Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites

by Lynne M. Baab

Book Overview

Lynne Baab explains an ancient Christian practice that extends beyond giving up food to any regular activity in our contemporary lives. You'll see how taking a break from eating--or driving, or checking e-mail, or watching television--opens us up to discover new things about ourselves and God and the world around us.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0830835016
• ISBN13: 9780830835010
• Release Date: November 2006
• Publisher: IVP Formatio
• Length: 152 Pages
• Weight: 0.45 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.5" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Simple, Sensible, Splendid!

I just finished reading this book today. I decided to read the whole thing in one sitting, and to do a water-juice fast to boot! What a great day, largely because this is such a marvelously sensible and spiritually satisfying book on fasting. I bought the book because I am interested in the idea of fasting as a means to gain greater control over my desires and to thus allow Christ greater reign in my life. I was intrigued by the sub-title: "Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites." Yes, that's what I was looking for, and this book delivers! The author provides a wonderfully thorough yet simple guide on Christian fasting centered on the idea that fasting is a means to experiencing greater spiritual freedom and intimacy with Christ. Some things I enjoy about this book in particular are: 1) The numerous "mini" stories from ordinary people who have engaged in all kinds of fasts - their struggles, joys, and lessons they have learned; 2) The equal emphasis on non-food fasts, such as fasts from TV, newspapers, shopping, etc.; 3) The emphasis on how fasting can help us identify with the poor and hungry of the world; and 4) The humble, honest, encouraging tone of the book. There are many books on fasting out there, but if you share the spiritual goals that I have expressed here, this is the book to read.

A New View on an Ancient subject

I love the way Ms Baab expanded on the idea of fasting to include so much more than food. She has taken Biblical and historical facts about fasting and brought them into today's world with today's experiences. She shows us how to abstain for anything that becomes too large in our lives, from food to the internet, in order to seek God or a deeper relationship with Him.

Spiritual Disciplines made understandable

This is a great, easy, freeing book that brings the Spiritual Disciplines back to their original intent - to connect with God. Thank you for writing this timely, easy to understand book that fits into today's world.

Fasting as a gracious invitation to hear the heartbeat of God

Surprise: this book is a gracious call to listen to God's word to God's people and world filled with creative ideas on how to do so. I don't tend to like the idea of fasting. Having been raised in a performance-oriented church and family, I steer clear of anything that feels like a `should' or a `must' related to my faith. Grace is a theme I prefer and one I was pleased to find peppered throughout this book. If you're looking for a book to make you feel lousy for not fasting, this is not that book. Rather, Baab reflects upon stories from people around the globe who have chosen to make fasting a part of their lives and have had their faith strengthened by it. The stories of fasting from jewelry, tv, meat or all foods; fasting in community or alone in times of trial all made me realize how much my faith would be strengthened by fasting. The surprise was - this book made me want to fast. I want to connect deeply with the heart of God, with the people in this world God loves. Baab writes about how her experience fasting from meat, dairy products and oil led her to both a place of gratitude and to pray more deeply for those who do not have the luxury of eating as richly as we Americans do. I want to live like I know that I do not have to consume in constant abundance to stay alive. In fact this book reminded me that perpetual abundance doesn't give me life, but takes it away - whether it be eating too much food or buying too many clothes. Throughout history fasting has been a wonderful way of making space to listen to the heartbeat of God and becoming more closely aligned with God's kingdom. I just might be fasting soon so that I too can listen and learn more about God's kingdom rather than the kingdom of do-what-I-want-when-I-want.

Inspirational and insightful!

Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites is a wonderful look at the Christian practice of fasting from historical and contemporary viewpoints. As Lynne Baab is quick to point out, "fasting" is not about denial, but about liberation; it is a spiritual practice that brings us into deeper awareness of our relationship to God. We can fast from a number of appetites or habits; not only from eating, but watching TV, surfing the internet, reading the newspaper. As a student re-acquainting herself with Scripture and Christian theology, I really appreciated learning more about the benefits and practice of fasting. This book is both a guide about how to fast in a healthy and balanced manner to enhance prayer, and a means of connecting with a community of Christians who share a variety of fasting experiences with Baab. This subject is important and timely considering the hectic pace of our lives in this information-driven age. Baab's book inspires us to take the time to better appreciate and practice our faith.