.
So, first of all, god notices mysituation enough to speak to me
(17:55):
personally about it and so thatalone I feel like that will
stay with me for the rest of mylife.
Stay with me for the rest of mylife, just that knowledge that
God saw and he felt it worth Histime to speak to me.
But also it was really helpfulto know that you know I have
(18:15):
multiple children.
I have a husband.
I can't afford to fall apart ifone child is going down.
So, it was really helpful toknow, like, okay, no matter
what's going on, god's going totake care of me, I'm going to be
okay and I'm going to be ableto take care of the people that
I need to take care of.
(18:36):
So I found that really helpfuland I really believe that that
was a function of my fasting andand something that I can even
now.
I mean, this was a couple yearsago, but I can look back on it
now with the same like I can seewhere I was, I can remember how
(18:59):
I can remember the feelings ofthe fear and the feeling of the
awe and um.
And you know, take that andapply it to other situations
that I'm going to experience.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Yeah, wow, that's so good.
I appreciate you sharing thatstory.
All right.
So when I look at the some ofthe questions that I had had
beforehand and where we are now,I've loved this conversation.
I think that the way I'veexperienced it and I think
others will experience it, willbe as one of encouragement, as a
(19:34):
reminder that this practiceWell, actually I'll repeat
something you said because Iwant to highlight it.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
As it relates to encouragement, I think that many
people, when they choose toengage something challenging a
spiritual discipline that'schallenging there is at first a
very quick reward, right, yousaid like at first I just felt
like, oh man, the heavens haveopened up and I've experienced
(20:06):
that in my own ways.
I think some people it could besomething as simple as they
decide.
You know what I really.
It's important.
I'm committed to being in theword and prayer daily and they
choose a time and they choose aplan and then for the first week
or two or day or three,whatever it is, they experience
(20:27):
deep communion with God and it'sreally powerful and it's real.
And then it stops feeling thatway and I know in my life and
I'm sure other people experiencethis, you experience this.
There are times when, when itstops feeling that way, we stop
doing it.
But one of the things that'sinteresting is that when you
(20:48):
talked about the evolution ofyour experience of fasting, that
you have learned now, becauseyou haven't arrived, but you've
gone through the wall,metaphorically, several times
that you, I think I don't meanto put words in your mouth, but
it's like, no, this is good,this is worth it.
(21:10):
It doesn't feel that way everyday or every week when I do it,
but it's worth it.
So I'd love for you to put thatin your own words, like how
would you encourage someonewho's listening to this podcast?
You could think about it inencouragement, you could give
practical advice, but thinkingabout someone who may be
hesitant or struggling to startfasting, or maybe even cynical
(21:33):
in the sense of I've tried thisbefore and I couldn't stick with
it, but what advice would yougive from your perspective?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Yeah, well, I agree with everything that you said,
and I think I mean just as ameans of encouragement.
I think that Jesus is mercifuland he's not hating on us if we
don't fast.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
But I also think there's so much to Jesus that we
can experience, to Jesus thatwe can experience, and I'm
interested in finding out whatthat is.
And so Jesus fasted Again, Imentioned I find fasting
(22:16):
confusing, but Jesus fasted andI want to be more like Jesus, so
I want to do things that he did, and I think it is hard and
it's actually gotten easier forme from a physical standpoint,
and I think there's nothingwrong with saying well, I'm just
going to start by delaying mylunch for an hour, just like
(22:41):
really even just micro, micro,small stages you know, just like
really even just micro, micro,small stages that I think, done
in faith, jesus loves and willbless, and I think that my
fasting journey is obviouslyit's not over.
I think I'm going to experienceother stages.
I don't know what they wouldlook like, but I think that none
(23:04):
of the no amount of fastinggoes to waste.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
So that's powerful, that's a great word.
Well, sarah, thank you fortelling your story and
encouraging me and others wholisten on the richness of
fasting.
Thank you.
Sarah, it's great to be with you.
Thank you, yes, and today we'retalking about everyone's
probably most misunderstoodChristian practice.
Speaker 2 (00:25):
Maybe Could be.
Speaker 1 (00:26):
And that is fasting.
And so I'm curious for you whatfirst led you to explore the
practice of fasting?
Speaker 2 (00:34):
Yeah, so when I was in college I was involved in a
campus ministry and there weresome upperclassmen there who
were into fasting for big things, and so it seemed I mean, that
seemed logical to me when youhave something like really big
you really got to get serious,and so you fast, and so that was
(00:56):
my introduction into fasting.
And it wasn't until New Citystarted the common rhythm that I
was introduced to regular,habitual fasting.
Speaker 1 (01:05):
Yeah, so before that did you have some type of
practice for the larger thingsin your life, or that's just
what you had seen?
Speaker 2 (01:13):
before.
Well, I mean.
So fasting is not typicallysomething that I get super eager
to do, so I would use it as alike.
We got to bring out the bigguns.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Yeah right.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
So that's, I would fast for a 24 hour period, or I
think once or twice I might havedone 48 hours.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Okay.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
And then.
But that was it, and then thatwas.
You know, in college I had moretime and more energy.
I had more time and more energy, and then I think that practice
kind of waned as I got married,got kids all that kind of stuff
.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
Yeah Well, actually let's pick up on that, Just this
idea of how your practice offasting has changed and evolved
over time.
Speaker 2 (02:00):
Okay.
So yeah, like I said, I startedout just viewing fasting as
(02:29):
something that to me and again Istill don't feel like I
understand fasting.
It seems unusual and mysteriousand I believe in it because
Jesus fasted and instructs us tofast, but I don't really
understand what it does or howit works.
So my fasting which is kind oflike a best guess of like I
think this is what, like I havea really significant issue in my
life and I think fasting willmaybe open some spiritual doors
that just regular prayer mightnot do.
So then New City started theCommon Rhythm and I had not
(02:55):
thought about fasting on aregular basis.
That would not be an idea thatI would come up with on my own.
But again, I really do believein fasting.
So I started doing it and whatwas interesting is for, again,
none of fasting makes sense tome.
(03:17):
But when I first startedfasting on a regular basis, I
had this experience and I'vetalked to other people, it's not
exclusive to me.
I had this experience and I'vetalked to other people and it's
not exclusive to me.
I had this experience where Ifelt like heaven had opened up
and there was like a ray ofGod's goodness and beauty and
love just being poured into myheart, and it was so significant
(03:40):
that I started being excitedabout fasting on a weekly basis
because of that experience.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:51):
It was so enjoyable and then, for whatever reason,
over time that faded and so thenfasting became more of just
something that I did, again outof faith and a habit, and I kind
(04:13):
of have grown to.
In my current season I seefasting as like simulated
suffering.
So it's something that I dothat is very physically
unpleasant and I don't enjoy atall, but it requires me to ask
God for help, especially duringmy workday or when I have to be
(04:36):
patient with my kids or when Ineed my brain to be at its peak,
and none of those things areeasy to do when I'm fasting.
So really requiring me to askJesus for help and also I feel
like it's something that kind ofmaybe prevents slide.
(04:58):
So I'm in a season right nowwhere it's easy to kind of just
go through my life and I've kindof reached a rhythm where I've
got this.
So I feel like fasting and theother spiritual disciplines help
keep me grounded in Jesus in away that prevent me from just
(05:23):
drifting off into even greaterself-sufficiency than I would
have otherwise.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
Yeah, that's so good.
So at the beginning I almostexperienced in the best way
bookends there.
So you started by saying thatyou view fasting as a stimulated
form of suffering, which Iwould imagine some people might
be hearing that and being like,well, that's cool that you're
into that.
Speaker 2 (05:47):
but I'm not into that .
Speaker 1 (05:50):
But then, as you continue to elaborate on what
that means and how it actuallyfunctions in your life, you got
down to really it's not aboutthe suffering, it's about the
increased dependence upon Jesusand connection with him.
And there is this way in whichyou've experienced.
It sounds like and me too, andI think most of us listening to
(06:10):
this podcast that we havefigured out life enough to be
able to get by without a deepsense of dependence, which is
actually where true life is.
And the most counterintuitivething that fasting does, and
(06:31):
maybe always has done, is thatit short circuits that
proclivity of of the flesh todepend on itself.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yes, and so, as you mentioned, it's not suffering
for suffering's sake.
I see it as a protectivemeasure.
It keeps me safe because my ownself-sufficiency is dangerous.
Speaker 1 (06:53):
Yeah, wow.
So what is the hardest partabout fasting been for you.
Speaker 2 (07:14):
I would say, well, I did not realize.
I really honestly had no clueuntil I did this on a regular,
continued basis.
I had no idea how often I usedfood and drink to make me happy.
And I'm not.
I wouldn't consider myself tobe like a food addicted person,
or even a foodie really, but ifI have to do a task that I find
unpleasant, I have developedhabits of saying, well, I'm
going to make myself a latte andI'll have my latte, and then I
(07:35):
can get on with XYZ unpleasantproduct, a project, and so I
can't do that when I'm fasting.
And then the other thing thathas been difficult is being not
hangry, so like being patientwith my kids or my husband,
(07:56):
because those are the peoplethat I see at the end of my day
when I'm kind of at the peak ofthe fast, and so that's when
it's the hardest.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Yeah, yeah, no doubt about that.
It might be one thing if youcould sort of go into your inner
castle and get through it butto have to interact and continue
to live your life and pour outin the ways that are required of
you and your vocation, yeah,life and pour out in the ways
that are required of you andyour vocation.
Yeah, that really, I mean it.
It almost adds another layer ofof the power of it, right.
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Right and I.
I work in a college dining hall, so I'm surrounded by food and
food smells and people eatingall day long, so man yeah.
I'd love to go into a castle, acave castle, anywhere but this.
Speaker 1 (08:45):
Okay, wow, that's fascinating, truly.
I mean, there's so many things,okay.
So I want to ask more questionsas it relates to what fasting
has been cultivating in you andthat's what we've been talking
about.
But one thing I don't want toskip over for some of those
people out there who what theyneed in this podcast is a little
(09:09):
bit of clarity on what itactually looks like, so maybe
some of the logistics.
So for you, when do you fast,typically, when does it start,
when does it end?
Those types of things.
I'd love for you to take aminute to speak to that.
Speaker 2 (09:25):
Well, I mean theoretically, I try to do a
24-hour fast, but it reallydoesn't.
It's not really a full 24 hours.
I eat dinner and that might endanytime between 6.30 and 7 on a
regular day, and then I don'teat after that.
And then my goal would be tomake it until 5 pm the next day,
because that's when I startmaking dinner and I have not yet
(09:49):
become sanctified enough towhere I can make dinner while
I'm fasting.
At that point I'm like I haveto have something.
Speaker 1 (09:56):
Yes, yes, so for me that's what it looks like,
that's great.
Yeah, I mean, so do you have aregular day that you fast?
Yes, for me that's what itlooks like, that's great.
Speaker 2 (10:03):
Yeah, I mean.
So, do you have a regular daythat you fast?
Yes, yes, I actually fast withmy circle one day a week, and
that's been really helpful.
Speaker 1 (10:11):
Oh, that's really great.
I want to come right back tothat fasting in community and
I'll start with a quick story ofmy own on that.
But what I would say is, asI've talked to people who have
been practicing the commonrhythm, and as we say, that's
really the word practicing andsometimes we fail, sometimes we
(10:31):
don't, but we never get it right.
So we're practicing the commonrhythm.
As I've talked to people, evenpeople who consider themselves
not structured, like hey, I'mnot a very structured person as
it relates to fasting, I think,to find some type of consistency
.
It's been this is the day Ifast, this is when I start.
So I've talked to some peopleactually it's lunch to lunch.
(10:52):
Others, like, what I do is whatyou do.
It's like I eat dinner and thenI don't eat until the next day
at dinnertime, which is 24 hours, although we don't think about
that because we sleep at night,right, which is 24 hours,
although we don't think aboutthat because we sleep at night,
right, but historically that'sbeen a very common way actually
to fast.
People who fast regularly, likethe common rhythm, suggest that
we can.
(11:17):
So that would be my suggestionto those who are listening is do
what you've done, which ischoose a consistent time a day
and then decide when is it goingto start and when is it going
to end, and begin in that way,and one of the things that I
don't know if this is part ofyour story, but there are some
people who they start by fastinga meal, which is great.
So, rather than 24 hours, theymay say I'm going to fast from
(11:39):
lunch today, or I'm going tofast from breakfast, or
something like that lunch today,or I'm going to fast from
breakfast, or something likethat.
I think that the key is, thegoal is what you described,
which is there are ancillarybenefits right, I think, like
some people would say, my mind,although toward the end of the
fast it gets a little rough, but, yeah, I feel like my mind is
clear during the day and allthose things are wonderful.
But the goal is to practicedependence, to practice
(12:03):
inflicted suffering, as you said, to experience more dependence.
Speaker 2 (12:07):
Yeah, I want to grow in my ability to abide in Jesus
and I find that difficultbecause I get distracted and I
forget about Jesus functionallythrough most of my day and
fasting interrupts my thoughtsbecause my stomach is crying.
Speaker 1 (12:26):
Yes, that's right, totally All right.
Well, let me come back to whereI said I wanted to, and that is
community fasting in community.
But one of my favorite seasonsof fasting in the common rhythm
(12:49):
was a season of about threemonths long when I was auditing
a class with some other pastorsat RTS and we, after that class,
would go feast together.
And so I paired two practicestogether fasting and then
feasting.
Speaker 2 (13:06):
So I would?
Speaker 1 (13:07):
yeah, so I would.
I think the class was on aTuesday and I would eat dinner
on Monday night and then I wouldfast until dinner because the
class was over at 430, and thenwe would drive and we would go
eat together and it was justthis wonderful experience and
even though I wasn't fastingwith them, I was, they knew I
(13:28):
was fasting and there was this.
It really was.
Community was involved becausethey knew that they were a
significant part of these twopractices coming together and I
remember that as a really sweetthing.
And so you had mentioned thatyou fast with your circle.
So I'd love for you to talkabout how that has maybe
(13:50):
thickened or deepened yourexperience, or added to just
tell us a little bit about that.
Speaker 2 (13:55):
Um, well, it's been very helpful, um, because so our
circle will.
Um, the day before ourscheduled fast, we will send out
prayer requests to each otherOK.
And so then we know that we'reall fasting together, but we're
also praying for each other.
So there are women who aregiving up their food and praying
(14:18):
for me.
So you better believe I'm notgoing to skimp out on this.
So you better believe.
I'm not going to skimp out onthis, so it's just been another
thing that's been helpful, likeif I feel tempted to skip a week
.
I would feel guilty because ofthe community aspect, and then
we can also laugh about howwe're so hungry.
Speaker 1 (14:39):
Yes, but yeah, I feel like doing it in community.
(15:01):
We I feel like, as you said,not this thing where we do
something hard for the mere sakeof doing something hard, which
isn't always bad, but that'sjust not what this is.
This is a we're doing somethinghard together because we're
leaning into mutual dependenceupon one another, but ultimately
, dependence upon the Lord.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
There's something really.
Speaker 1 (15:24):
I mean, there's something so rich and beautiful
about that and it just dawns onme that, in the same way that
it's true that we always shouldbe dependent we all, really we
always are dependent on the Lordwe should be growing in our
awareness and practice ofdependence.
As you said, abiding, there'salso the sense of where we need
each other.
We're interdependent, and sofasting sort of the way in which
(15:45):
you guys are practicing ittogether, doesn't only heighten
your awareness of your stomachtelling your brain oh I'm
dependent on the Lord as mybody's dependent on food, which
is part of what fasting trainsus to do.
But you guys have done in sucha way where doing it together
has heightened your sense oftrue interdependence, which is
(16:05):
what the church is.
Speaker 2 (16:06):
Yes, and deepened our love for each other.
Speaker 1 (16:09):
Yeah, so good.
So you said you spoke to thisalready earlier, but I want to
come back to it and see ifthere's anything else you'd like
to say, and that is how hasthis practice of fasting shaped
your relationship with Jesus ordeepened it in any way?
Speaker 2 (16:26):
Mm-hmm.
Well, I mean, as I mentioned, Ifeel like fasting is a
protective measure that helpskeep me closer to Jesus,
probably in ways that I don'teven know about.
You know, I don't know where Iwould be had I chosen not to do
this.
(16:46):
All I know is where I am, but Ibelieve that God is at work in
that.
But also, I have had not a lot,but I have had experiences on
my fasting days, like one inparticular where I was in a
season one of my kids was in asuper, super difficult spot and
(17:09):
I was terrified and kind ofwalking through a season of
low-lying terror for this child.
And one day was fasting and notwe were just spending time
together.
It was like our family day.
So I wasn't like in prayer oranything.
We were actually out on thelake and I felt like out of
(17:29):
nowhere, the Spirit said to meno matter what happens to your
kids, you will be okay, andalthough I at the time would
have wanted God to tell me likethis child will be okay, or this
situation will be okay, butwhat I felt was okay.
So, first of all, god notices mysituation enough to speak to me
(17:55):
personally about it and so thatalone I feel like that will
stay with me for the rest of mylife.
Stay with me for the rest of mylife, just that knowledge that
God saw and he felt it worth Histime to speak to me.
But also it was really helpfulto know that you know I have
(18:15):
multiple children.
I have a husband.
I can't afford to fall apart ifone child is going down.
So, it was really helpful toknow, like, okay, no matter
what's going on, god's going totake care of me, I'm going to be
okay and I'm going to be ableto take care of the people that
I need to take care of.
(18:36):
So I found that really helpfuland I really believe that that
was a function of my fasting andand something that I can even
now.
I mean, this was a couple yearsago, but I can look back on it
now with the same like I can seewhere I was, I can remember how
(18:59):
I can remember the feelings ofthe fear and the feeling of the
awe and um.
And you know, take that andapply it to other situations
that I'm going to experience.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
Yeah, wow, that's so good.
I appreciate you sharing thatstory.
All right.
So when I look at the some ofthe questions that I had had
beforehand and where we are now,I've loved this conversation.
I think that the way I'veexperienced it and I think
others will experience it, willbe as one of encouragement, as a
(19:34):
reminder that this practiceWell, actually I'll repeat
something you said because Iwant to highlight it.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (19:43):
As it relates to encouragement, I think that many
people, when they choose toengage something challenging a
spiritual discipline that'schallenging there is at first a
very quick reward, right, yousaid like at first I just felt
like, oh man, the heavens haveopened up and I've experienced
(20:06):
that in my own ways.
I think some people it could besomething as simple as they
decide.
You know what I really.
It's important.
I'm committed to being in theword and prayer daily and they
choose a time and they choose aplan and then for the first week
or two or day or three,whatever it is, they experience
(20:27):
deep communion with God and it'sreally powerful and it's real.
And then it stops feeling thatway and I know in my life and
I'm sure other people experiencethis, you experience this.
There are times when, when itstops feeling that way, we stop
doing it.
But one of the things that'sinteresting is that when you
(20:48):
talked about the evolution ofyour experience of fasting, that
you have learned now, becauseyou haven't arrived, but you've
gone through the wall,metaphorically, several times
that you, I think I don't meanto put words in your mouth, but
it's like, no, this is good,this is worth it.
(21:10):
It doesn't feel that way everyday or every week when I do it,
but it's worth it.
So I'd love for you to put thatin your own words, like how
would you encourage someonewho's listening to this podcast?
You could think about it inencouragement, you could give
practical advice, but thinkingabout someone who may be
hesitant or struggling to startfasting, or maybe even cynical
(21:33):
in the sense of I've tried thisbefore and I couldn't stick with
it, but what advice would yougive from your perspective?
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Yeah, well, I agree with everything that you said,
and I think I mean just as ameans of encouragement.
I think that Jesus is mercifuland he's not hating on us if we
don't fast.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Right.
Speaker 2 (21:56):
But I also think there's so much to Jesus that we
can experience, to Jesus thatwe can experience, and I'm
interested in finding out whatthat is.
And so Jesus fasted Again, Imentioned I find fasting
(22:16):
confusing, but Jesus fasted andI want to be more like Jesus, so
I want to do things that he did, and I think it is hard and
it's actually gotten easier forme from a physical standpoint,
and I think there's nothingwrong with saying well, I'm just
going to start by delaying mylunch for an hour, just like
(22:41):
really even just micro, micro,small stages you know, just like
really even just micro, micro,small stages that I think, done
in faith, jesus loves and willbless, and I think that my
fasting journey is obviouslyit's not over.
I think I'm going to experienceother stages.
I don't know what they wouldlook like, but I think that none
(23:04):
of the no amount of fastinggoes to waste.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
So that's powerful, that's a great word.
Well, sarah, thank you fortelling your story and
encouraging me and others wholisten on the richness of
fasting.
Thank you.
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