Day thirty-five of the fast

Fast from Sweets

Often, we eat for pleasure. We eat if it tastes good and if we like it. We eat based on what we want, not always on what we need. But many people eat for basic survival, unconcerned with the flavor, just necessary to fill the void in their stomachs. Choose to forgo desserts for the rest of the week in order to remind yourself that food was meant first for our nutrition and second for our enjoyment.

Day thirty-four of the fast

Fast From Specialty Drinks

While many in our world consider clean water a treat and milk or juice an extreme luxury, it is fairly normal for us to consume a wide variety of different beverages throughout the week. And some of us have become quite dependent on our regular caffeine fix. If you usually drink frappacinos, smoothies, sodas, energy drinks, and even bottled water cut those out for the next five days starting today and enjoy the other luxuries in life.

Each day this week you will fast from a different food item, while continuing to fast from all the previous days’ items as well. This will not only be a healthy way to prepare your body for 24 hours without food, it will be a continual reminder to thank God for all the little things we often take for granted.

Days Thirty four through forty

Fast From Over-Consumption

In five days, you will be challenged to fast completely from food for 24 hours. One of the reasons for going a day without eating, is to show us that our bodies can go a day without eating. They can go quite a bit longer. But, since we rarely have to miss a meal, our stomachs think we actually need the substantial portions we feed ourselves, and grumble every few hours to remind us. In the coming days, we will practice fasting from various food items so that our brains and bodies can relearn what we truly need, and so we can prepare ourselves for a day with no food. We don’t do this to diet or test our discipline. We do it to learn spiritual hunger, humility, and dependence on God,… to be controlled and filled by the Holy Spirit instead of by food. Use prayerful discernment before committing to the following days’ challenges, especially if you have any health concerns. Just as Jesus was tempted “when he was hungry,” we are often at our weakest when we crave something out of our reach, so ask God to teach you that HE is all you really need.

Fill your mind with His Word by reading through the book of James in the coming days.

Days thirty two and thirty three of the fast

Fast From Clean

“It’s amazing how much my definition of clean changed” (Mike Yankoski after choosing to live on the streets for 6 months)

One of the first things non-westerners seem to notice when traveling to a “wealthy nation” like ours is the high priority we place on cleanliness. Trash is collected in bins, restaurants undergo strict hygiene inspections, yards are pristine, pets are flea-free, and clothes are worn only once or twice before being washed. We have even been taught to associate “cleanliness” with “godliness” (i.e. good people live in clean neighborhoods, and bad people live in dirty neighborhoods; good people are bathed and well-dressed, and bad people are unwashed and wear dirty clothes). Today, choose to be “unclean.” Give up your shower, toothbrush, deodorant, etc., and identify with those who may rarely experience those luxuries.

What is God’s definition of “clean” for God’s children? How can you place more emphasis on your inner purity and holiness?

Scripture: Luke 11:37-41; John 13:1-17

Day thirty-one of the Fast

Fast From Comfort

Around 11 million children live on the streets in India, according to UNICEF estimates.

A typical bed for some of the poor in our world might be a thin piece of foam or simply a light blanket on a hard floor or dirt ground. Millions of children grow up on impoverished city streets never knowing the shelter of a roof over their head and the comfort of a soft bed. But in their distress, many will cry out to God as their Comforter and place of Refuge. Feel what many of our global brothers and sisters feel every night and choose to sleep on the floor beside your bed, just for tonight…. maybe even without a blanket or pillow. Practice finding your comfort in the shelter of God’s arms.

How might years of sleeping on the hard ground affect your daily life?


Scripture: Psalm 18:2, Luke 21:37, Matthew 8:20, II Corinthians 1:3-5

Day Thirty of the Fast (part B)

Fast from Anger

“What do you do with the mad that you feel when you feel so mad you could bite?....I can stop when I want to, can stop when I wish and what a good feeling to feel like this.” -Fred Rogers

Some days people seem to be more annoying than others. People drive like crazy idiots; kids are disrespectful; clerks don’t know their jobs; my boss is incompetent and on and on. We get frustrated and even angry. When stress and tension are high, it’s easy to lose our temper. Yet God calls us away from anger and into love. Our angry words and harsh attitudes are a far cry from Christ’s grace and mercy. We need to breathe, and maybe learn to count to ten ( and sometimes to 20!). For today, set anger aside and offer grace and understanding instead.

Ponder: You may be the only image of Christ someone sees today; what kind of Christ will you be?

Scripture: James 1:19-20 Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

Day Thirty of the fast

Fast From Convenience

Women and children in developing countries usually spend around 5 hours a day just fetching water.

Poverty is incredibly inconvenient. One of the most restricting factors in the life of a poor person is their limited access to transportation. If you think it’s inconvenient to drive all over town for your various activities, imagine walking or taking a long bus ride instead. If you also had to fit into your daily schedule several trips—on foot—to your nearest source of water, even the simplest tasks like washing your clothes or dishes could become overwhelming. Experience the inconvenience of going without transportation in some way today (like walking to the grocery store or taking the bus to work) to understand the limitations faced by the poor.

How much extra time would you need in a day if you had to rely on walking or public transportation?


Scripture: Psalm 81:6

Day twenty-nine of the fast

Fast From the Written Word

“I am illiterate. I am like a blind person”

~ an uneducated mother in Pakistan

In the west, we teach our children that their ticket to success and prosperity is getting a good education, and we invest billions of dollars to guarantee it is accessible. But imagine if you never learned how to read or write because you never attended even one day of school; instead you became “literate” in the ways of farming, herding, or scavenging at a very early age. This is the reality of one in six adults in the world today who are illiterate. Today, write down all the many ways your daily life would be impacted if you could not understand road signs, food labels, and instructions, not to mention books, emails, job related materials, or God’s Word. Try to appreciate the power of the spoken word—share a special story with a loved one and take time to listen to theirs.

How might the inability to read and write affect your relationship with God? How might it not affect your relationship with God?

Scripture: Deuteronomy 11:18-22; John 1:1-18

Day twenty-eight

Fast from Waste

Americans could fill the Rose Bowl every three days with the food they throw away.

While an absence of food ravages millions in poor countries, an abundance of food is thrown away each day by millions in affluent countries. We say things like “eat everything on your plate because there are starving children in Africa,” but does that actually change the way we buy, consume, or think about our food? Some researchers estimate that over a quarter of all food currently available in the U.S. will never get eaten and end up in the trash. Go take a look at your fridge and freezer, cupboards and counters, and choose to not let any of your food go to waste. Postpone your next trip to the supermarket or drive-thru until after you’ve eaten what you already have.

How would you explain the various reasons that millions of tons of food are thrown away each day in the very same world where millions of people are starving to death?


Scripture: Exodus 16:11-30

Day twenty-seven of the fast

Fast From Ignorance

It’s not that rich Christians don’t care about the poor, it’s that we often don’t know the poor. ~Shane Claiborne

Jesus spent a lot of time with the sick, the sinful, and society’s outcasts. When he told His disciples that the poor would always be with them, perhaps He meant that the poor should always be with them…that His disciples should show such unconditional love and acceptance, the poor would be irresistibly drawn to them. For Jesus, the lowly and the unlovely weren’t charity cases, they were His friends who He would laugh with and eat with and learn from. They weren’t projects, they were people He loved deeply and knew intimately. Today, choose to make a new friend—maybe someone easily ignored or judged—love them and include them just like you do with any of your friends.

How closely does your circle of friends resemble the wide range of people represented in Jesus’ circle of friends? What might you do to broaden the scope of your friendships?

Scripture: Luke 10:30-37; Luke 14:12-14

Day Twenty-six of the fast

Fast From Independence
“Maybe I need Africa more than Africa needs me” - the voice of an American Christian

People living in extreme poverty do not have the option to be totally independent and self-sufficient. For sheer survival purposes, villages and families must join together to share food, shelter, water, transportation, skills and more. In America, however, we are not accustomed to being dependent on other people for our daily survival; in fact, we could go weeks without even seeing our closest neighbors. Perhaps, living in such a way where we truly need one another isn’t shameful, but beautiful. Practice being dependent on someone else today, like borrowing your neighbor’s lawnmower or carpooling to school or work, so you can catch a glimpse of the kind of community the poor are uniquely privileged to experience.

Instead of typically being in the position to give, or teach, or offer our skills to the poor, why is it important to also receive from them? How do we need Africa sometimes more than Africa needs us?

Scripture: Acts 2:42-47

Day twenty-five of the fast

Fast From Electricity

“Violence done to women and girls is on the rise since African Union troops were forced to abandon "firewood patrols", which once escorted them to the periphery of the camp to collect wood for fuel.” A voice from a refugee camp in Darfur, Sudan.

Jesus said that His followers are the light of the world. Sadly many people in His world live in literal darkness with no access to electrical power for miles. This means they must gather firewood in order to cook their meals, boil water, or have warmth and light when the sun goes down. When girls must venture far from home to find the needed fuel, they are often subjected to terrible harm. Choose today to go without electricity in some way so you can remember to pray for those who go without it every day.

How would your life be changed if having light, heat, and the ability to cook required more than flipping a switch or turning a knob?

Scripture: Genesis 1:3, Matthew 5:13-14

Day twenty-four of the fast

Fast From Entertainment

Americans spend $705 billion on entertainment and recreation every year.

We are a well-entertained society! We can hardly go anywhere outside, or even inside, our homes without being bombarded by the sights, sounds, and sensations of our media industry. The billions of dollars we spend amusing ourselves each year could be used to literally change the world. Imagine if, rather than transporting our “American culture” to the developing world via movies, magazines, and music, we brought clean water (for 6 billion) and education (for 9 billion) and medical care (for 13 billion) instead. Choose today to forgo all of your typical means of entertainment and spend your extra time or dollars in a way that makes a lasting difference.

What kind of statement would the North American church make if we collectively cut our recreational spending in half and proved that we love our global neighbors as ourselves by putting our money where our mouth is?

Scripture: I Tim 6:17-19, James 5:1-5

Day twenty-three of the fast

Fast from Running Water

A child dies every 15 seconds of a waterborne disease. “Water is life; because we have no water, life is miserable” a voice from Kenya.

Imagine if you woke up today and every water-related fixture or appliance in your home was gone— your fridge, sinks, dishwasher, sprinklers... all gone. Your only access to water now is a murky pond or stagnant canal. Your choice is to go without water or fetch the potentially disease-ridden water, which, when consumed, could introduce deadly parasites and bacteria into your body. The quest for clean water would probably begin to dominate your daily thoughts and activities. Choose today to get a glimpse of the reality of 1.2 billion people in our world by relinquishing your water supply in some way. Consider rationing yourself to only a couple pots of water (what could be carried from a well or stream) for the whole day.

How much water do you think you use or consume on an average day? What if you found out it was all unsafe?

Scripture: Matthew 25:35; John 4:1-15

Day twenty-two of the fast

Fast From Vanity

13 billion dollars is spent by Americans on cosmetic surgery every year

How much time do we spend staring at ourselves in front of the mirror, whether in dissatisfaction or admiration, compared to the time spent looking at God and the world? The beauty of creation is all around us, from sunsets and trees, to pets and people, so instead of being distracted with our own reflections, may we desire to reflect the wonder of our Creator God. Discover the liberation that the world’s poor unknowingly experience by having little concern for outward appearances, and choose not to look in the mirror today (it might even help to cover the mirrors in your house). Feeling anxious about going to church without first using a mirror to get ready? Relax...remember, you are God’s creation: fearfully and wonderfully made!

What could we do with the money we might save if we spent less on our “outward beauty which fades?”

Verses: I Samuel 16:7; Psalms 104 and 139; I Peter 3:3-5

Day twenty-one of the fast

Fast From Possessions

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” ~ Jim Elliot

Do you possess your possessions or do they possess you? When we forget that our earthly treasures will one day pass away, it is easy to hold our belongings with a tight fist. But when we live like we believe that our real treasure is only found in Jesus, we can consider everything else as “rubbish.” What if our possessions had so little control over us that we would happily give someone our favorite shoes rather than last year’s fashions, or our warmest coat rather than the one that’s tattered and worn, or even the keys to our car? And instead of feeling a sense of loss, we felt liberated? Choose today to experience the freedom of giving something away… maybe not just the stuff you don’t like or don’t need, but something you do like or do need.

How can you practice storing up your treasures in heaven, for “there your heart will be also?”

Scripture: Philippians 3:7-8; Luke 12:13-21; I John 3:17

Days nineteen and twenty of the fast

Fast From Money

“Money does weird things to people… money does weird things to me.” -Francis Chan

The money in our wallets and bank accounts is not really ours. It all comes from God and we are merely entrusted with it, not entitled to it. Most Westerners don’t usually have to make excruciating financial decisions, like whether to spend our last dollars on food for our children or on medicine for our dying spouse. We unconsciously act as if money could take care of all of our needs, while many poor people to wait desperately for even their most basic necessities. It’s hard for us to understand that feeling of vulnerability and powerlessness, so choose today not to spend any money and instead taste the kind of freedom that comes from relying ONLY on God.

What if we let God have a say in every single purchase we made?

Scripture: Ecclesiastes 5:10-20; Matthew 6:19-24; Matthew 19:16-30

Day Eighteen

Fast From Yourself

If you think you are too small to make a difference, try spending the night in a closed room with a mosquito. –African saying

Have you ever looked at your life and felt powerless to make significant changes in the world because you’re “only one person?” What if, instead of being paralyzed by our own inabilities or overwhelmed by the world’s great needs, we lived as though our little acts of kindness really mattered … because they do matter to someone. Mother Teresa was known for saying, “We can do no great things, only small things with great love.”
She was determined to see the face of Jesus in every person she met, remembering His words, “whatever you did for the least of these, you did for Me.” Choose today to do something “small” for someone with the knowledge that you are serving Christ himself.

What if you actually saw Jesus starving, or suffering, sorrowful, or sick? What would you do for Him?

Scripture: Matthew 25:31-46

Days sixteen and seventeen of the fast

Fast From Options

Many of the poor in our world own only the clothes on their backs. They have no closets.

Our closets are FULL of various options, and yet how often do we complain, I have nothing to wear!? We easily grow discontent from season to season, wishing that our dressers and drawers didn’t provide such a “limited selection”. But what if we had NO other options than the clothes on our back? Our choice in the mornings would certainly be easy and maybe our contentment would be found elsewhere. Today and tomorrow, experience what “life without a closet” would feel like and choose to wear the same clothes both days.

Do you think you would care as much about wearing the same clothes 2 days in a row if everyone you knew only owned a few outfits?

Scripture: Proverbs 19:17, Matthew 6:25-34

Day fifteen of the post

Fast From Shoes
“That bread which you keep belongs to the hungry… those shoes which are rotting in your possession, to the shoeless; that gold which you have hidden in the ground to the needy.” ~Augustine

Most children in developing countries grow up barefoot. Whether at play, doing chores, or simply getting around, these children are at risk. Walking is often the primary mode of transportation in developing countries, and just wearing shoes enables people to fetch water or medical help from distances that aren't possible barefoot. A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted parasites, which penetrate the skin through open sores; however, wearing shoes can eliminate this risk. Many times children can't attend school with bare feet, which means they don't receive an education...all because they don’t have shoes (adapted from tomsshoes.com). In their honor, bring a pair of gently worn shoes to donate.

If you counted all the shoes you own and averaged the cost of each, how much of an investment have you made on your feet?