I recently finished reading A Hunger for God by John Piper, an older book (1997) that seems as relevant in our day as ever before.
God created bread and hunger “so that we would have some idea of what the Son of God is like when he says, ‘I am the bread of life’ (John 6:35).” And God also made food taste good because He meant for food to be enjoyed as a gift received from His hand. We glorify God by receiving food with gratitude (I Tim 4:1-5). Eating and not-eating are not ultimately essential (Rom 14: 3-6).
So why fast? As an intensification of our hunger for all the fullness of God. We fast because the Bridegroom has gone on a journey and will not return until the great wedding feast (Matt 9:14-17). And we want the conditions to be in place for the Bridegroom to return, meaning world evangelization (Matt 24:14). Piper shows how prayer and fasting have been a hallmark of the church in South Korea. The first Protestant church in Korea was planted in 1884. Today, 30% of the population is evangelical and there are an estimated 30,000 churches. That’s an average of 300 new churches a year for 100 years. And not surprisingly, the South Korean church is outstripping the West in missionary venture.
And we fast for the reward of the Father (Matt 6:16-18), which often includes greater sense of alertness, focus, and zeal in prayer. Fasting has been common for Christians throughout the ages when faced with difficult or perilous circumstances, perhaps through adversity or the need to make a very difficult decision (Acts 13:1-4, II Chronicles 20:3-4).
Fasting is fraught with dangers, primarily spiritual but also physical (the book deals mainly with the former). Piper explains the weakness both of asceticism (which leads to boasting in one’s own abilities, Col 2:23) and of an indulgent, pleasure-captivated life that cannot willingly deny itself (Luke 9:22-26). The book closes with some outstanding quotes from eminent Christians throughout history who have benefited immensely from fasting.
A Hunger for God is an outstanding read on a oft-neglected discipline.