No Phone Friday
Periodically, I’ll turn the ole’ cell phone off for a day. Consider it my “fasting” from the phone. If you’re not familiar with the discipline of fasting, I would say; read your Bible. 
What I mean is that any time you read Jesus’ instructions/comments on prayer, it is closely tied together with fasting. Fasting is a spiritual discipline in which you abstain from something so that you might direct your attention on Jesus. You may fast from food, water, people, work, Facebook, Twitter, TV, or technology all together! By fasting from these things, you then use the time you would regularly spend doing those things praying, or reading Scripture, etc. It’s a spiritual discipline, and one I think should be part of every follower of Jesus.
Therefore, don’t try to call me on Friday – it’s “no phone Friday” for me. I’m taking a break from the ole’ phone so that I might focus my thoughts on that which matters… namely, Jesus. I don’t tell you this to boast – rather I tell you this so that you might consider giving something up for a time, fast if you will, so that you might be drawn into a deeper walk with Jesus.
enjoy
interesting
ghettoblackify
October 15, 2009 at 10:51 pm
Is there anywhere in the Bible where people fast from something other than food and drink? I’m sincerely curious.
Fasting from a want just seems a lot less edifying than fasting from a need, but I’m not really sure why.
matt
October 16, 2009 at 2:48 am
No doubt fasting typically (if not always) in the Scriptures refers to/is in relation to the ceasing of eating… but the Scriptures never say “it is only this but not that”. So… maybe I’m taking a little liberty here and saying the idea of denying yourself something is good, healthy and beneficial no matter if it classifies as a “want” or a “need.” Is a phone a “want” – yes/no. There are many moments I’ve “needed” my phone: stuck on the hwy w/ broken down car/calling 911 b/c my neighbor has fallen (3 times last week), etc. Do I always need my phone? Absolutely not. Does denying myself this make it less edifying than denying myself from food? I think it’s splitting hairs (although when it comes to food, I am more aware of my need for Jesus).
In this same line of thinking, I’m proposing this idea as a removal of distractions so that I might focus my attention on Jesus – how could that not be edifying? This being said, I think fasting period is edifying… I’m not looking for the ‘levels’ of edification. I want fasting to be a regular practice for people; both from needs (food, etc) and wants (phone, technology, etc.). I think both are beneficial and good. So, while you’re very right that Scripture never indicates that people should fast from something other than food; it doesn’t say fasting must be done a certain way. Thanks for the question.
Michael Criner
October 16, 2009 at 6:31 am
That gives me some good stuff to think about. Thanks man.
matt
October 17, 2009 at 7:45 am