Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life by Donald Whitney

Week 9: Chapter 8 — Fasting

Read Chapter 8 of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life. Key Scriptures: Matthew 6:16-18; Isaiah 58:3-7; Acts 13:2-3.

Of all the disciplines in this book, fasting may be the one most foreign to modern Western Christians — and Whitney makes a compelling case that this strangeness is itself a symptom of the very spiritual problem fasting is designed to address.

Discussion Questions

8 questions

1.Whitney observes that Jesus said "when you fast" (Matthew 6:16), not "if you fast" — assuming it would be a normal practice for His followers. Given that assumption, why do you think fasting has largely disappeared from the regular practice of most Western Christians?

2.He defines fasting as voluntarily abstaining from food (and sometimes other things) for spiritual purposes — not for weight loss, not for political protest, but as a deliberate act of seeking God. What is the specific spiritual logic that connects *going without food* to *drawing near to God*?

3.Whitney identifies several biblical purposes for fasting: strengthening prayer, seeking God's guidance, expressing grief or repentance, humbling oneself before God, and preparing for spiritual battle. Which of these purposes most resonates with a current need or season in your own life?

4.He is careful to warn against fasting as a performance — Jesus specifically warns against the Pharisees' practice of making their fasting visible for human approval (Matthew 6:16-18). What is the difference between a fast done before God and a fast done for religious reputation? How can you tell the difference in your own heart?

5.Whitney argues that when we fast, our hunger pangs become a physical reminder to pray — each pang a signal to turn our attention back to God. Have you ever fasted in this way? If so, what was the experience like?

+ 5 more questions in this week

Get all 104 questions across 13 weeks

Get Full Guide — $24.99

Closing Prayer

Full guide

Lord, we confess that we are people of comfort — and that our comfort has often become a quiet competitor with You for the throne of our hearts. Forgive us for feeding our bodies while starving our souls. Teach us to fast — not to earn Your favor, not to impress anyone, but simply to say with our bodies what we believe with our minds: that You alone are our sustenance, our satisfaction, and our life. In the hunger, make us hungry for You. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Week 8 View Full Guide Week 10

Get the Complete 13-Week Study Guide

All 104 discussion questions, weekly reading schedule, closing prayers, and a downloadable PDF for your group.

Get Your Guide — $24.99

All Weeks in This Guide

Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5 Week 6 Week 7 Week 8 Week 9 Week 10 Week 11 Week 12 Week 13

More by Donald Whitney Spiritual Growth & Disciplines