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
Previewing Week 9 of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life
Read 3 of 8 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 13-week guide when you’re ready.
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 questions1.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?