Fasting (ft. Tyler Staton) | Unforced Rhythms of Grace E6
May 10, 2024
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Guest Tyler Staton breaks down the 'why' of fasting, focusing on its spiritual significance, growth in compassion, and freedom from idols. The podcast explores historical roots, deep desires, and seeking divine guidance through prayer and fasting.
Fasting helps focus on priorities and freedom from idols.
Fasting cultivates attentiveness to deep desires over surface desires.
Fasting breaks free from substitute gods and awakens compassion for others.
Deep dives
Fasting as a Spiritual Practice
Fasting is explored as a spiritual practice of abstaining from food for spiritual nourishment, rooted in reconnecting the body and soul. It emphasizes the biblical and historical significance of fasting, from Moses' 40-day fast to Jesus' teachings on fasting in the Sermon on the Mount. The podcast highlights the importance of aligning the body and soul, challenging western culture's dysfunctional relationship with the body and urging a return to embodied spirituality.
Attentiveness Through Fasting
Fasting is portrayed as a way to cultivate attentiveness to deep desires amidst the louder surface desires. Emphasizing the importance of restraining and taming surface desires to focus on the deep longings within, the podcast calls fasting a form of prayer with the body. It addresses the challenge of prioritizing deep desires over superficial ones, citing the significance of fasting to amplify one's attentiveness to true longings.
Freedom from Substitute Gods
The concept of fasting as a means to break free from substitute gods such as money, power, pleasure, and honor is discussed. By practicing self-denial through fasting, individuals can prevent surrendering to false attachments that promise freedom but ultimately enslave. Fasting is presented as a way to redirect desires from superficial pursuits to God, who truly satisfies and liberates from worldly distractions.
Compassion and Co-Suffering Through Fasting
Fasting is portrayed as an act of compassion and co-suffering with others, highlighting the importance of entering into the suffering of those less fortunate. It delves into the Biblical perspective on fasting as a call to address social injustice and care for the marginalized. The podcast urges individuals to embrace fasting as a transformative practice that awakens compassion, aligning personal sacrifice with serving the needs of others.
Invitation to a Season of Fasting and Prayer
The episode culminates in a prophetic invitation to a 40-day period of prayer and fasting during Lent, focusing on dreams, power, family, and direction. Listeners are encouraged to approach fasting with desire rather than duty, responding to God's prompting in areas of their lives where they seek growth and transformation. The podcast emphasizes the potential for increased faith, empowerment, family restoration, and divine guidance through this season of intentional fasting and prayer.
What does not eating have to do with following Jesus? Tyler Staton breaks down the "why" of fasting: how it can help us focus on what's most important, give us freedom from idols in our lives, and grow us in compassion for others.
Key Scripture Passages: Romans 12v1
This podcast and its episodes are paid for by The Circle, our community of monthly givers. Special thanks for this episode goes to: Goolam from Claremont, South Africa; Andrew from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida; Carli from Chandler, Arizona; Casey from Juliette, Georgia; and Keith from Rockwell, North Carolina.Thank you all so much!
If you’d like to pay it forward and contribute toward future resources, you can learn more at practicingtheway.org/give.
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