Wanting to fast :) need a bit of help though ^_^

[Far Side Of the Moon]

I just thought about it, had a slight urge honestly... But i want to make this decision with a sober mind, meaning not go off feelings.

However, I really want to get closer to God ... But I'm afraid some point into the fast my intrusive thoughts/ anxiety might get in the way and make me stop completely... I'm trying to factor that in...but I still want to do it..I guess I'm saying I dont want to stop half way...

What I want to fast for are a couple of things to cement the idea of God's love in my head ( I want it to be real to me, for him to show me I guess) , how to trust, ask him where is my life going ( faced alot of setbacks..just wondering what is going on) and I guess to be closer to God and help me to not collapse under the weight of my anxiety and for a job....

I know its alot, but they're very important..spiritual and physically...and I feel I need this...

So please any tips would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cannot be known]

fasting does seem to be a natural human desire for various reasons*. just do it. don't set a goal of how many days, or what kind of fast.

Don't do it for any particular purpose either**. you know that story of when the disciples found a person with a demon that they could Not cast out? they bring him to Jesus and he says in Mark: "this kind can only come out with prayer" and Matt says "this kind can only come out with prayer and fasting"

well, you get the idea.. if you've never fasted before, there is a lot you have not experienced. you may discover an internal war within yourself you've ignored since childhood. but speculation is not profitable.

anyhow, may God bless you!

*i don't think its from the flesh though.

** a man can harden his heart and say, "i will fast, and God will answer me"...no he won't, not in that case, or perhaps, not in a manner you want him to...

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

fasting does seem to be a natural human desire for various reasons*. just do it. don't set a goal of how many days, or what kind of fast.

Don't do it for any particular purpose either**. you know that story of when the disciples found a person with a demon that they could Not cast out? they bring him to Jesus and he says in Mark: "this kind can only come out with prayer" and Matt says "this kind can only come out with prayer and fasting"

well, you get the idea.. if you've never fasted before, there is a lot you have not experienced. you may discover an internal war within yourself you've ignored since childhood. but speculation is not profitable.

anyhow, may God bless you!

*i don't think its from the flesh though.

** a man can harden his heart and say, "i will fast, and God will answer me"...no he won't, not in that case, or perhaps, not in a manner you want him to...

Hi thanks for the answer, I have indeed fasted before...but I fallen away from church...and I'm just trying to get back on track with everything.

Could you elaborate with the man who harden his heart? Also how do you harden your heart on a fast...thanks for the response :3

 

[cannot be known]

I can harden my heart in various ways, it is difficult to describe how that happens.

out of the hardness of my heart i can say to myself: "I will fast, and God will answer me [because i am fasting] "

nothing could be further from the truth. God does not answer us because we do something.

But when we turn away from the evil that we do, and call upon his Name, then he answers.

where are you from? your language structure indicates English isn't your first language.

 

[Steve L]

Just curiosity, but why do Christians fast if salvation is a free gift of God? What does fasting accomplish for a sola scriptura protestant? I thought only Catholics fasted? Thank you.

 

[wayfaring man]

I just thought about it, had a slight urge honestly... But i want to make this decision with a sober mind, meaning not go off feelings.

However, I really want to get closer to God ... But I'm afraid some point into the fast my intrusive thoughts/ anxiety might get in the way and make me stop completely... I'm trying to factor that in...but I still want to do it..I guess I'm saying I dont want to stop half way...

What I want to fast for are a couple of things to cement the idea of God's love in my head ( I want it to be real to me, for him to show me I guess) , how to trust, ask him where is my life going ( faced alot of setbacks..just wondering what is going on) and I guess to be closer to God and help me to not collapse under the weight of my anxiety and for a job....

I know its alot, but they're very important..spiritual and physically...and I feel I need this...

So please any tips would be greatly appreciated.

**************************************************

The discipline of prayer and fasting can be of great assistance, physically and spiritually.

I recommend water fasts, and studying the subject thoroughly, then if all is okay, to proceed with short fasts first, then over considerable time build up to longer fasts. This is what has worked for me very, very well.

On longer fasts I tend to add a squirt or two of fresh lemon or lime to a couple of the 8-10 large glasses of water I drink a day. This is because we normally can't store Vit. C, and our gums are quite prone to suffer much without any C. Also on longer fasts - a month or more, acidosis usually becomes a difficult problem, so a little baking soda helps in one or two of the glasses of water to neutralize some of the acidity, but because baking soda is dehydrating, one should drink some extra water to compensate. Also worth noting, is that when we fast our stored fat is consumed, and toxins we have been exposed to in the past are generally stored in our fat; so when the fat dissolves the toxins are released unto our bloodstream, and this can be quite hazardous, depending on what kind and how much toxins we have stored in our fat. Which is another reason for starting off with short fasts, and then periodically try a little longer one, if previous one(s) went okay. I equate this process with changing your oil in an engine, which is the most critical form of maintenance for extending the life of said engine. Fat is after all a sort of solidified oil, if one heats it, it largely liquifies. In like manner, when we 'change our fat', periodically, we extend the life of our body And that's only part of the physical benefit of fasting; the spiritual side is even more inspiring. Our senses become keener while fasting, especially our hearing, and with that it appears we can more readily distinguish that 'still small voice', with which The Lord normally speaks. And the humbling effect of being somewhat weak and frail gives us a better than usual platform for approaching The Most High. " For He resist the proud, but gives grace to the humble". ( James 4:6 & 1st Peter 5:5 )

Happen to be fasting right now, 5th day of what I expect to be about 2 weeks. I've previously tried to do increasingly longer fasts each time, but now that I've reached to a 40 day one a few months ago, I don't sense the need to make everyone longer than the last.

I pray this is helpful, Not everyone has the ability to fast, be glad if you find that you do, and consider that we who can fast may well be called upon to fast for other's sake, including those who cannor fast for themself.

To God Be The Glory. Amen.