The Dallas Willard Podcast 68. Fasting: The Paradigm of the Disciplines (1981)
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Feb 2, 2026 
Dallas Willard, philosopher and Christian spiritual teacher known for writings on spiritual formation, leads a recorded 1981 lecture on fasting. He frames fasting as a core discipline, explains what fasting is, its history, and practical cautions. He connects fasting to training desire, trusting God's word, Jesus' 40-day fast, and how disciplines shape spiritual formation.
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Inner Conflict Is Literal And Experiential
- Romans 7 describes a real experiential struggle where the inward man delights in God's law but the body resists.
- Dallas Willard shows this inner conflict is literal and must be worked out, not solved by doctrine alone.
Choose Disciplines Deliberately
- Choose and engage in specific spiritual activities to grow; spiritual maturity won't happen by accident.
- Deliberately practice disciplines because no one else will make you into a saint.
Start Fasting Carefully And Learn Slowly
- Begin fasting carefully and learn practical details from guides like Richard Foster before diving in.
- Expect unfamiliar feelings and bodily responses and prepare to learn from them rather than panic.
