Fasting Before the Fireworks
Happy 4th of July! Are you planning to fast?
Now that’s an odd question. I bet no one has ever asked you that this time of year.
You’re probably thinking, “Don’t they know it’s not Lent?” Usually around July 4th, our plates are full—brats, carne asada, hot dogs, and red Solo cups overflowing with our favorite drinks. And to be clear, I’m not asking you to skip celebrating with friends and food on Friday.
But I am inviting you into something deeply spiritual and incredibly countercultural: a fast on Thursday, July 3rd, the day before the feast.
Why Fast Before a Feast?
We live in a world of constant consumption—whatever you want, whenever you want it. Not just food. Amazon delivers same-day. You can skip ads for a price. Life rarely asks us to go without. And yet, fasting invites us to pause—to want less and depend more on God.
Jesus didn’t make His disciples fast while He was with them. In fact, He often feasted. But He did say fasting would come after He returned to the Father—for His followers who long for His return.
“How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast.”
— Matthew 9:15
We’re in that time now.
And as Samuel Whitefield wisely writes:
“When we fast we make a statement that things are not okay, and because of that, we cannot fully enjoy the blessings God has provided for us until God returns to dwell with us.”
— Discipleship Begins With Beholding, p. 173
My Journey (and Yours)
Recently, I noticed I was compulsively checking financial apps—stock market, bank balances, retirement projections. I justified it by saying, “Well, I don’t do social media like everyone else.” But the dopamine loop was real. I wasn’t trusting God; I was refreshing numbers to feel secure.
What changed me wasn’t guilt—it was seeing some college graduates I know that had leaned into fasting and prayer, seeking Jesus with everything they had. For them, fasting became more than a spiritual discipline. It became a way of life that they are taking with them into the rest of their ministry life. A core memory. A transformation.
So this Thursday, I’m fasting from checking financial apps for 24 hours. And I invite you to join me. Fast from food, soda, alcohol, sex, using your credit card, watching Netflix, or checking social media. To help you find out what you might fast from, keep reading and reflect on these questions.
Grab a journal or any scrap of paper and write down your thoughts:
How is your soul?
How might fasting benefit your life with Jesus?
What might fasting look like for you this Thursday, the 3rd of July?
Finish by writing down this commitment statement:
I will fast from __________ this Thursday, the 3rd of July, from _______ am to _______ pm.
I hope that Jesus increases my _________ (i.e. passion, desire, hope, strength, etc) in His Word, presence, and connection as I join with other Christians in mourning for His return to make all things new.
Before the fireworks, let’s fast.
Not to earn God’s favor—but to hunger for His presence.
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