the right way of fasting

A very short answer is that the Bible says that as Christians we live by the Holy Spirit living in us. There is a battle between the Holy Spirit and the "flesh" which is the old part of us that still is drawn to sin. However, in a way, the flesh also encompasses the normal desires of the body such as the desire for food. By not fulfilling that desire for a while and devoting the time we would have spent eating to prayer we are allowing the Holy Spirit more room to maneuvre in our battle with the flesh.

Many people have found that fasting leads to answers to prayer in difficult situations more directly than prayer without fasting.

I fasted for the first time last month for 2 days. During that time I stopped eating food and replaced that time and a majority of the rest of my time during those two days reading the bible, praising god, and praying to him. I wasn't alone in the fasting, I was doing it with my special friend, someone that helps me with me faith and that knows my weaknesses so he can hold me accountable when I am falling off the deep end.

And starting yesterday and for the next few days till Saturday and am fasting from talking to my special friend. Simply because we have been growing a bond and before we start anything we want to make sure that our focus is on God. So, what I am trying to say you can fast from anything...preferably something that gives you pleasure.

Food is good because every time you feel hungry you can use that as a reminder to read or pray. And plus if you do video games or something that might feel like just a habit to you and you might forget that you are even trying to fast from it. But with food you will have those like hunger pains and you will be like ohh....hungry...oh GOD! ahha So it helps.

I don't really think there is a certain way as long as you are keeping your main focus of those days or week(s) on God then you are doing fine.

I hope this help and that if you choose to fast in the future you will grow a stronger bond with Christ.

Take the Priest's opinion on it.

There was a situation where the disciples couldn't cast out a demon, and Jesus suggested it would help to pray and fast. He didn't say how.

Scripturally, fasting used to be self-determined, as a form of repentance.

Ps 35:13 But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth; I humbled my soul with fasting

Mt 6:16
"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

a definition of fasting by the early Christians is that to 'break your bread with the hungry, clothe the naked and bring into thy house those who lack a roof' Isaiah speaking to the House of Jacob...

A Catholic fast is have one meal a day and two small snacks called "collations".... thus missing a meal can be declared a fast.... but Prayer and fasting work well with Charity or Alms giving, try this and surely your Prayer is heard...

I agree that God didn't give a certain time-frame for fasting. Because of the Holy Spirit living within us, the time duration of a fast can be determined by obedience to the Holy Spirit's guidance.

There are different time frames for fasting, like the Daniël fast of 3 days, or the fast Jesus Christ was on for 40 days, but those were Spirit lead fasts. Some pastors of the previous century used to fast 1 day each week, just to regain focus on Christ.

Spend some time in prayer, and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. In my personal experience, i have found that it's impossible to fast, without His guidance... (i end up "cheating" when i've started a fast out of my own strength!) If He leads you to it, He'll provide the grace to lead you through it...

The earliest fasts I've seen in the Bible were initiated by people, not God, for repentance. A drought comes, the king declares a fast. The enemy is on the horizon, the people declare a fast.

This happened with offerings too -- people used them as gestures in hope of God's favor, and God later set some recommendations for them. But if we try to get too caught up in rules, it will be as though we have a formula for what God will do if we perform a certain amount. A relationship with Him usually doesn't operate that way.

Fasts were usually gestures of humbling, and focus on God.

I was always told fasting is a way to show God you are willing to go without in order to show him your belief.

praisehimalleluia said:

what is the right way of fasting in christian way? From biblical perspective? Pls explain as I am a new christian.

thanks

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Right ways are best learned by personally seeking The Lord's Voice on any given matter .

It's not prudent for us to merely follow what someone who seems wise or in the know has to say .

Seek The Lord and His Voice with all your being , and then when others claim and assert , whatever they claim and assert , you will have a divine standard with which to accurately measure their words and emphasis by .

None of us are called to be a revealer of the truth , that role is rightly reserved for God and Christ through Their Holy Spirit .

What we can do , is affirm and confirm each other and our God-given understandings , when each of us individually , is tuned to hearing Christ's Voice within .

Studying Scripture helps greatly , if indeed we study with a true yearning to draw nigh unto our Maker .

Suggest you pray + study what Scripture has to say about fasting , while seeking to hear + understand The Lord's counsel regarding all which is pertinent to you .

This is made possible by the Gift of The Holy Spirit .

If you haven't asked and received this Gift yet , now is a good time to do so !

And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened.
If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?
Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?
If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? <-----> Luke 11:9-13

Once we are so graciously anointed - we have the very best Teacher , Guide , Comforter , Reprover , Correcter , Confirmer , Inspector , Enabler there Is , living and abiding securely within our very being !

These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.
But the anointing which ye have received of him abides in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. <-----> 1st John 2:26+27

This is not a matter of personal pride , wherein one might say - " I don't need anyone cause I'm spirit-filled " etc .

It's a matter of giving recognition , where recognition is due !

No one is going to ride the shirttails of another " believer " into the kingdom of Heaven .

The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,
Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:
Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. <-----> Ezekiel 14:12-14


But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. <-----> Romans 8:9

Beware of carnal man's desire to be as lord over your spirit , telling you how and what to believe , without counseling you to seek The Lord and His Truth with your own life and breath .

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:
Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;
Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock. <-----> 1st Peter 5:1-3

Only those of us who have the Holy Spirit within + personally / consistently walk in agreement with Christ will be able to endure to the end .

And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. <-----> Matthew 24:12+13

Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: <-----> Isaiah 55:6

And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. <-----> Jeremiah 29:13

Whatever our question , Jesus Is / has the very best answer !

May we find our rest in Him !

And May The Lord Be Pleased to Bless !

wm

praisehimalleluia said:

what is the right way of fasting in christian way? From biblical perspective? Pls explain as I am a new christian.

thanks

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There are different fasts
Daniel went without good food
The Israelites would often go without food and water altogether
Periods of fasting vary and so do the type of fasts

heron said:

The earliest fasts I've seen in the Bible were initiated by people, not God, for repentance. A drought comes, the king declares a fast. The enemy is on the horizon, the people declare a fast.

This happened with offerings too -- people used them as gestures in hope of God's favor, and God later set some recommendations for them. But if we try to get too caught up in rules, it will be as though we have a formula for what God will do if we perform a certain amount. A relationship with Him usually doesn't operate that way.

Fasts were usually gestures of humbling, and focus on God.

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It's a very interesting topic. What is and isn't classed as fasting and when does it become dieting instead of fasting?

My own view is that for it to be classed as a fast or fasting it would have to be a minimum of at least one full day of going without any food whatsoever... say 25 hours just to make sure.

I think it becomes dieting when you are doing it for yourself to lose weight and gain vanity, and you're not going without for G-d.

Cheers,

John