How do i fast?

~Anastasia~

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There are many different kinds of fasts, ways of fasting. And for different purposes.

Best advice I can offer is ... watch your motives and your heart. Fasts which you can "succeed" at, if they make you proud, are not spiritually beneficial. Fasting should be humbling. Or if you "fail" and despair, this is likewise not helpful. Fasting is a tool for spiritual formation, not a bludgeon to crush the Christian.

I am also leery of fasting which attempts to force God to do something according to our will.


Fasting done correctly should be a means of disciplining the flesh, bringing into subjection to the spirit. It should humble us and turn our attention more toward God. It should be accompanied by increased prayer. If it is accompanied by acts of charity it can serve to help us grow in love and compassion.

IMO these are more important than exactly how we fast.
 
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Devin P

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There's no real biblical guideline for it, only some examples on how not to fast. But, as someone said before me in this post, there are many ways.

I feel that you being called to, and having a desire to fast is a beautiful thing. Truly it is.

The only fasting that I've really tried, has been a fast from everything except water. Just pray, and be in the word. Don't listen to music, don't watch tv, movies, nothing that your flesh delights in. Only read His word, pray, and fellowship if possible. Obviously you'll be working, or going to school during this time. Your normal life doesn't go on pause, just your entertainment and dietary lives. It's meant to be cleansing, and rewarding. There will be some weird physical signs that happen (irregular heartbeat, momentary dizziness, a euphoric feeling of weightlessness) - ignore them, and trust in Him.

It can, and will be some of the most amazing time you'll spend with Him that you could ever hope to have. There's also fasts that are only from all foods aside from unflavored veggies, there's absolute fasting (no food or water for three days), there's also just fasting for one or two days a week (from everything except water). Generally with the fasting from everything except water, you'll want to try to go as long as you can. Try for a couple days, then keep expanding it out, and work your way up to a week, then two, etc.

Only make sure that your motives are right, and that you are being led into it by Him. Never tell others about your fasting, never. Avoid it entirely if possible. If meals come up, it gets tricky though. I feel as though, as long as you're not trying to brag, or go out of your way to make it known you are fasting or have fasted, then it's fine if it comes up and you're put on the spot with someone wondering why you haven't been eating.
 
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~Anastasia~

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One important thing I forgot to mention is that we need to be aware of is any medical reasons that might dictate what kind of fasting might be wise or unwise. Particularly with very strict fasts.

There are different ways to increase/decrease strictness. And we have different kinds of fasting, but a general guideline is that often that we take no meat, no eggs, no dairy (no milk, cheese, etc), no olive oil, no wine. It is one very traditional Christian fast.

We do this every Wednesday (because of Christ's betrayal) and every Friday (because of the crucifixion), which are little disciplines but teach us to be mindful and disciplined.

We also do for several longer periods during the year. Great Lent is close to two months, and that is a major discipline, along with increased prayer, often abandoning typical entertainments/celebrations, increased giving to the poor. Meals are smaller. But honestly, this will stir up "stuff" that you might not even know is there and shouldn't be done without some guidance by a spiritual mentor.


Other fasting considerations may be to eat only vegetables, or to eat only simple and uncooked foods, to fast from "pleasant foods", to wait until evening each day to eat, and so on.
 
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