Do You Fast?

[tervana1]

Hi guys...I have a question for you..

Do any of you fast? I'm ashamed to say I haven't. I'm not sure why exactly. But I decided to today. I did have to eat a banana because I take medication but I'm not going to have anything else today. I know Jesus talks about it and the other saints but I haven't really studied it. I'm going to tackle the scriptures this evening and I can't wait to see why God put it on my heart today. I could use your advice and your personal experiences please.

love,
Terri

[cometsweep32]

I have never fasted before.  I have thought about it and I do want to do it sometime.  My boyfriend has fasted once and prayed to God about it.  He said it made him feel closer to God and I believe this with all my heart.  I do have to be careful about fasting though because I too am on some medication that does require me to have a little bit of food in my stomach.  Hope this helped a little bit.

your sister in Christ,
Christie

[delurad]

I may be all wrong, but I think that fasting doesn't necessarily mean going without food.   I am of the opinion that we can give up something that we really enjoy and spend a lot of time doing, and that is a form of fasting.  Like I said I might be all wrong.  Love in Christ.  Dee

[Lona211]

Here is some scriptures on fasting from the KJV. Maybe this will be of help.Lona211

Nehemiah 9:1 KJV • Read this chapter
Now in the twenty and fourth day of this month the children of Israel were assembled with fasting, and with sackclothes, and earth upon them.



Esther 4:3 KJV • Read this chapter
And in every province, whithersoever the king's commandment and his decree came, there was great mourning among the Jews, and fasting, and weeping, and wailing; and many lay in sackcloth and ashes.



Psalm 35:13 KJV • Read this chapter
But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.



Psalm 69:10 KJV • Read this chapter
When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach.



Psalm 109:24 KJV • Read this chapter
My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.



Jeremiah 36:6 KJV • Read this chapter
Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.



Daniel 6:18 KJV • Read this chapter
Then the king went to his palace, and passed the night fasting: neither were instruments of musick brought before him: and his sleep went from him.



Daniel 9:3 KJV • Read this chapter
And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes:



Joel 2:12 KJV • Read this chapter
Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:



Matthew 15:32 KJV • Read this chapter
Then Jesus called his disciples unto him, and said, I have compassion on the multitude, because they continue with me now three days, and have nothing to eat: and I will not send them away fasting, lest they faint in the way.

Matthew 17:21 KJV • Read this chapter
Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.



Mark 8:3 KJV • Read this chapter
And if I send them away fasting to their own houses, they will faint by the way: for divers of them came from far.



Mark 9:29 KJV • Read this chapter
And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.



Acts 10:30 KJV • Read this chapter
And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing,



Acts 14:23 KJV • Read this chapter
And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed.



Acts 27:33 KJV • Read this chapter
And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing.



1 Corinthians 7:5 KJV • Read this chapter
Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.


God Bless !!

[CanuckLynn]

I agree with you Dee!  Fasting is abstinence and if we're going to be doing it to glorify God, it can be giving up anything that we like to do.  Of course we all like eating and in the Bible it is the main item given up for fasting purposes (not everyone can fast this way for health reasons), but I believe in today's world we have a lot more luxuries (pleasures) that we can give up.  The main point is that when we give it up, whatever we choose it to be, that we do it for Him and while we are doing this, we are to spend time with God in His Word and in prayer.

Fasting is part of the faith life of religions old and new all over the world. In a fast, the believer chooses, for a set time, to do without something that is hard to do without. This is done so it does not come between the believer and God, so it cannot act as a god over that relationship and over the life of the believer.

Usually, the fast is to do without food. Food is one of the great blessings of God in our lives, a true pleasure and a true necessity. But humans tend to be gluttons; we want to eat more. Our hunger can compel us, force our hand, occupy our thoughts. When we have anything in our lives that we don't or can't say no to, then it is lording over us. But God is in control. If something else takes up God's place in our lives, it is an idol, and we are living in something akin to idolatry. Fasting helps to bring it back into enough control for us to surrender it to God so it can be returned to its rightful place in life. Food is the foremost example of such a thing.

You can fast from some foods, and not others. You can fast from watching television, and buying pleasure items, even from buying ordinary stuff. You can fast from hobbies you crave, places you are unhealthily drawn to, music, books, news, and movies. You might even find it necessary to fast from use of the Internet.  If you can be described as a 'junkie', or 'fanatic' about something, that's a good thing to fast from. For most people in North America, and the upper classes all over the earth, the most important fasting may be to fast from being a consumer of goods, for our role as a consumer consumes us spiritually.

Hope this helps some!
Your Sis,
Georgie

[tervana1]

Thank you so much everyone. Leona your scriptures are perfect.

I'm afraid I didn't do to well on my first time fasting. I mentioned that I need something to take medication with in the morning and plum forgot I had to do it again in the evening. I realize now after reading your reply's that we can fast with anything that gives us pleasure or comfort. After all the Holy Spirit was sent here to do just that. Spending time in prayer and praise while fasting is the ultimate surrrender.

Thanks so much girls!
love, Terri

[Blainepyle88]

thanks for sharing the info

[WingzOfPrayerP]

Is it such a fast that I have chosen? a day for a man to afflict his soul? is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy  burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?

Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy reward.

Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity;

And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday:

And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. Isa. 585-11

Gods idea of a fast........help the poor, the needy, the sick......place their needs above your own...then He tells of the blessing that result from this time of fasting. Instead of using a couple of hours to do something you like.....take that time to help someone who is in need. This is a form of fasting that God approves.

[tervana1]

Oh wowwwie wow wow wow!!  Thanks Barbara.

You opened my eyes this morning with such truths!  Hallelujah!

God bless you my friend,
terri

[WingzOfPrayerP]

Terri when I was struggle with fasting God showed this passage to me. Then one Sunday the Pastor preached on it. I know God was telling me something important. He would rather have us be a blessing  than to wallow in starvation, self pity and trying to be like others when He called us to be like Him. God looks on the heart........so we can punsih our bodies......but if our heart is wrong what does it matter? But if we fast our time, fast OUR desires and help someone else with a willing heart is that not a fast? PTL. So glad you were blessed sis. 

[Buf1923]

THIS IS A GOOD QUESTION TERRI, 

I HAVE FASTED.  THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I HAVE FASTED WITH FOOD OR TV OR COMPUTER.  I LOOK AT FASTING AS IF THERE IS ANYTHING THAT IS TAKING ME AWAY FROM THE LORD AND NOT SPENDING TIME WITH HIM WITH TV OR BEING ON THE COMPUTER I WILL FAST AND SPEND TIME IN MY PRAYER CLOSET TO FOCUS ON THE LORD.  WHEN I FAST FROM FOOD, WHICH I HAVE TO WATCH AS YOU KNOW, THAT I AM PURIFYING MY BODY FOR THE LORD.  BUT OFTEN TIMES I ASK THE LORD ON WHAT HE WANTS ME TO FAST .  THERE HAS BEEN TIMES ALSO THAT I SPENT TIME WITH THE LORD AND SUCLUDED MYSELF FOR PEOPLE.  AND I CONTINUOUSLY PRAY AND SPEAK IN TONGUES AND REBUKING THE DEVIL AND INTERCEDE FOR OTHERS THAT  I DON'T KNOW WHO I AM INTERCEDING FOR.  BUT THE LORD KNOWS WHO HE WHAT ME TO INTERCEDE FOR.  IT IS A SURE CLEANSING WHEN I DO THAT.  AND LET ME BE SO CLOSE TO THE LORD AND GET TRULY INTIMATE WITH HIM.   

GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIEND.   

[debomama52]

Such a great topic and what wonderful answers!!  Thank you all so much for the info and the lesson.  I too have learned that fasting from food is not all there is to the process of fasting!!  God bless you all!! 

[BaldEagle4Christ]

You can fast from some foods, and not others. You can fast from watching television, and buying pleasure items, even from buying ordinary stuff. You can fast from hobbies you crave, places you are unhealthily drawn to, music, books, news, and movies. You might even find it necessary to fast from use of the Internet.  If you can be described as a 'junkie', or 'fanatic' about something, that's a good thing to fast from. For most people in North America, and the upper classes all over the earth, the most important fasting may be to fast from being a consumer of goods, for our role as a consumer consumes us spiritually.

]

Georgie,And Dee.
I have read on fasting many times,and it usually talks about food and water.
This is my opion,but aS the bible talks about I it  Mostly food and water.
And yrs ago in Jesus time there was no tv too watch,or computers too play on or there was nothing much they had too fast on.
Jesus and all who fasted in time,never had all we had now.
It was mostly talking about food and water,no where in the bible it talks about fasting on other thing.


Here in Luke 5:33 NIV
[Jesus Questioned About Fasting] [5:33-39pp -- Mt 9:14-17; Mk 2:18-22] They said to him, "John's disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking
The pharisees talked too Jesus why are they fasting but not Jesus desciple..and at the end it mentioned food and water...nothing else.

Here in Like Jesus said in Matthew 6:16 NIV
[Fasting] "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.



I am sorry all i have had this argument for a long time with many people.
Like Catholic i heard belive Just fasting on fruits and bread.That is what i got from  a sister who is a catholic.
Where it say that in the bible???
I really belive the bible stressesd it,it is on food and water..Now Mind you,,Jesus went on the mountian for 40 days, fasted for 40 days...it said nothing about him fasting on water...for we need water too survive..That would Just be not right.
The body needs water too n0urish and have energy.
Just like our flowers and trees.They need water too survive.
I hope and pray i did not offend any one,but i am serching the bible.

Any one wanna hellp me on this?
I love too hear it.[/b]

[birdiewoman1958]

Ezra 8:21-23; 10:6

Nehemiah 1:4

Esther 4:16

Job 33:19,20

Psalm 69:10; 102:4

Isaiah 58:6

Daniel 9:3,20-23; 10:3


Joel 2:15
   Exodus 34:28

Deuteronomy 9:9-18

2 Samuel 12:16,17

Matthew 4:2; 6:16; 9:15

Acts 13:3; 14:23

1 Corinthians 7:5

2 Corinthians 11:27,28

Jonah 3:5,10



here are some verses to do with fasting not sure if this will help with answers  and also i have read there are different kinds of fasting
they are
Daniel fast
partial fast
one day a week fast
one meal a day fast
absolute fast (water only)

[oldsweetp]

I was lead to fast once when I had a difficult decision to make.  The Lord put it on my heart to fast and being the human I am I told the Lord it wouldn't work. I told Him I had to feed my husband and my sons (the twins were still at home), and if they saw me not eating that they would ask questions.  I knew I had to keep it to myself, even from them.  I decided to go ahead with the fast and for 3 days it worked out that my sons and husband ate at different times, which was very unusual as we all ate together.  When I started to get hungry I would pray and tell the Lord that I wasn't strong enough to do this on my own  because I really like food, and then the hunger pangs would go away. I just had fluids for the 3 days and when the fast was over I had the answer I needed for my decision.  I learned so much in those 3 days about prayer and my faith really grew.  
I have friends that have fasted for different periods of time, but it is whatever the Lords leads you to do. Some are for hours and some are for days.  Some are with food and some are with something that has come between them and God.
Uh  oh..this sounds like a testimony.   

God bless you and yours,
Phyllis

[itammy]

Yes Terri....I have fasted several times before.....but like you I have to take medication and also have a sugar problem....anytime I have felt like God is calling  me to fast I stock up on juices. (V8)ect.   God has always seemed to take care of me and help me through it.....Might I suggest what I call a partial fast...skip one or two meals and read your Bible and pray.  Let God lead you and all will be ok.   Tammy