Fasting can make prayer more effective?

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

Must we fast if there is something very difficult that we need God's help, like healing cancer patient ?​

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Mark 9:25-29​

And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” And he said to them, “This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting.”

 

[sandman]

Must we fast if there is something very difficult that we need God's help, like healing cancer patient ?​

​

Mark 9:25-29​

Just some added insight into verse 29

There are several later manuscripts that do include the word fasting but.....
“This kind does not come out except by prayer” is the original reading according to two of the earliest and weightiest manuscripts. The variant reading “and fasting” is not original and was likely added by scribes that were attempting to highlight the church’s focus on fasting.

 

[Jonaitis]

Just some added insight into verse 29

There are several later manuscripts that do include the word fasting but.....
“This kind does not come out except by prayer” is the original reading according to two of the earliest and weightiest manuscripts. The variant reading “and fasting” is not original and was likely added by scribes that were attempting to highlight the church’s focus on fasting.

Now, this is interesting. Matthew 17:21 also has this, but this verse is completely taken out of most modern translations, likely because it is only found in the TR manuscripts. I never saw that before. Talk about a scribal interpolation.

 

[sandman]

Now, this is interesting. Matthew 17:21 also has this, but this verse is completely taken out of most modern translations, likely because it is only found in the TR manuscripts. I never saw that before. Talk about a scribal interpolation.

That's right ....I totally forgot about that one. The early Manuscripts omit the entire verse.

 

[LayHong_Loves_Christ]

When you fast you have stronger will to pray, right?
God knows your heart.

 

[Jonaitis]

When you fast you have stronger will to pray, right?
God knows your heart.

It could, I suppose.

I've found fasting as a good way for disciplining the body and its urges, though. It can be helpful in training against temptation, like gluttony.

 

[NBB]

I noticed fasting gives you spiritual strength and more spiritual discernment.

 

[Lost4words]

Fasting makes me remember where i buried my marrow bones!

 

[Balticus]

When you fast you have stronger will to pray, right?

Yes, I'd definitely say so. When you mortify your body, you open up more to spiritual things. Also, I noticed that your mind becomes more inclined towards prayer and study of scripture. There's this one "trick" when it comes to scripture study and fasting: when you're really hungry and ready to break fast - wait for an hour or two and in this time read the Bible (also commentaries etc.); I found that the level of knowledge absorption and retention is much higher in such circumstances than when you're full and in every other way comfortable. Why does it work this way? I have no idea, but it does - at least for me. Good luck!

 

[ozso]

When you fast you have stronger will to pray, right?
God knows your heart.

Fasting helps improve mental ability and clarity. It also helps improve discipline and willpower. Many cultures and religions have practiced fasting for these reasons.

 

[Junkyarder]

I was finding living the Christian life a struggle initially, once I started Fasting my willpower took a major boost.

My prayer practice became regular as did my mass attendance. I started to make more friends in the faith, and my work benefited as well.

You could say I'm a fan.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Must we fast if there is something very difficult that we need God's help, like healing cancer patient ?​

​

Mark 9:25-29​

I will be honest here. I have no idea why fasting would help anyone focus on anything but themself. Afterall you are depriving yourself of food and that is what is on your mind most of the time, nourishment. Best to find another avenue that keeps you walking with His Holy Spirit. The nourishment of living waters, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Blessings.

 

[Junkyarder]

I will be honest here. I have no idea why fasting would help anyone focus on anything but themself. Afterall you are depriving yourself of food and that is what is on your mind most of the time, nourishment. Best to find another avenue that keeps you walking with His Holy Spirit. The nourishment of living waters, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Blessings.

I think that would happen to someone struggling with their faith or someone in the secular world who fasts for reasons of vanity.

A biblical fast is a physical practice with a spiritual intent. When we are well practiced to seeking God in times of discomfort the fasting encourages this even more so.

At least in my experience.

 

[Maria Billingsley]

I think that would happen to someone struggling with their faith or someone in the secular world who fasts for reasons of vanity.

A biblical fast is a physical practice with a spiritual intent. When we are well practiced to seeking God in times of discomfort the fasting encourages this even more so.

At least in my experience.

Well not the least but struggling with my faith just starving myself. Thanks for sharing!
Blessings.

 

[PsaltiChrysostom]

This is one of the hymns for the start of the Lenten fast for Eastern Orthodox:

Adam was driven out of Paradise, because in disobedience he had eaten food; but
Moses was granted the vision of God, because he had cleansed the eyes of his soul by
fasting. If then we long to dwell in Paradise, let us abstain from all needless food; and
if we desire to see God, let us like Moses fast for forty days. With sincerity let us
persevere in prayer and intercession; let us still the passions of our soul; let us subdue
the rebellious instincts of the flesh. With light step let us set out upon the path to
heaven, where the choirs of angels with never-silent voice sing the praises of the
undivided Trinity; and there we shall behold the surpassing beauty of the Master.

 

[Clare73]

I will be honest here. I have no idea why fasting would help anyone focus on anything but themself. Afterall you are depriving yourself of food and that is what is on your mind most of the time, nourishment. Best to find another avenue that keeps you walking with His Holy Spirit. The nourishment of living waters, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Blessings.

Jesus said they would fast when he was gone. . .right?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Jesus said they would fast when he was gone. . .right?

He's back and lives inside us now.
John 14
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

 

[Aldebaran]

I will be honest here. I have no idea why fasting would help anyone focus on anything but themself. Afterall you are depriving yourself of food and that is what is on your mind most of the time, nourishment. Best to find another avenue that keeps you walking with His Holy Spirit. The nourishment of living waters, Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
Blessings.

I've tried fasting before and came to the conclusion that you did. I was so hungry and weak, so that's what was at the front of my mind all the time. I found it quite distracting when I prayed. It did make me more grateful to have access to food, just as being cold in the Winter (I keep my house temperature low most of the time) makes me more grateful to have access to heat. But I can't see how it made me any more "spiritual", or closer to God in any way.

 

[Clare73]

He's back and lives inside us now.
John 14
Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Does saying that they can fast when he is gone sound like he was indicating there would no longer be any fasting?

 

[Maria Billingsley]

Does saying that they can fast when he is gone sound like he was indicating there would no longer be any fasting?

Yes. When He was with them He did not want them to fast. He is with us now.