Spiritual Fasting Principles For Your God-Centered Business

I was on a call with a potential client, and she said, “I just don’t know what is wrong. It could be my messaging or my pricing.” She had no idea why she could not get new clients.

I asked her what her faith life was like. She stopped for a moment, surprised by my question. “What do you mean?” she asked.

First, have you made God the CEO of your business? Second, how do you pray for your business? And, Third, do you Fast?

She sputtered and said, “Well, no. I launched my business because God gave me the idea, and now, I just need Him to bless it.”

Her formula looked like this. . .

Business idea + Hard work + some Prayer = expecting God’s Blessing

Here’s the right formula. . .

God + Prayer + Fasting = Business ideas + Direction + Satisfaction

Fasting for Clarity from God will help you get where you need to go.

Fasting is a Spiritual practice

We are called to fast as part of our spiritual growth.

Fasting in the Bible comes in many forms. We see it in Esther when facing execution and have but one chance to change the King’s mind. We see it in Jonah when the people realize their sins and repent of their ways. And we see it in Christ’s life as he prepared for His three-year ministry.

Fasting is something we should do regularly to show our dependence on God. Jesus’ words in Matthew 6:16 were, “when you Fast,” not IF you Fast.

And, Jesus said. . . when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. (Matthew 6:16)

In Acts 13:2, the believers are gathered and fasting in the Holy Spirit. Maybe we are not ‘commanded’ to fast, BUT there’s certainly evidence that it is a principle laid down for the believer in Jesus Christ.

The purpose of Spiritual fasting

There is a purpose in Spiritual fasting.

• First, though, it is not so you can manipulate God. It must always center on God and worship.
• Second, it reveals the things in your life that control you. It is interesting how many things come up in fasting: anger, pride, jealousy, and fear. These negative things are the things to work through in fasting so that you are being transformed more into Christ’s image and find more satisfaction in following God.
• Third, don’t think that fasting means food only. Once God has revealed to you the things that are controlling you, there may be many types of Fasts He prompts you to do.
• Fourth, fasting helps to keep your life in balance. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 6:12 that “all things are lawful . . . but I will not be enslaved by anything”. Seek God diligently and expect Him to show up.

How to practice fasting

A good way to begin Spiritual fasting is to abstain from food. Take it slow and build up this new habit. Begin with a partial fast for six hours by missing one meal, then 12 hours and miss two meals. Make sure to drink water as you give your body time to adjust. Do this once a week over several weeks.

Once you’ve adjusted, you can try a 24-hour Fast with just water (like lunch to lunch). Only after this is well established should you go on to do a 36-hour fast and miss more meals.

During your fasting time, you should continually be thinking about God as you go about your daily routines. Make it a time of super-sensitivity to the Spirit. At the designated mealtimes, you should have something prepared to do. 

This can be. . .

• Praying for a specific situation,
• Meditating on a piece of Scripture,
• Reading a book of the Bible
• Asking God about a specific project or opportunity

Remember this important part. . . this is a time of reflection where God reveals the things in your life that He wants to change.

Keep a journal. Put everything you are thinking about, anxious about, or wondering about in the journal. This can be prayers for your family and friends, things you want to improve about yourself, as well as the business ideas brewing in your mind. God is to be THE ALL of your life, not just a piece. 

Research shows us that Prayer (what you do during fasting) is a powerful tool for:

• self-control
• making you a nicer person
• increasing your ability to forgive
• increasing trust; and
• offsetting the negative effects of stress

Prayer and Spiritual fasting also give you a bigger capacity to problem solve and open you up for more creative brainstorming, something that is super beneficial for your business. 

Spiritual fasting changes you

There is a definite progression as you continue fasting for clarity, for yourself and for your business, from God over the weeks (and into months and years).

At first, it will feel like a great sense of accomplishment, and then it will turn into a means to overcome bodily desires. After that, it begins to transform you more by examining other parts of your life. Believe me. You will change. Surrendering to God those things that are not important to HIS success for you will get easier and easier.

Fasting will transform you into being all that God designed you to be. Want God as number one? Remember the formula. . . God + Prayer + Fasting = Business ideas + Direction + Satisfaction

Ultimately it is your Faith-life that influences the rest of your life. Your business will be better when you make God and His ways the priority.

Tell me in the comments any AHAs you had around Prayer and Fasting.

And join me in the Calling Clarity Community for more opportunities to grow your faith so it fuels your business.