A Fast for the Heart

Last week I began a fast that looks a little different from the traditional idea of fasting. Instead of removing food entirely, I chose to remove all processed food from my life for a time. During this fast I am eating only whole, natural foods that are freshly prepared – nothing packaged, nothing artificial, and nothing filled with added sugars. On the surface it may look like a simple change in diet, but for me it is much more than that. It is a spiritual reset and a way of intentionally drawing closer to God.

Three years ago, I did this same fast, and it became one of the most meaningful spiritual practices I have experienced. At the time I simply felt the need to clean up my diet and remove unhealthy foods and sugars from my life. But as the days went on, I began to notice something deeper happening. Every meal became an opportunity to thank God. Preparing simple, natural food slowed me down and made me more aware of His provision. Instead of rushing through meals or grabbing something quick and convenient, I found myself pausing and expressing gratitude for the nourishment He provides each day.

The spaces between meals also began to change. Normally it would have been easy to reach for a snack whenever I felt a craving – something sweet, something quick, something comforting. But during that fast those options were no longer available. When cravings came, I began turning to God instead. I would open His Word or spend a few moments in prayer whenever I felt the urge to snack. What surprised me was how often those cravings faded once I shifted my focus. Over time those small moments of turning to God began shaping a deeper dependence on Him.

That reliance didn’t stay limited to food. It slowly transferred into other parts of my life. When stress came, I found myself turning to God first instead of trying to solve everything on my own. When I felt overwhelmed or uncertain, I had already developed the habit of pausing and seeking Him before reacting. That fast helped teach me that reliance on God is built through small, daily decisions.

Recently I felt the need to return to this practice again. It wasn’t because I felt like I was drifting away from God or losing faith. Rather, I noticed something more subtle taking place in my life. In certain circumstances, I realized I had begun relying more on my own strength again. Life has a way of doing that. Responsibilities grow, challenges appear, and before we realize it, we start trying to carry things through our own effort and determination rather than resting in the quiet trust that God is the one who sustains us.

As I reflected on this, I felt a gentle prompting to revisit this fast. There is something powerful about removing what is artificial. When processed foods and sugars are eliminated, the body slowly resets and begins to function differently. What once seemed normal begins to feel unnecessary, and simple, natural food becomes satisfying again.

In many ways, I believe God does something similar in our spiritual lives. Over time we can accumulate habits, distractions, and patterns of self-reliance without even realizing it. They slowly blend into the rhythm of our daily lives. But when we intentionally simplify and remove what is unnecessary, we give God space to show us what is truly healthy and whole.

That is my hope as I walk through this fast again. Each time I prepare a simple meal, I am reminded that God provides what is good and sufficient. Each time a craving appears, it becomes another opportunity to pause and turn my attention back to Him. These small moments are reminders that I am not meant to rely on my own strength to carry me through life.

Just as removing processed food helps restore physical balance, I pray that God will use this time to gently remove anything in my life that is not whole, not healthy, and not aligned with Him. My hope is that this fast will help recenter my heart, quiet the noise that often fills daily life, and remind me once again that true strength comes from relying on God for all things.

In the same way that a fast strips away what is artificial in our diets, I pray that God will strip away anything in my life that does not nourish my soul. And in that process, I hope to return again to the simple, steady dependence on Him that I experienced before.

Have you ever practiced a fast or a form of intentional simplicity that helped you become more aware of God in your daily life? What areas in your life are you may be relying more on your own strength than on God? When cravings or distractions arise – whether physical, emotional, or spiritual – where do you tend to turn first? What would it mean for you to allow God to remove anything that is not whole or healthy in your life? Please share in the comments.