Faith Habits: Fasting

Fasting is not usually the first faith habit people want to pick up, yet Scripture treats it as a normal rhythm in the life of a disciple. In this message, Pastor Sam Bricknell unpacks the spiritual discipline of fasting and shows how it can become a joyful expression of hunger for God rather than just an uncomfortable religious exercise.Sam begins with a personal story about training for a 25 km trail race during one of the hardest years of his life. As he pushed through hills, pain and his dislike of running, God used the discipline of training to expose his love of comfort, his tendency towards complacency, and his habit of separating “spiritual” moments from everyday life. Over time, running became a sanctuary of prayer, gratitude and encounter with God in the middle of a difficult season.From there, Sam turns to Matthew 6:16‑21 and highlights that Jesus does not say “if you fast” but “when you fast”, assuming that fasting is part of a normal Christian life. He explains that biblical fasting is not just about abstaining from food, but about intentionally removing something and replacing that space with focused time with God. While Scripture primarily describes food fasts, Sam acknowledges that in our context people may fast from things like media, phones or entertainment, provided that the freed-up time is offered to God in prayer and worship.The message explores the different purposes of fasting found in Scripture, including repentance and returning to God (Joel 2), seeking God’s call and commissioning (Acts 13), decision making, cultivating intimacy with God, and aligning our hearts with his heart for our lives and communities. At its core, fasting is about stepping into intentional lack so that we can discover afresh that God alone truly sustains.Sam also challenges the Western obsession with comfort and our cultural fear of hunger. Our lives are structured around avoiding discomfort and making sure we are always full, yet the Bible speaks of a deeper spiritual hunger that only the presence of God can satisfy. Drawing on passages such as Psalm 63:1, John 6:35 and Psalm 107:9, he reminds us that God is the one who satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry with good things.Practically, Sam shares his own decision to fast weekly as a faith habit for the year, choosing a day that allows him to dedicate meaningful time to God. He encourages listeners to consider a regular rhythm of fasting, not to punish themselves but to cultivate greater hunger for God’s presence and purposes. The message concludes with an invitation to respond in worship, lay down comfort and complacency, and ask God to make this a year marked by spiritual hunger and dependence on him.Bible passages referenced:Matthew 6:16‑21Acts 13:2‑3Joel 2:12Psalm 63:1John 6:35Psalm 107:9 CONNECT WITH RIVERLIFE CHURCH HERE ATInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/riverlifebaptistchurchFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/RiverlifeBaptistChurchWebsite: https://riverlifechurch.org.au