a short fast

[OakOfRighteousness]

Hi there! and a happy new year!

I read what you wrote; I don't think the Lord means us to damage our health in fasting.

It seems to me that the point of the abstaining is to make way for other activities which are profitable, rather than for the sake of doing the fasting itself.

I can understand the need for, e.g., weight loss, of course.

Thank you for your concern for me and I mostly agree with you. Fasting should not be harmful and that's why I broke the fast when it didn't feel right. And, I've never fasted for the sake of fasting. That would be horrible.

I first started fasting over 3 years ago to lose weight using the method intermittent fasting (IF) and lost 25 pounds that way. Surprisingly, fasting can be quite healthy for you and I enjoy the benefits of it such as increased energy. I fasted for the Lord a few times and was edified through it. I was just unaware of the terminology being used in the OP. Thanks for your input. I was just reading through your Philippians thread and was blessed by the reminder found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I'm going to go journal on this for a bit.

 

[OakOfRighteousness]

Basically, dry fast encourages more toxin-release than water fast. It is also easier physically (less hunger sensation) if you have an almost-toxin-free body. You may start by reading from the following website. Unfortunately this website is no longer active. But still much good information is there. Please pay special attention to the posts by FAST DOCTOR and Milena. Fast Doctor gave much valuable professional advice which is not to be ignored if you value your life. Milena gave advice specifically on dry fast based on her conversations with a Russian dry fast doctor. For instance, the way to break a dry fast is different from breaking a water fast. Do balance her advice with the Fast Doctor's views.
fasting support forum: Category Index

Please do a good research before you attempt a dry fast. I do suggest that you do not attempt a dry fast before you could do a 5-day water fast without any detox symptoms. God bless you.

Faroukfarouk, I think your posts sound self-righteous and toxic, even though you might mean well. Please refrain from visiting the threads started by me so that you won't know who are fasting.

Thank you for the help. I've been fasting for 3 years except while pregnant and nursing and quite like it. I've never done a 5 day water fast (thanks for the terminology). The most I've done is a 36 hr water fast and 18 hr dry fast. Bless you!

 

[faroukfarouk]

Thank you for your concern for me and I mostly agree with you. Fasting should not be harmful and that's why I broke the fast when it didn't feel right. And, I've never fasted for the sake of fasting. That would be horrible.

I first started fasting over 3 years ago to lose weight using the method intermittent fasting (IF) and lost 25 pounds that way. Surprisingly, fasting can be quite healthy for you and I enjoy the benefits of it such as increased energy. I fasted for the Lord a few times and was edified through it. I was just unaware of the terminology being used in the OP. Thanks for your input. I was just reading through your Philippians thread and was blessed by the reminder found in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18. I'm going to go journal on this for a bit.

I actually need to lose weight also!

Yes, I do love Philippians.

 

[JenniferChristian]

I started a new dry fast on Sunday night. I slipped at Monday evening and ate cheese but did not drink anything. I then resumed the fast. Now I have abstained from food for 26 hours and from water for 47 hours. Physically it has been an easy fast. The challenging part is to keep myself close to God and thus experience the pleasure of His presence so that I won’t miss pleasure from food.

An excerpt from Richard Forster’s CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE

Throughout Scripture fasting refers to abstaining from food for spiritual purposes.

There are no biblical laws that command regular fasting. Our freedom in the gospel, however, does not mean license; it means opportunity. We are free to fast on any day. Freedom for the apostle Paul meant that he was engaged in “fastings often” (2 Cor. 11:27).

Fasting must forever center on God. Like the prophetess Anna, we need to be “worshipping with fasting” (Luke 2:37). Every other purpose must be subservient to God. Like that apostolic band at Antioch, “fasting” and “worshiping the Lord” must be said in the same breath (Acts 13:2). God questioned the people in Zechariah’s day, “When you fasted…did you at all fast unto Me?” (Zech. 7:5)

Physicial benefits, success in prayer, the enduing with power, spiritual insights—these must never replace God as the center of our fasting. John Wesley declares, “first, let fasting be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on Him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven.” That is the only way we will be saved from loving the blessing more than the Blesser.

 

[saul258]

If you need a fast to be closer to god you need also to look onto your everyday life. Why did you move away from god in the first place.

I think to fast is actually good but one needs to reflect what we do in our everyday life too. And much more frequently.

 

[JenniferChristian]

I ended my most recent DF. This time I abstained from food for 41 hours and from water for 62 hours. I started to feel some thirst the last few hours. The cheese-slip perhaps dehydrated me more than usual.

I feel I have grown more sensitive to God’s promptings, even during the days between my short fasts. I feel some excitement about the spiritual strengthening I will continue to receive if I continue doing regular fasting. Fasting is not easy, but it is doable by God’s grace.

An excerpt from Richard Forster’s CELEBRATION OF DISCIPLINE #2

Once the primary purpose of fasting is firmly fixed in our hearts, we are at liberty to understand that there are also secondary purposes in fasting. More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface…pride, anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear—if they are within us, they will surface during fasting.

Fasting helps us keep our balance in life. How easily we begin to allow nonessentials to take precedence in our lives. How quickly we crave things we do not need until we are enslaved by them. Our human cravings and desires are like rivers that tend to overflow their banks; fasting helps keep them in their proper channels. Discipline brings freedom.

In the beginning of a fast you will be fascinated with the physical aspect of your experience, but the most important thing to monitor is the inner attitude of the heart. Outwardly you will be performing the regular duties of your day, but inwardly you will be in prayer and adoration, song, and worship. In a new way, cause every task of the day to be a sacred ministry to the Lord.

Fasting can bring breakthroughs in the spiritual realm that will never happen in any other way. It is a means of God’s grace and blessing that should not be neglected any longer. Now is the time for all who hear the voice of Christ to obey it.