By J. Merritt Johnston

I really love to eat. And even when I'm not eating, I often find myself flipping to the Food Network to see what's cookin'.  Although the celebrity chefs on TV often cook with ingredients I've never heard of and will likely never cook with, I'm intrigued by the creativity that goes into making such memorable dishes. You see, food is one of those rare commodities that can be both a necessity and a luxury.

It's true that our bodies can only sustain themselves for a minimal time frame without food, but the type of food our bodies need is far different than the food we often feel we deserve.  We live in a culture of excess where restaurant portion sizes seem to be growing larger by the minute, leading us to complain that a "normal" portion just didn't give us our money's worth. But I fear that the excess mentality has made its way into much more than our mealtimes.

Whether it's food, alcohol, TV, or shopping, we have a tendency to overdo it. And sadly, this excessiveness only satisfies for a season. We keep filling our lives, yet we still feel empty at the end of the day.

That's why fasting is one of the most powerful change agents available to us in the Christian life. When we fast, we make a commitment to empty our lives of the excess in order to be filled with what we truly need - more of God's presence. It's a simple but effective way to satisfy our spiritual hunger pains.

Throughout the Bible, we see promises of God's provision to those willing to seek Him through fasting. Perhaps the most well-known is the story of Jesus Himself in Matthew 4. Before beginning His years of ministry, He ventured into the wilderness and engaged in a forty-day fast. And if God's own Son felt fasting was necessary for His spiritual health, then certainly we humans need the cleansing and clarity it provides.

So if you're looking for a super-sized portion of God's presence in your life, I challenge you to devote a day this week to fasting. Give up a meal, turn off the TV, shut down your computer...take a break from whatever is consuming you the most. Use that reclaimed time to reclaim your soul. Allow His word to satisfy you in a way that nothing else can. Even the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah can attest to the difference it will make...

"Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O LORD, God of hosts." - Jeremiah 15:16 (NLT)

Take some time this week to enjoy an extra portion at God's table. Eat up His Word. Dig into His love. Devour His truth. There's truly a buffet of joy, grace, and peace prepared just for you, so grab your plate and enjoy the best meal of your life.

Making It Personal:

• What things in your life right now are consuming valuable time and energy?
• What steps can (and will) you take this week to fast from one of those things in order to invest in your spiritual health/growth?

Merritt serves as the director of SAGE Girls Ministry, a non-profit organization whose mission is to reach, teach, and train young women to impact their communities and the world with the love of Christ. She makes her home in Brenham, TX, where she and her husband, Jeremy, are raising their rambunctious toddler named Josiah and two miniature dachshunds named Aidan and Adelaide.