Questions about Fasting

[Sunroad]

Hi
I really don't want to parade around the fact that I am thinking about fasting, hopefully this question does not come across as that! I'm just a bit apprehensive about starting something I don't have much experience in or knowledge about

I've never fasted for an extended period of time before and I am a little unsure on how to go about it. If you have experience with this I'd greatly appreciate your help
This is specifically regarding fasting from food.
If you've fasted for an extended period of time, how did you go about doing that? How did your day look? Is there anything I should keep in mind whilst fasting?
How did you keep it hidden that you were in a period of fasting and how did you reply if people asked why you weren't eating?

Any insight on this topic will be of great help to me! Thank you guys!

 

[OldWiseGuy]

Hi
I really don't want to parade around the fact that I am thinking about fasting, hopefully this question does not come across as that! I'm just a bit apprehensive about starting something I don't have much experience in or knowledge about

I've never fasted for an extended period of time before and I am a little unsure on how to go about it. If you have experience with this I'd greatly appreciate your help
This is specifically regarding fasting from food.
If you've fasted for an extended period of time, how did you go about doing that? How did your day look? Is there anything I should keep in mind whilst fasting?
How did you keep it hidden that you were in a period of fasting and how did you reply if people asked why you weren't eating?

Any insight on this topic will be of great help to me! Thank you guys!

I suggest getting the book "The Miracle of Fasting" by Paul C. Bragg. Lot's of inspiring information about health. Available from Amazon.

 

[pdudgeon]

one piece of advice is to begin your fast gradually over a three day period so that your body can adjust. Also while fasting add additional water to your diet--8 oz per day (one bottle of water extra) should be enough to help keep the food that you do eat flowing through your digestive system.
As for the fasting itself, there are different choices out there. Some people will fast a whole meal while others will cut out a group of foods (sweets for example) and still others will go on what is called a "Daniel Fast" only eating certain food groups.

As for myself I've found it helpful to fast a whole meal, so I usually fast breakfast, eat lunch around 11 am, and dinner at 6 pm, with no food after 8 pm.
So essentially I am fasting from the period beginning at 8 Pm of one day until 11 AM of the following day. Most of that fasting time is during sleep, so it makes fasting easier to deal with for longer periods of time.

When you first attempt fasting the first three days are always the most difficult because you're fighting against your body clock. Days 4,5,and 6 are a little bit easier as you begin to develop a routine that your body adjusts to. another important thing is to keep the remaining meals to their normal size--don't compensate for the lost meal.

one last thing, be sure to do some devotional reading during this fast so that you are feeding your spirit at the same time you are disciplining your body. best wishes!

 

[AlexDTX]

Hi
I really don't want to parade around the fact that I am thinking about fasting, hopefully this question does not come across as that! I'm just a bit apprehensive about starting something I don't have much experience in or knowledge about

I've never fasted for an extended period of time before and I am a little unsure on how to go about it. If you have experience with this I'd greatly appreciate your help
This is specifically regarding fasting from food.
If you've fasted for an extended period of time, how did you go about doing that? How did your day look? Is there anything I should keep in mind whilst fasting?
How did you keep it hidden that you were in a period of fasting and how did you reply if people asked why you weren't eating?

Any insight on this topic will be of great help to me! Thank you guys!

What is your motivation? Have you considered what Isaiah said?

Isa 58:3 'Wherefore have we fasted, and Thou seest not? Wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and Thou takest no knowledge?' - Behold, in the day of your fast ye pursue your business, and exact all your labours.
Isa 58:4 Behold, ye fast for strife and contention, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; ye fast not this day so as to make your voice to be heard on high.
Isa 58:5 Is such the fast that I have chosen? the day for a man to afflict his soul? Is it to bow down his head as a bulrush, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Wilt thou call this a fast, and an acceptable day to the LORD?
Isa 58:6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the fetters of wickedness, to undo the bands of the yoke, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?
Isa 58:7 Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him, and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
Isa 58:8 Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thy healing shall spring forth speedily; and thy righteousness shall go before thee, the glory of the LORD shall be thy rearward.
Isa 58:9 Then shalt thou call, and the LORD will answer; thou shalt cry, and He will say: 'Here I am.' If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking wickedness;​

I would also add that fasting does nothing to move God. God moves according to his own intentions. However, fasting does much for us. It disciplines our flesh. And it removes unbelief. When Jesus said, this kind comes not out but by prayer and fasting, he was not talking about casting out demons, but our unbelief.

Mat 17:19 Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
Mat 17:20 And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.
Mat 17:21 Howbeit this kind [of unbelief] goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.​

The longest fast I have been on is 5 days with no food, but drinking water. I fasted for my family's salvation, but nothing happened that I could tell. We can not pray people into salvation. They have freedom of choice and God does not "make" anyone believe. My motivation was right, but my approach was wrong.

 

[Cturtle]

Hi
I really don't want to parade around the fact that I am thinking about fasting, hopefully this question does not come across as that! I'm just a bit apprehensive about starting something I don't have much experience in or knowledge about

I've never fasted for an extended period of time before and I am a little unsure on how to go about it. If you have experience with this I'd greatly appreciate your help
This is specifically regarding fasting from food.
If you've fasted for an extended period of time, how did you go about doing that? How did your day look? Is there anything I should keep in mind whilst fasting?
How did you keep it hidden that you were in a period of fasting and how did you reply if people asked why you weren't eating?

Any insight on this topic will be of great help to me! Thank you guys!

The longest fast that I did was a Daniel's fast for 40 days. It consisted of mostly removing all meat and sweets from my diet and anything that comes from an animal.

At other times when fasting for a day, I just drank juice, and never really encountered any one asking why I'm not eating. For if your at work, you can just go out to your car and spend time with the Lord in prayer and no one will know that your not eating. If at home, and someone asks just say you'll eat later, or share with your husband that Your going to fast, and for how long, so that he will be at peace knowing what's going on, and thankful for your keeping him in the loop.

If your doing a lot of activity and you start to feel woosey... make sure you sit down and at least drink some juice. Especially of Your body is not used to going without food for long periods of time.

The fast really depends on you, and what you feel the Lord is directing you to do. There is no right or wrong way. So the best thing is to ask God how He desires you to go about this. Also you can search out Scriptures that talk about fasting... Matthew I think off the top of my head.

Will be praying for your peace, strength, and wisdom, and that you achieve all you desire from this fast.

 

[pdudgeon]

just to add that fasting is always done for a specific purpose, and that is usually to:
1. discipline a reluctant spirit or to break a sinful stronghold in one's own life,
2. or fasting on behalf of someone else that God might act in their life, but we take the mortification for them.
in either case by fasting we mortify our own body and bring it under submission to God.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

Hi
I really don't want to parade around the fact that I am thinking about fasting, hopefully this question does not come across as that! I'm just a bit apprehensive about starting something I don't have much experience in or knowledge about


I've never fasted for an extended period of time before and I am a little unsure on how to go about it. If you have experience with this I'd greatly appreciate your help
This is specifically regarding fasting from food.
If you've fasted for an extended period of time, how did you go about doing that? How did your day look? Is there anything I should keep in mind whilst fasting?
How did you keep it hidden that you were in a period of fasting and how did you reply if people asked why you weren't eating?

Any insight on this topic will be of great help to me! Thank you guys!

The focus and purpose of fasting is for a deeper relationship with
the Lord and or for a great spiritual need...Matthew 4:1-11, Luke 2:37-38,
Exodus 34:28

The scripture also shows that fasting and prayer were done before making key
decisions:Acts 13:1, Acts 14:21-23, Esther 4:16

Fasting and prayer were also done to show humility and repentance...Joel 2:12,
Nehemiah 1:1-11

Do note what Jesus said here: Matthew 6:1-18

In the renewed covenant(New Testament/Covenant) fasting isn't commanded
but prayer is...Philippians 4:4-7, Matthew 6:6.
There's nothing there saying we can't fast.

 

[Sunroad]

All of you, thank you for your help and prayers <3. I will take the information you have given me to heart. God bless you <3