LEADERSHIP PODCAST /

Ep.01 Peace Needs a Rhythm

May 27, 2020 / Justin Anderson, Ilona Trofimovich

In this episode, Ilona and Justin discuss the starkly counter-cultural spiritual practice of fasting. This practice, especially and specifically when done with food, holds in tension the reality that God created the world to be “good” and yet the world was also never meant to fully satisfy us. How can fasting expose our limits and challenge us to see ourselves rightly before God?

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Ideas We Highlight:

  • The biblical precedent (and biblical assumption) of rhythms of fasting
  • Why “all serious believers must engage in periods of asceticism” and what that can look like for the modern-day Christian
  • How we can leverage fasting for the good of and love of our neighbor
  • Difference between rhythms of absolute, normal, and partial fasts

Reference:

  • The Benedict Option: A Strategy for Christians in a Post-Christian Nation by Rod Dreher. Find it on Amazon. 
  • The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Whitmel Earley. Find it on Amazon. 
  • Practices of Love: Spiritual Disciplines for the Life of the World by Kyle David Bennett. Find it on Amazon.

Reflection:

Begin where you are and take your next step!

  1. Consider incorporating a regular practice of fasting into your life – for instance, 1, 3, or 7 days, done at regular intervals (one day a week, three days each quarter, a full week twice a year, etc.). If you’ve never fasted, start with a shorter amount of time, and perhaps a partial fast, but as you are able, consider building towards longer periods of full fasting.
  2. During your fast, spend time reflecting on what you reach for and why. Identify the heart motives that are exposed during the process and use those as opportunities to pray, inviting the Spirit to shape that part of you.

If you haven’t yet, download the Rule for Life template to reflect on and implement some of the practices from this series.