Why fast?

[fields316_2000]

I know the bible states to fast accordingly just as you read your word and pray. But I have been told in times of trouble to fast because the lord will move on you and your situation..well how do you know that? How can you tell when your fast is complete? will the lord come in and tell you directly some information or will he give you a wink and say enough is enough? someone may go for weeks on end (like that dude david blaine) for 40 days and not knwo that the lord was content with just a few hours.
I have problems that are in gods hands and i'd like to know what benifit a fast would do in this?

 

[joyinkaf]

Fasting subdues the flesh and causes you to be more intunes to your spirit, whic is that part of you that communes with God, then what ever your fasting for, you are able to be directed by the Spirit of God (if the person fasting already has a relationship with God of cause), in the right way to turn, sometimes you might get to the end of a proposed fast and not seem to have heard from God but be rest assured that He is in control because the bible says whoever trust in HIM will never be confounded.

 

[fields316_2000]

so if you are fasting for a reason or purpose in your life, and you dont seem to have the answer at the end of your fast- god will still direct you after the fact due to it being his promise?

 

[ephraimanesti]

so if you are fasting for a reason or purpose in your life, and you dont seem to have the answer at the end of your fast- god will still direct you after the fact due to it being his promise?

MY BROTHER,

Forgive me, but it sounds a little like you are trying to "earn" God's answer with your fasting as "bribe".

Fasting is a tool which can allow us to hear God's voice more clearly by subduing the flesh and all the background static our carnal nature produces. God directs us as to when and how to use this tool. Discuss your needs with God BEFORE fasting, NOT AFTER. If the fast is God's will, He will honor it. If it is not, He won't. (Which was the case in this instance only God and you know--but i am suspecting, due to the lack of a positive outcome, that the later was the case. If this is a false assumption on my part, please ignore this response!)

IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[fields316_2000]

The thing is im in a situation that i feel lost in and have no control over. it's all about my family life and the more things contradict themselves. god is not a god of confusion. i've gotten different direction from church leaders, church people, family, and everyone not only says different things but their biblical positions change..so the thing im doing is turning off the phone, praying and hopefully letting the lord to direct me with his love, care and guidence. i dont want anymore confusion in mylife which is why i'd like god to not only knock down all the walls that are preventing a breakthrough, but direct my path and give me total understanding..

 

[ephraimanesti]

The thing is im in a situation that i feel lost in and have no control over. it's all about my family life and the more things contradict themselves. god is not a god of confusion. i've gotten different direction from church leaders, church people, family, and everyone not only says different things but their biblical positions change..so the thing im doing is turning off the phone, praying and hopefully letting the lord to direct me with his love, care and guidence. i dont want anymore confusion in mylife which is why i'd like god to not only knock down all the walls that are preventing a breakthrough, but direct my path and give me total understanding..

MY DEAR BROTHER,

YES, you are indeed in a hard and confusing spot. You are correct that God is not a God of confusion and i think you are doing the right thing by disconnecting TEMPORARILY so as to be able to hear His voice alone.

Remember that He already knows your needs better than you do yourself, so don't waste a lot of time stating and re-stating them. In the silence, with reverence and trust, just listen in the depth of your heart and He will speak His will to you.

MAY YOU BE BLESSED ABUNDANTLY FOR YOUR FAITH, TRUST, AND PATIENCE.

MUCH LOVE TO YOU IN CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[JamesThaddeusMartin]

Fasting is a discipline throughout the Scriptures and is sadly ignored by most Christians

my first post

hey all

 

[ephraimanesti]

Fasting is a discipline throughout the Scriptures and is sadly ignored by most Christians

my first post

hey all

HEY YOURSELF!

MAY YOU BE BLESSED!

A BOND-SLAVE OF CHRIST,
ephraim

 

[GratiaCorpusChristi]

Fasting is a discipline throughout the Scriptures and is sadly ignored by most Christians

my first post

hey all

Welcome!

 

[fields316_2000]

this is ridiculous. can anyone stay on topic and just answer the question?

 

[Weasel7711]

this is ridiculous. can anyone stay on topic and just answer the question?

lol I have that problem in the eschatology forum

anyway, regarding your original question
To me, fasting is a few things:
1. A way to develop self-control and self-discipline
2. A way to physically show your devotion to God, not that its required, but its voluntary
3. Honestly, something weird happens and there is a certain power in a man determined to fast and pray, I don't know but if you look at scripture, when people fasted, things got done (except in David's case)
4. Certain things can only be accomplished through fasting such as casting out certain demons, we see this in the gospels (I don't have a reference right now) where the disciples failed to cast out a demon and Christ says: (paraphrased) "Of course it didn't work, this kind only comes out through prayer and fasting"

As far as how to fast? Set a goal, and dont attempt something rash for no reason. The more serious the topic, the more serious the fast. Pray about your fast beforehand, God will reveal to you how long it should be, start the fast and hold to it. Try not to just fast until God tells you to stop because... well that doesn't always work. However im sure someone will disagree with me.

 

[1Newcreation]

I know the bible states to fast accordingly just as you read your word and pray. But I have been told in times of trouble to fast because the lord will move on you and your situation..well how do you know that? How can you tell when your fast is complete? will the lord come in and tell you directly some information or will he give you a wink and say enough is enough? someone may go for weeks on end (like that dude david blaine) for 40 days and not knwo that the lord was content with just a few hours.
I have problems that are in gods hands and i'd like to know what benifit a fast would do in this?

We don't fast in times of trouble, just because people say that times of trouble are a good time to fast.

Fasting is still to be done with the right motive of the heart or as a prompting by the Holy Spirit. So if we are led into a fast by the Lord, He will lead us out of one, or if we choose to fast, either way, during fasting we seek His face, we spend time in prayer, we listen for His voice and if we are walking close enough, we will hear and we will know when to end.
If you are not sure at the beginning, you could start with a goal of a certain amount of days, and along your journey, the Lord may tell you to either decrease a day or increase days. You may hear a precise number as I have for myself. Very clear, no confusion. You will have peace about your decision.

As for David Blaine (are we talking about the magician?) Many people fast, of all faiths and religions and are quite capable of doing them for a long time, but they may have different motives for fasting and are serving a different God than ours.

1newcreation

 

[Prncssmn7]

Hey there all, my first day (night) here. I did fast for 5 days (I will admit it was mostly for weight loss). However, I found myself breaking down a lot of walls in my situation in those 5 days and it even led to the creation of my prayer closet.

I plan on doing it again since I really need to straighten my head out about some things. I might lurk for a minute in this section to soak up the information, though.

 

[dirksy]

I have always seen fasting as replacing one thing with another. In most peoples cases they replace food with prayer and reading the Bible. A fasting time is always a way we clean our bodies of the impurtites of life and fill ourselves with the Spirit.

Realize that we will always have some confusion in our lives, we are not ment to see the entire picture just yet and we are a doubting people. Just stay strong in what you believe and talk to God and He will give you all the answeres you will ever need.

 

[walloffire]

fasting only does any good if you don't tell anyone about it, or, try your best to keep it a secret. sometimes its unavoidable to tell someone about it, cuz they keep asking you to lunch.

 

[Daral]

fasting only does any good if you don't tell anyone about it, or, try your best to keep it a secret. sometimes its unavoidable to tell someone about it, cuz they keep asking you to lunch.

Generally true, but it's really not very clear cut. Family? Teaching others about fasting (e.g. this very board)? As you mention, other people asking you out to eat? There are actually, in practice, many situations where it becomes necessary to tell others about some particular fast you're doing.

And it turns out that telling others you're fasting is only one of the risks you run when fasting. If you read the Matt 5 passage, you'll note Jesus doesn't even rebuke the Pharisees for telling others they're fasting. It can, and often is, much more subtle than that, since the real issue is pride, not any external behavior in particular. To focus exclusively, or even primarily, on how many people you're talking to about your fast, is really to be focusing on the wrong thing altogether.