Timeless Truths: Fasting is a spiritual discipline that brings the flesh under control—a must for anyone who wants to overcome sexual sin—and allows the spirit man to grow in grace. In this segment, Steve Gallagher gives practical and spiritual advice about establishing a regular habit of fasting.

Host: Hey, Steve, the question we want to deal with today has to do with fasting. An email came in with the question, “What is your view on fasting as it relates to overcoming sexual addiction?” And secondly, “Does Pure Life Ministries incorporate fasting in the Residential Program?”

Steve: Well, I believe in fasting. For one thing, it's a biblical concept that is fairly well stressed and there are good reasons for it. Fasting has a way of taking a believer out of the realm of the senses. We are so dependent on our senses and food is probably the predominant physical desire/need that we fulfill most regularly. And so, when you cut yourself off from food for a day, first of all, it weakens your flesh and that allows your spiritual life to be more robust. I know for myself that when I fast, I am much more in tune and sensitive to the spiritual realm.

I don't know exactly how to say this, but it's almost like eating every day creates this spiritual sluggishness. And so, when you cut food out for a day, that sluggishness is gone and it allows your inner being to be much more aware of spiritual things. It's a wonderful opportunity for the Holy Spirit to speak into your inner man. It opens your heart up to His voice more. It makes you more aware of the spiritual kingdom. It allows you to enter into a time of worship and powerful prayer. Fasting is very wonderful for the spiritual man. It's a difficult discipline to do, but it is a very wonderful discipline.

Host: And just practically too, when we're talking about developing habits, whether they are good habits or bad ones, if we're doing it every day, like eating three meals a day, it is a habit. And so practically, fasting is a good exercise in breaking a habit.

Steve: Well, let's face it, sexual addicts have a history of living to gratify their flesh and food is certainly one aspect of that. So, it's not uncommon whatsoever to see a guy who's a sex addict also be addicted to food. So yes, when a sex addict occasionally fasts, it just serves to weaken the strength of his flesh and allow his spirit to take more authority in his life.

Host: In the Word of God, there are specific things we may be praying for that will encourage us to fast and to pray. But you think that it's a good exercise just to do occasionally even though there may not be something specific that you feel you need to fast and pray for, but just as an exercise in denying the flesh?

Steve: Yes, absolutely. It not only is a discipline of our ongoing Christian life, but for instance, when the disciples tried to cast a demon out of a man and they were unable, even though they had done it before, Jesus said this kind does not come out except by praying and fasting. That shows the power that fasting has in the prayer life.

Host: Well, now let’s address the second part of the question we received. Do we encourage fasting in our Residential Program?

Steve: One of the things that Jesus said about fasting was that when you fast, don't do it so that others can see you do it. That also applies to praying and acts of righteousness. But in regard to fasting, a lot of people will do it because they want to be seen as spiritual. So, in our Residential Program where we deal with guys who have a long history of sexual sin that comes out of a robust self-life and a foundation of pride, we have to be careful about something like fasting because what could be a good thing for some could easily be turned into just another avenue for pride to become stronger in another.

Host: Steve, in the time we have left, can you give some examples of how someone who may not be familiar with fasting can practically begin doing that?

Steve: What I feel like is a reasonable way to begin a life of fasting is to basically fast two meals once a week. In other words, let's say every Thursday you eat your dinner at night and then you don't eat again till dinner the next night. Whatever works best for you. But that would be so that you miss a couple of meals in a row because that will be enough to take you into a weakened physical state without it being too overwhelming. And if you do that on a regular basis, whether it's once a week or once every two weeks and just allow it to become a regular ongoing part of your life, it really does become easier and easier to do.

Host: So let me understand now. So, you have a meal and at that meal you eat 2 giant pizzas. Then you fast for a couple of meals and then you go and have another meal with two more giant pizzas? Haha.

Steve: Well, that's the way I did it. Haha.

Host: Well, the point I'm making of course is that this isn't just a mechanical exercise, but this is a heart issue.

Steve: Yeah. But you know, the truth is, maybe that's the way some people need to start. Maybe they need to start by kind of gorging themselves in that one meal so that it will hold them over. If that's how they have to get this discipline started, then so be it. God's not all wrapped up in that, but you are making a good point that we need to let fasting have its way in our physical being.