Fasting: Training the Soul to Say “No”

Biblical fasting isn’t just about going without food—it’s about saying yes to God by saying no to our flesh. Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). When we fast, we train our minds to treat hunger not as a crisis—but as a call to pray. Pornography and masturbation feed a false hunger. They scream for immediate satisfaction, but offer only fleeting relief and lasting regret. Fasting teaches us that we can deny even the things we physically need—like food—for the sake of something greater. It strengthens our will by anchoring our desire to the One who truly satisfies. Every hunger pang becomes an opportunity: “Lord, I feel it—but I choose You.” “I’m weak—but Your grace is enough.” “My body wants—but my spirit waits.” If you can say no to food, you can say no to lust. The same muscles are used: self-denial, prayer, and reliance on the Holy Spirit. Try fasting on Fridays—a day when the world is binging and indulging, we remember the Cross. The Church meditates on the Sorrowful Mysteries of the Rosary on Fridays, walking with Christ through His Passion. It’s a powerful practice of solidarity, reflection, and reorientation. Need a guide? Here’s a simple Rosary guide: https://rosarycenter.org/how-to-pray-the-rosary 🎥 And Bishop Barron praying the Sorrowful Mysteries: The Rosary - Sorrowful Mysteries with Bishop Robert Barron This is training. And God is patient. Keep showing up.