Last Saturday, for the first time, instead of taking my 2003 Chevy Tahoe to the shop, I changed the oil myself. With guidance from my dad and my father-in-law and help from some YouTube videos, I headed to O’Reilly’s Auto Parts on a mission. After gathering all the necessary tools, I got to work.

First, I placed the oil pan under the drain plug and unscrewed the drain plug, allowing the old oil to drain out completely. The old oil that came out was black and dirty, and it took some time for all six quarts to drip out. Once the oil had fully drained, I cleaned and reinserted the drain plug, then replaced the dirty oil filter with a clean one. Finally, I poured new oil into the oil fill port under the car’s hood. The new oil was bright and clear, ready to take on another 3,000 miles!

Changing the oil last Saturday, I was just finishing a week-long fast. Throughout the whole operation, Holy Spirit was speaking to me about the similarities between changing the oil of a car and fasting. First, fasting is a way to empty yourself physically and spiritually. As we empty ourselves of food, we deny the thing that our bodies crave most, the very sustenance that gives us strength and energy. Just as we lay down the fork for a time, we are also to lay down our will before the Lord to find strength and energy in Him. In that space of emptiness, we can ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with His presence (grace), renewing our spirits and providing the sustenance we truly need for spiritual growth and perseverance in faith.

Much like emptying old oil, fasting is a way to empty our souls of the gunk we pick up along the way, even unintentionally. The pride, lust, greed, envy, ungratefulness, selfish ambition, and unbelief that we’ve made agreements with are all poured out of the drain plug of our hearts. This does not happen naturally, as many fast for non-spiritual reasons. Those who fast for health/fitness will reap mere physical benefits. But if you fast with an intentionally humble, seeking, and repentant heart, you will reap a harvest of grace.

When we don’t have to cook, eat, or wash dishes, we naturally free up a lot of time to pray and examine our hearts before the Lord. ***A shoutout to those who continue to cook for their families while you fast—you a real one!*** During a fast, we often feel weak and dependent, turning to God with every pang of hunger. Each pang serves as a reminder, an alarm clock to pray, bringing us to a heavy recognition our need for Him the longer we go on.

I always say, “It’s hard to sin and fast at the same time.” Not impossible, as Jesus rebukes those who fast for fame in Matthew 6, but definitely hard! That is because in fasting, you will receive a new, clean filter of grace. In a car, the oil filter helps remove contaminants from the engine’s oil that can accumulate over time and make the engine dirty and grimy. In the Spirit, the fruit of self control over cravings will help you say no to sin (spiritual contaminants) and keep your soul blameless before the Lord. It is important to remember that even self control comes from the Lord. Every once in a while, you just need a hard reset, a new filter, a fresh grace. That’s when we fast.

Sometimes we can get so busy and lost in the things we have to do every day, that we forget about the things God cares about. We often make attachments with the world that result in detachment from God. We forget about the Great Commission, the calling on every true disciple of Jesus, that as we go, we make more disciples, baptize, and teach everyone to obey what Jesus has commanded. We forget to invest in the Kingdom of God. We forget that ONLY THE WORK OF BUILDING UP THE CHURCH AND SAVING THE LOST WILL COUNT AT THE END… everything else will be burned up and counted as great personal loss. (1 Corinthians 3)

As we empty and open ourselves up to change and allow the Lord to work in us, replacing our old filters with new self control, we are given many opportunities to be filled anew with the fresh pouring of the Holy Spirit. He is our new oil. His presence is our victory. When you prioritize prayer and meditation on Scripture, even over your meals, trust that He will fill you with new grace.

Grace is an important word, but it doesn’t mean what many people think. It isn’t simply unmerited favor or forgiveness, nor is it another term for mercy. When the Apostle Paul uses the word “grace,” he refers to the very presence and power of the Holy Spirit who enables us to believe, love, and serve God. So, when Paul says “grace and peace to you,” he means “May the Lord, who dwells within you, empower you and fill you with the fruits that come only through His Spirit!”

Do you long for more intimacy with our Lord Jesus? Do you need fresh winds in your sails or new oil in your engine on your faith journey? I encourage you to plan a fast and stick to it. And may the Lord multiply grace within you, for His mission and glory. Amen!