Fasting is mentioned so many times in the Bible. And we are told of the importance of fasting and prayer over and over again. But how do we set apart that time to fast while we are in the busy seasons of motherhood.
We are chasing littles from dawn until dusk. Often times we forget to eat but that doesn’t count as fasting. And when you are pregnant or nursing you can’t really go a day without eating.
That’s what I always thought fasting was, just not eating. In Scriptures that is pretty much all we see. But fasting is so much more.
Fasting is an opportunity to step away from our worldly desires and daily habits to help remind ourselves how much we need to rely on the Lord.
If you are a busy, pregnant, or breastfeeding mom you should still make time to fast. You don’t have to go without eating but you can go without something else for a period of time.
What I love about fasting is that you are supposed to weave it into your day to day life without anyone knowing. It is for you and God alone.
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matt. 6:16-18)
The second part of this passages seems to say that we should fast in our day to day life. We are not to set apart a few days to remove ourselves from our lives and sit in gloomy despair.
Fasting from something is our reminder to turn to the Lord in prayer and rely on Him as we go through our day.
If you choose to fast from food then every time you begin to get hungry throughout the day you remember to pray and rely on the Lord. And the same goes for anything else. If you decide to do a social media fast, every time you have the desire to pick up your phone to post or scroll you are reminded to spend time in prayer and with the Lord instead.
Fasting is all about remembering to rely on God.
So if you are in a busy season of mothering littles you can still find time to fast. I would even say it would honesty be extremely important to do so. This season can be draining. But we need to remember to rely on the Lord in every moment. We cannot get distracted, mamas!
If you want some ideas on what to fast from besides food, here are a few ideas:
- makeup
- music
- tv/movies
- social media
- online shopping
- sugar/chocolate
- coffee
- reading fiction/other books besides the Bible
- the mirror
- getting your hair or nails done
Choosing to fast in the busyness of motherhood will truly replenish you as you are giving your all.
The last thing I want to say is that you don’t have to be afraid to fast if you have never done it before. Just choose something you are going to fast from. Follow the Holy Spirit’s conviction. Start with just one day or even half a day. And choose to say yes to God in this season.
