The theme of this fast is grace. Over two months ago I began to pray about doing this in the spring. Not long after, I took up my copy of John Piper’s Future Grace. I listened to the audio version two years ago and there was so much gold to be mined from it that I decided that one day I would have a printed copy. (I’m old enough to still enjoy and benefit from marking in the books I read.)
When I started through the introduction of Future Grace, I learned that it had 31 chapters. I sensed the Holy Spirit leading me to base my time of fasting on the book and for a period of 31 days. That meant setting aside the book until my fast began.
Periods of fasting do not occur in a vacuum. I wish they did. It would be wonderful to withdraw from the frantic pace of daily life and focus exclusively on prayer, worship, Scripture, reading, meditation, and reflection. Wonderful, but not practical. For me, this fast takes place during an extremely busy time in my life. My “day job” as a college registrar is hectic as one school year ends and preparation for the next begins. I am moving from on-site to remote work as well. This will allow me to move home (Kentucky) to be with family after six years of living apart.
My time of fasting also happens as I end my pastorate at a wonderful little church in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. My time with the church was brief compared to others I have served, but I am no less saddened to leave them. It took mere minutes to get acquainted with the people and fall in love with them.
People are often interested in why someone chooses to fast. If you are such a person, this paragraph is for you. Based on my study of Scripture and several books on fasting, I believe a Christian can both be led of God to fast and also declare a fast. I always have some reasons and goals when I fast, but often, the Lord has His own plans for me. In this case, I am interested in a period of concentrated spiritual growth that focuses on renewal and revival. The move home will bring challenges as my family and I adjust to living together again and I want to be as ready as possible for that, so I am much more of a blessing than a burden.
Fasting is journey. It is not without trials and struggles. When any Christian…fasting or not…takes time to focus on the Lord…Satan takes notice and turns up the temptation “heat.” And the Lord will often use periods of fasting to test faith to strengthen it as well as increase patience, endurance, and perseverance. During other fasts, I have experienced a wide range of emotions…and not all of them were of the God-honoring variety.
As you are led by the Spirit, I invite you to join me on this journey. Perhaps something I learn or experience will be of blessing and/or benefit to you in your life of faith. It would be my humble honor.
God bless you, Reader.
Fred Miller
The Prevailing Life 
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