What's the point of fasting?

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In his book Fasting, in The Ancient Practices Series, Scot McKnight defines fasting as “a person’s whole-body, natural response to life’s sacred moments.” I like that definition, yet in a religious culture of potlucks, ice cream socials, and “dinners on the grounds,” it’s sometimes difficult to explain the point of fasting.
Fasting is a practice in Christianity that traces its roots through ancient Judaism. David fasted; the prophet Isaiah fasted; Jesus himself fasted. Therefore, fasting isn’t something to be overlooked or deemed obsolete by contemporary Christians. The point of fasting is not found in some notion that it makes one holier than others, nor is it correct to understand fasting as some sort of religious ritual that brings one closer to God simply through its undertaking.
Perhaps it helps to think of fasting as a removal of distractions. When one fasts, it’s not simply about abstaining from food; it’s about removing those things that distracts one from listening to the Spirit of God. Fasting from food is the traditional practice, because food is an essential and regular part of each of our lives. To fast from food meant one could use mealtimes and the reality of hunger to focus more completely on God. Today there are many things that distract us (T.V., Facebook, etc.), and I believe we’d all be able to better listen to God and one another if we practiced fasting from our distractions.

*(This is a response to a question for The Anniston Star's "Religion Roundtable" printed August 18, 2012).

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