Need Quick Advice

[jashar]

I am in the middle of a fast right now (3 more days) seeking God's will. I also am a corporate executive and a member of the board of directors of my company. Today I was informed that I need to attend a lunch meeting tomorrow with some investors. Being at such a meeting they expect you to eat and my not eating would be awkward to say the least. I see I have three choices:

1). Don't eat and make it a witness to them and explain why I am not eating and risk blowing the deal. This would go against MT 6. I want to keep things low key.
2). Don't eat and try to keep it as low key as possible. This isn't great either, because I'm going to get asked I know it.
3). Break the fast. - Not good either.


Suggestions?

 

[superfly]

okay... that's a good question...

perhaps what you should do is to pick at the food, i.e. don't eat a lot, and resume your fast afterwards. i'm sure God will understand. after all, the idea behind fasting is to not eat in order to spend that time with the Lord.

i think the most important person here that you want to please is God. and Jesus tells us that we should be shrewd business(people). i think God will leave the rest of the judgement up to you.

oh, and by the way, i hope the business deal goes well...

 

[Memo]

Pray about it!

 

[bliz]

Can I assume that you are drinking liquids as you fast? Is the meal buffet or served? Will you order or is there a common served breakfast?

Go through all the motions - let people put food before you, go through the buffet line, order a very small breakfast - beverage and english muffin. Butter the muffin, move food arouiund on your plate a little bit and only drink the beverage. To not go through the motions is to call attention to yourself and the fact that you are not eating. It will make others feel uncomfortable no matter what they think is going on. Ask to have your plate cleared early - put your napkin on the plate itself - normally bad manners, but it will work. Then sip your coffee juice or water and focus on the conversation and business at hand. If you keep others talking about themselves they will think you are brillant to have chosen such a great topic of conversation and the focus will be off you.

The fast is between you and God. Keep it there.

 

[silentpoet]

God will provide a way. When you see His option take it.

 

[HMSSydney]

I am in the middle of a fast right now (3 more days) seeking God's will...

Suggestions?

It sounds like you need to make some major decision in the near future and hence the reason for fasting.

God is not a religious God and when fasting, the Lord sees your hear more than your stomach. I would suggest you to eat moderately (don’t pig out like there is not tomorrow) but before you do that pray and ask the Lord for guidance, I’m sure you’ll be fine but If you don’t feel the peace of the Lord and believe that breaking the fast will cause you a mental/spiritual/whatever problem then don’t eat and say that you’ll pass on breakfast due to personal reasons, “I’m Ok thanks” always works for me.



God Bless –let us know how it goes.

HMSSydney

 

[wayfaring man]

Greetings jashar , and all ,

Unless this time of fasting is imperative to be fulfilled at this time , enjoy the fellowship of sharing a meal , but avoid very rich or sweet foods ; and resume fasting , when the inspiration for doing so is given again .

If continuing the fast at this time , carries great weight , then continue fasting , and explain your abstaining from food in simple , meek terms , along the lines of what HMSSydney suggested .

I've interrupted a few fasts in the past , when the reasons for doing so were clear and straight forward , and suffered no ill as a direct result .

Ask yourself , If you had known about this lunch meeting 4 or 5 days ago , would you still have chosen to begin the fast ? If definitely yes - then continue it . If probably not , then discontinue it ; to resume again later .

Peace and Joy In The Beloved .

wm

 

[jashar]

Thanks for all the advice. I think I have resolved the matter before God. I am going to trust God with this and continue my fast. He is able to take care of these cirumstances and has been good to me and will continue to be good to me.

I appreciate all the advice. It has been a very interesting little curve ball during my fast that I have learned from. As usual, my wife was the voice of sanity and voice God spoke through. LOL! I love watching God work!

God Bless you all.

 

[Mr.Cheese]

Just wing it man.
If they ask, tell 'em.
If they don't, there you go.

 

[Jinn_Ku]

Well, its up to you. I would continue to fast. When they ask about it, politely ask why it matters to them. I would think they would take the hint you don't want to talk about it. If they proceed to push the subject, simply inform them you're fasting, and let what happens happen. Maybe they'll see you're a man of principal and your deal will go better. I can't imagine a professional (though keep in mind my line of work has never included a business dinner) saying, "You're not eating? The deal's off!"

That's my opinion.

 

[jashar]

Everything went fine. Stayed on the fast and they did ask. In fact, it became the topic of much conversation, but in the end I think I got kudos for having willpower. It was funny, I flat out told them "I am fasting for religious reasons" and they for some reason thought it was for weight loss. It was as if they didn't hear my reason. The meeting went well. Thanks for your help.

 

[Memo]

lol!! Nice one!