When the Hunger Is Holy — Reclaiming Life through Biblical and Digital Fasting

Tim Peden
Jun 8
4 min read

Food is everwhere ... Can you resist it (and your phone?)

"Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” — Joel 2:12

I Was Sickened by What I Saw... Then I Realised I Was Doing It Too

I was walking through a local café district the other day, watching people sip coffee, stroll by the shops, and sit with friends. But what really stood out to me wasn’t the food or the company—it was the phones. Heads down. Eyes locked. Scroll. Scroll. Scroll. People sitting together but worlds apart. I was sickened.

And then it hit me. I was one of them .

Somewhere along the way, I had slipped into the same cycle. Not only was I distracted, but I was also missing out on life. I was missing a real conversation. I was missing God’s quiet whispers. A device was draining my time, attention, and even affection in my hand—and I hadn’t even noticed.

That’s when I realised: Satan’s strategy hasn’t changed. From the beginning, he’s tried to sell us the lie that we can “be like God” (Genesis 3:5)—all-knowing, all-seeing, always connected. But what I was actually becoming was scattered, anxious, and numb.

Then I picked up a book that helped reset everything: The Digital Fast – 40 Days to Detox Your Mind and Reclaim What Matters Most by Dr. Darren Whitehead. If there’s one book I’d recommend to Christians navigating the digital age, it’s this one. The first half alone gives a solid biblical foundation for why a digital fast isn’t just wise—it’s vital.

Why Fast? Rediscovering a Forgotten Discipline

Fasting, in its essence, is a hunger for something greater. John Piper puts it this way:

"Christian fasting is not only the spontaneous effect of superior satisfaction in God, it is also a chosen weapon against every force in the world that would take that satisfaction away."

Throughout the Bible, fasting was a regular rhythm—done to express sorrow, prepare for revelation, accompany prayer, and humble oneself before God. Even Jesus fasted for 40 days before launching His ministry (Matthew 4:2). In Matthew 6:16, Jesus doesn’t say if you fast—He says when.

Fasting is a biblical way to submit ourselves to God humbly. It’s never about manipulating Him. Instead, it prepares us to hear Him clearly, to see our own hearts with honesty, and to return to Him with repentance and dependence. It’s a tool to help realign our will with His.

As Augustine said:

"Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects the flesh to the spirit... quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity."

Health Benefits of Fasting: The Miracle of Autophagy

Besides the spiritual renewal, there are physical benefits that God designed into the very act of fasting. One of the most fascinating is autophagy—a process where the body, during fasting, begins to cleanse itself at the cellular level. Damaged cells and toxins are broken down and removed, essentially giving your body a “deep clean.”

In medical science, autophagy has been linked to:

Slowing the aging process
Boosting immunity
Reducing inflammation
Improving focus and mental clarity
Helping protect against diseases like cancer and Alzheimer’s

God knew what He was doing. Fasting literally resets our physical and spiritual health. But few of us are willing to stop long enough to receive these gifts.

Digital Fasting: Reclaiming the Life God Meant Us to Live

Inspired by The Digital Fast, I began a journey to reclaim not just my time, but my soul. Digital fasting isn’t about deleting all technology—it’s about reordering it so that it no longer masters us.

Dr. Darren Whitehead writes that digital devices are designed to addict and distract us. They rob us of deep focus, true rest, meaningful connection, and even the presence of God in our everyday lives.

Digital fasting is about saying, “Enough.”

It’s about stepping back and asking:

What is stealing my attention from God?
What is keeping me from being fully present with others?
What is forming me into someone I don’t want to become?

The ultimate goal? To increase our hunger for God and satisfy it in Him.

Fasting Frees Us To Flourish

Whether you fast from food, media, or screens, the principle is the same: to return to God with your whole heart. In fasting, we become aware of our brokenness. We confront our pride. We quiet our distractions. We remember what it means to be human, not superhuman.

Biblical fasting isn’t legalism. It’s a path to life. It humbles us. It refreshes us. It heals our body and renews our spirit.

And in this age of overload, digital fasting is more than a good idea—it’s a lifeline.

Take A Step Today

Read the book: The Digital Fast by Dr. Darren Whitehead
Try a fast: One meal. One day. One weekend off your phone.
Ask God: “What is keeping me from being fully present with You?”

Let’s reclaim what matters most. The hunger in our hearts was never meant to be filled with screens, food, or noise.

It was meant for Him.

Summary

Fasting, both traditional and digital, invites us into a deeper relationship with God by humbling our hearts, quieting our lives, and restoring our focus.
It refreshes our soul, heals our body, and renews our perspective.
Let’s stop being mastered by the things of the world and choose instead to return to God with all our hearts.

Reflection

What role does fasting play in your current spiritual walk with God?
How does digital distraction affect your relationship with God and others?
What does biblical humility look like in your daily life?
What habits might you need to fast from to grow closer to Christ?
How can you make space to hear from God more clearly?
What would it look like for you to structure a regular fast into your life rhythm?