First Time Fast

[ginkoneko]

I've felt lately like God wants me to do a short fast in order to get my life Christ-centered again and bring my focus back to God. Only, I've never done a real fast before. I have had eating issues and avoided eating for 2 days max but it was always for weight loss, not to get myself back to thinking about God. I'm not sure how to handle a fast for religious reasons or what I should do. There are some different options I was thinking about. Any suggestions?

 

[sistakrista]

I think if you feel God wants you to fast - fast. There's really not a whole lot to it, when it is of God & done unto Him! Do as the Spirit moves/leads you! Without the leading of the Holy Spirit, you're wasting your time!

 

[Truffle]

juice fast!

 

[jds1977]

The biblical examples that I've seen are fasting from food and drinking just water, if there are others please let me know.
It is a great way to humble yourself before the Lord. I promise you, it's hard but the fellowship you have w/ God is so sweet. Of course fasting is accompanied by prayer and lots of it...It will actually force you to pray because of our weak flesh.

 

[CindyisHis]

The biblical examples that I've seen are fasting from food and drinking just water, if there are others please let me know.
It is a great way to humble yourself before the Lord. I promise you, it's hard but the fellowship you have w/ God is so sweet. Of course fasting is accompanied by prayer and lots of it...It will actually force you to pray because of our weak flesh.

Yeah, there are different fasts in the Bible. Jesus and Moses went on 40 day fasts of no food or water. Moses did it twice. Daniel ate "no pleasant food from the king's table", basically a vegetarian diet. The people of Ninevah, where Jonah was sent, and all the Jew's in Esther's day fasted for 3 days - no food or water. Even the animals in Ninevah were made to fast.

There are many other accounts of fasting besides these.

Do you need the references on these? I'm being kind of lazy, considering this is an old thread, and maybe not viewed anymore.

 

[jds1977]

No referrences necessary...thanks for the input.

 

[jds1977]

Would the vegetarian diet be considered a fast for Daniel, or was it not to defile himself?

 

[CindyisHis]

Would the vegetarian diet be considered a fast for Daniel, or was it not to defile himself?

Good question. It is a fast of sorts, in my opinion. Just quit eating meats, even the clean meats, for awhile and you'll know what I mean! It takes discipline, especially when you not only have every right to what the king eats, but it's practically pushed on you! Imagine your favorite apple pie before you and saying no when someone is saying, "Eat, eat!" The Bible says he ate "pulse" which is "something sown", and drank only water. That takes purpose of heart and self control to follow through. The prince of eunuchs in charge of Daniel was afraid Daniel would be worse in health if he granted his request, which may have meant his job, or possibly even his life. So you know he was pushing Daniel. Yet Daniel remained strong, and would not defile himself.

Just a side note, most of the things on the king's table would no doubt have affected his health adversely, as most things in the Standard American Diet, or western diet.

Later in Daniel's life, Daniel 10:3, we see yet another partial fast for 21 days in which he had no "pleasant bread, flesh, or wine".

 

[Sunburst]

juices and water

 

[josuabrown]

When I fast, I only consume juices & water, mostly water.

 

[Kristos]

I've felt lately like God wants me to do a short fast in order to get my life Christ-centered again and bring my focus back to God. Only, I've never done a real fast before. I have had eating issues and avoided eating for 2 days max but it was always for weight loss, not to get myself back to thinking about God. I'm not sure how to handle a fast for religious reasons or what I should do. There are some different options I was thinking about. Any suggestions?

There are 2 categories of fasting.

First is abstinance from all food and drink. This is short term only and is used to empty your stomach prior to Communion. This is for preparation and reverence.

Second is selective daily+. In this case, meat, dairy, eggs, oil are avoided along with iniquities or festivities. This type of fasting is practiced during lent, but is also practiced by many before Christmas, and other major Feast as perscribed by the church. Also, Wednesday and Friday a perscribed fast days (with a few exceptions). Additional fasting is normal during times of tribulation, before a big decision or remorse/penitence.

 

[bleek1977]

Just completed my first fast. In my fast I could not eat while the sun was up. Which means I ate breakfast at like 5am. I could not eat my next meal untill after sunset. During the day I could only eat 2 fruits and I could only drink water. I did this for 3 days and trust me with the appetite that I have, it was not easy, but it was truly a blessing

 

[CindyisHis]

There are 2 categories of fasting.

First is abstinance from all food and drink. This is short term only and is used to empty your stomach prior to Communion. This is for preparation and reverence.

Second is selective daily+. In this case, meat, dairy, eggs, oil are avoided along with iniquities or festivities. This type of fasting is practiced during lent, but is also practiced by many before Christmas, and other major Feast as perscribed by the church. Also, Wednesday and Friday a perscribed fast days (with a few exceptions). Additional fasting is normal during times of tribulation, before a big decision or remorse/penitence.

This is a Catholic observance? I'm not familiar with these particular fasts as you've described them, so I'm assuming they are denominational doctrine, which I appreciate learning about.

 

[dirksy]

I think that maybe would be best to take it slow. People think that fasting must be a 40 day adventure. Fasting can just be fasting for a meal at first then working your way up to a day then two days and so on.

 

[ivory]

Pray and make sure it's God's will for you or it is done in vain.

God Bless!