Did you know that a Galapagos tortoise can slow its metabolism and survive for up to a year without food? Meanwhile, my stomach starts growling if I delay breakfast by 60 minutes. And, for a lot of us, our relationship with food is complicated. Maybe that’s why fasting is a spiritual discipline we often choose to ignore.

Fasting, at its heart, is a humble expression of our need for God. As Cassie Achermann explains in her recent article on fasting, one of the primary benefits of fasting is that it reminds us of our dependence on God. It’s easy to rely on food for satisfaction and comfort; when we remove it, we reveal what we’ve been depending on. And as Cassie writes, we’re “reminded to long for the right thing.” Scroll down to read the article, and consider how fasting can become a meaningful way for you to commune with God.