Today I am fasting because two members of our family are in the hospital with pneumonia. There is so much about this situation that I cannot fix, but praying and fasting are things I can do!
I was surprised to read that in the United States, 21% of adults overall say they fast for certain periods during holy times. I am not alone.
Various religions teach that fasting improves self-control, increases spiritual awareness or fosters empathy for the less fortunate, among other things.
Fasting improves our lives and gives us added strength. Fasting helps us gain strength of character. When we fast properly, we will learn to control our appetites and passions. We are a little stronger by having proved to ourselves that we have self-control. When we fast wisely and prayerfully, we develop our faith. With that faith we will have greater spiritual power.
The awareness, awakening and dawning selflessness produced by fasting can give us a window into what it’s like to go hungry—and help arouse the inner spiritual altruism necessary to act.
Fasting and prayer in behalf of others can help secure the blessings the Lord has in store for them. The act of fasting becomes a sublime work of love, a modest endeavor to follow the Savior, who healed the wounds of mankind by suffering voluntarily.
(https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2024/04/05/how-common-is-religious-fasting-in-the-united-states/, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/gospel-principles/chapter-25-fasting?lang=eng, https://bahaiteachings.org/what-does-it-mean-go-hungry-bahai-fast-empathy/, https://www.thechurchnews.com/1996/1/27/23254455/fasting-fosters-spirituality-rejoicing/)
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