Pastor-scholar John Piper invites the reader to sharpen his or her appetite for God by turning away from the dulling effects of food and the dangers of idolatry and draw closer to God through simple fasting with accompanying prayer.

This is an excellent book on christian fasting. Through careful and cogent analysis of the Bible, Piper shows: (1) fasting has a long and righteous history with Christians; (2) fasting can reveal things that are in our hearts and that control us; (3) fasting is an important spiritual discipline that draws us closer to God and glorifies Him; (4) fasting (along with prayer) is one of the most effective ways of showing God our "hunger" for Him; and (5) fasting for the right reasons will bring us immeasurable gifts from our Father. Piper explains that understanding the teachings of Isaiah 58 holds the key to fasting for the glory of God. We fast as an offering of emptiness to God in hope. It signifies our utter helplessness and total dependence on God. Read this book and add fasting to your arsenal of spiritual disciplines to live and grow in the kingdom of heaven.