Fasting

[Living4Him03]

Does anyone fast regularly or have you fasted in the past?

What are/were your reasons? Scriptures to back up fasting and why we should fast at different times?


Also, does it say in Scripture that we shouldn't make it known publicly when we fast? I thought that it means not to go about boasting that you are fasting, but that if someone finds out it's ok.

Thoughts?

 

[Stanfi]

I can't site the verse from memory, but bascially scripture tells us to get up wash our face and go out our day. Like any normal day.

Fasting is not something you do to work out a deal with God. As in "God I will not eat today, but in return, I expect this out of you." Fasting will show your dependence on God, and get your focus on Him.

 

[2Timothy2]

I can't site the verse from memory, but bascially scripture tells us to get up wash our face and go out our day. Like any normal day.

Fasting is not something you do to work out a deal with God. As in "God I will not eat today, but in return, I expect this out of you." Fasting will show your dependence on God, and get your focus on Him.

How exactly does it do that? I have only tried to fast once, recently. I was able to pray more often since my hunger pangs reminded me to.

 

[invisiblebabe]

I can't fast for health reasons.... I'm borderline hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) and underweight (5'7" and 108 lbs) with an extremely high metabolism, so skipping even one meal is seriously pushing it

 

[the_man]

Does anyone fast regularly or have you fasted in the past?

What are/were your reasons? Scriptures to back up fasting and why we should fast at different times?


Also, does it say in Scripture that we shouldn't make it known publicly when we fast? I thought that it means not to go about boasting that you are fasting, but that if someone finds out it's ok.

Thoughts?

I've fasted in the past. I usually fast with my family, we make it a group fasting when we want to pray for something in particular or praise God.

I've always taken fasting and praying to be hand in hand and for both I go with the Matt 6:5-8 approach. So if someone finds out, or you do it in a group setting, that's okay. It's when you do it for recognition, as Christ says in "they have received their reward in full"

 

[boilerblues]

I've fasted at times, but it's one of the disciplines that I'm still learning about. A good resource for all the Spiritual Disciplines is "Celebration of Discipline" by Richard Foster. A book every Christian should read. It does an excellent job of explaining not just how, but why.

 

[Tuffguy]

Nope. Never have, never will.

 

[Stanfi]

How exactly does it do that? I have only tried to fast once, recently. I was able to pray more often since my hunger pangs reminded me to.

In my experience. I normally expect food to sustain me and give me strength to get through my day, but when fasting, I was depending on God.

 

[gsmithcat]

Does anyone fast regularly or have you fasted in the past?

What are/were your reasons? Scriptures to back up fasting and why we should fast at different times?

I don't fast regularly. I used to when I was Catholic, but I didn't understand why.

This past summer, a friend of mine who is an unbeliever moved out here for a summer internship. Through circumstances beyond my control, God placed him in my house as my roommate. The week before he arrived, my small group was going through Ezra and we read this:

Ezra 8:21-23
21 There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. 22 I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, "The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him." 23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

We talked about how Ezra spent the time praying and fasting in preparation for his long and dangerous journey to Jerusalem. I decided that I would spend the following Saturday fasting and praying in preparation for my new roommate. Then, at church that Friday, they announced that on Saturday they would be holding a day a fasting a prayer, so I went and joined in on that. It was awesome! It was great to seek the Lord in this way, and he really blessed my relationship with my roommate over the summer.

Also, does it say in Scripture that we shouldn't make it known publicly when we fast? I thought that it means not to go about boasting that you are fasting, but that if someone finds out it's ok.

I think the Scripture you are thinking of is this:

Matthew 6:16-18
16 "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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I think this means that when we fast, we should do it with our heart for God and not to recieve praise from men.

 

[Tink]

Nope. Never have, never will.

How come? I'm nosy, and I like to know varying points of view. Feel free to ignore my question, if you wish.

In Christ,
Tink

 

[Tink]

I think the Scripture you are thinking of is this:

Matthew 6:16-18
16 "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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

I think this means that when we fast, we should do it with our heart for God and not to recieve praise from men.

Amen, and amen.

Thanks Gsmith.

In Christ,
Tink

 

[Living4Him03]

Thanks Gsmithcat...I guess I have learned that fasting and praying is more about just doing it than wondering what the correct way to go about it is. If you worry too much about it I suppose you become too legalistic and may miss the point alltogether!