Breaking Free from Spiritual Stagnation: The Transformative Power of Fasting

There's a medical term that describes what happens to a body after death: rigor mortis. It's Latin for "stiffness of death"—the unmistakable sign that life has departed, leaving muscles locked and limbs frozen in place. But what if this same kind of stiffness could settle into our spiritual lives while we're still breathing? 

Spiritual rigor mortis is real, and it's far more common than we'd like to admit. 

It's the condition of a believer whose heart has become unresponsive, whose obedience has grown stiff, and whose sensitivity to the Holy Spirit has dulled. It happens when faith stops moving, when repentance stops flowing, and when the flesh takes control. Our walk with God becomes mechanical, our worship becomes routine, and our hearts become unbendable—not because God stopped speaking, but because we stopped responding. 

The good news? There's an antidote. There's a spiritual practice that keeps the soul flexible, responsive, and alive: **fasting**. 

When, Not If 

In Matthew 6:16-18, Jesus makes a striking statement. He doesn't say "if you fast." He says "**whenever** you fast." That single word destroys the notion that fasting is optional for followers of Christ. 

Just as Jesus taught His disciples to pray with the assumption they would pray, He immediately follows with instructions on fasting—with the same expectation. Prayer is constant; fasting is seasonal. But both are required. 

Fasting isn't reserved for spiritual elites or religious professionals. It's not a bonus feature for advanced Christians. Jesus made it clear: fasting is how you become spiritually advanced. 

In Matthew 9, when questioned about why His disciples didn't fast, Jesus responded with a profound promise: "The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and **then they will fast**." We're living in those days. This is the era He was talking about. We are the disciples He was referring to. 

The Right Way Versus the Wrong Way 

Here's the sobering truth: the Pharisees fasted twice a week. They had the schedule down, the discipline mastered, the ritual perfected. Yet when the Messiah stood breathing, teaching, and healing right in front of them, they couldn't recognize Him. 

How is that possible? 

Because fasting done wrong doesn't open your eyes—it hardens your heart. People can fast for forty days and still miss God completely. Fasting without the right heart doesn't bring you closer to truth; it can drive you deeper into deception. 

Jesus identified the wrong way clearly: putting on a gloomy face, neglecting your appearance, making sure everyone notices your sacrifice. The problem isn't the suffering itself—it's the announcement of it. The moment you fast for human applause, you've cashed in your benefit. You've traded eternal reward for temporary approval. 

Jesus said, "They have their reward in full." Translation: that's all you get. 

The right way? Wash your face.  Fix your hair. Look normal. 

Fast in secret. Let your hunger be between you and God alone. Because even when we're denying the flesh, disciplining the flesh, starving the flesh—the flesh still tries to exalt itself. It wants credit for being crucified. That's how desperate our flesh is for attention. 

The Currency Conversion 

Everything in life has a conversion rate, a cash-in value. What you receive from fasting depends entirely on how and why you fast. 

Think of it like an arcade. You hand over real money and receive tokens—fake money. The kids play games, win tickets, and exchange hundreds of tickets for cheap plastic trinkets worth a fraction of what you spent. They're thrilled in the moment but clueless about the exchange rate. 

That's what happens when we fast with pride. We take something valuable—our sacrifice, hunger, and devotion—and cash it in for something cheap: a moment of attention, a spiritual gold star, human approval. We trade divine intimacy for a plastic whistle of pride. 

But a proper fast? That has an entirely different conversion table. 

The Returns of a Righteous Fast 

1. Faith and Belief 

In Matthew 17, the disciples failed to cast out a demon. Jesus identified the issue: "Because of the littleness of your faith." He added that "this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." 

Fasting doesn't create power—it eradicates unbelief. It's the process of denying flesh so faith can rise. Jesus told them, "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed... nothing will be impossible to you." Fasting helps you discover that truth experientially, not just intellectually. 

2. Denial of Fleshly Appetite 

Flesh is all about appetite. Fasting is all about denying it. Jesus fasted forty days before stepping into His ministry. If He needed it, how much more do we? 

3. Revelation of Assignment 

Paul received his assignment to the Gentiles during a fast. Fasting clears the noise so you can hear the call. It becomes a revelatory experience. 

4. Genuine Repentance 

We love Joel's promise: "I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh." But look at what comes before the outpouring in Joel 2:15-16: "Blow a trumpet in Zion, consecrate a fast, proclaim a solemn assembly, gather the people, sanctify the congregation." 

Before the Spirit is poured out, the people are called to fast, repent, and return. 

5. Focused Purpose 

Old wisdom warns that idle hands are the devil's workshop. Idleness doesn't mean you're not busy—it means you're not busy about the right things. Fasting forces focus. Every hunger pang reminds you: I set this time aside for God. It keeps your spirit awake, your purpose sharp, and your heart aligned. 

Motion Is Lotion 

As we age physically, we learn an important truth: motion is lotion. The best remedy for pain and stiffness is to keep moving, to stay active, to exercise. The same principle applies spiritually. 

Prayer and fasting are activities that set us into motion spiritually. They're the antidote to spiritual rigor mortis. They keep the soul flexible, responsive, and alive. 

Seeking First the Kingdom 

The bottom line is found in Matthew 6:33: "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." 

This is the heart of fasting. This is the conversion rate we desire. When we fast, we're declaring: "God, we are seeking You first." 

We seek Him at the start of the year. We seek Him at the start of our days. We seek Him at the start of everything we think is important. And when we draw near to Him, we know the promise: He draws near to us. 

As Jeremiah 33:3 declares: "Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know." 

Fasting isn't about impressing God or earning His favor. It's about positioning yourself to hear Him, to know Him, and to experience breakthrough. It's about breaking the spiritual stiffness that settles in when we stop being spiritually active. 

So, as you consider setting aside time for prayer and fasting, make it about your heart before the Lord and nothing else. Stay in motion spiritually. Seek Him first. And watch what He adds to your life as a result.