Silence and fasting

[Guest]

.... My question is this: do you think that a vow of silence is biblical? I can't find an example of someone deliberately taking a vow of silence in God's holy word. I don't want to do ONE SINGLE THING outside the will of God, and if this vow I have taken for 24 hours is not biblical, then I don't want to do it ....

I Would Be Cautious Of The Vow Part (Just Do It!)

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation.

James 5:12

But As The Family Has Pointed Out, The Silence Part Can Be A Wonder Filled Time To See The Power And The Might Of God

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalms 46:10

And To Hear His Still Small Voice

And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD. And, behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the LORD; but the LORD was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the LORD was not in the earthquake:

And after the earthquake a fire; but the LORD was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

1 Kings 19:11-12

Saying I Love You

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3

And Your Heart

And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.

Galatians 4:6

Responding

>>>>>()<<<<<

Praying!

[paul1149]

For me the central question would be the vow aspect. In Acts there are two instances of vows mentioned, both involving Paul - one directly, the other at least peripherally:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/tran...V&cscs=acts

Evidently taking a vow is ok. Is a vow of silence ok? I don't see why not. But the crucial thing is the leading of the Lord and the motivations of the heart. It's not to be an external performance thing; it's to allow the Lord to bring resolution and holiness to root issues.

bb,

p.

[canuckamuck]

Fasting is for the training and submission of the flesh.

I think a fast of silence is a brilliant idea. It is a definite opportunity to bring your flesh under control.

Good for you, I am sure God is pleased that you heard and responded.

Please report back on your experience.

[Drawn]

For me the central question would be the vow aspect. In Acts there are two instances of vows mentioned, both involving Paul - one directly, the other at least peripherally:

http://www.blueletterbible.org/search/tran...V&cscs=acts

Evidently taking a vow is ok. Is a vow of silence ok? I don't see why not. But the crucial thing is the leading of the Lord and the motivations of the heart. It's not to be an external performance thing; it's to allow the Lord to bring resolution and holiness to root issues.

bb,

p.

Thank you. Today has been an amazing day. With my mouth closed, God has blessed me with a close walk with Him and probably the most awesome study time I've had in AGES! I'm so glad to hear you mention the word "holiness". That is what I desire- holiness, and I know that the Holy Spirit had me be quiet for that reason.

GOD IS AWESOME!!!

Edited July 24, 2009 by Drawn

[canuckamuck]

[OneLight]

Something about fasting ...

Isaiah 58:6-11 (New King James Version)

Is this not the fast that I have chosen:

To loose the bonds of wickedness,

To undo the heavy burdens,

To let the oppressed go free,

And that you break every yoke?

Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,

And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;

When you see the naked, that you cover him,

And not hide yourself from your own flesh?

Then your light shall break forth like the morning,

Your healing shall spring forth speedily,

And your righteousness shall go before you;

The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.

Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer;

You shall cry, and He will say,

[jesussaves]

I have a quick temper. I know that this is part of my sinful human nature, and I daily struggle with it. Since I became a Christian about 13 years ago, God has done amazing things with my anger and has made me a more compassionate and calmer person. ANY good that comes out of me is from Christ living within me.

That being said, I blew up last night over something stupid and sinned against God. ("Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger." Eph. 4:26 ESV). I didn't do anything to hurt anyone physically, but I was.... well, a bit of a jerk. Afterwards, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me into a time of fasting for seven days, and also to take a vow of silence for 24 hours, so that God may deal more directly with me regarding my temper.

My question is this: do you think that a vow of silence is biblical? I can't find an example of someone deliberately taking a vow of silence in God's holy word. I don't want to do ONE SINGLE THING outside the will of God, and if this vow I have taken for 24 hours is not biblical, then I don't want to do it.

What do you think?

I cannot think of a time the Lord told someone not to speak for a specific amount of time. I can say very definately, however, that if you made a vow then follow through for he does say it is better not to make a vow than to make one and not do it. Also, He sometimes tells us to be still and know that I AM God. Being queit before the Lord coupled with fasting helps us hear Him more clearly.

[georgedrw81]

You can be quiter towards others till you controll your temper.Fasting will make your more nervous and your temper high.

Blessings

[Openly Curious]

I think silence is a spiritual discipline. We are commended to be silent before the Lord. When I have practiced this it has made me aware of how much of my talk is useless. It also helpe me focus on God and hearing Him. I would recommend if you have never fasted for a long time before to see a doctor first

It's so great to hear my brothers and sisters expressing concern not only for spiritual well-being, but also for physical well-being as well. Thank you!

I have fasted before, and it's something that I am capable of doing safely.

Hello Drawn,

I think that it is not wrong to make such vows unto God. But if one does vow a vow unto God they must fullfill that vow. The word tells us that it would be better to not to make a vow and not honour it.

Ecclesiastes 5:4-5--When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools; pay that which thou hast vowed. vs 5--Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.

paraprase------God will not like it if one vows a vow and does pay what they vowed as God looks at them as fools.

Here are guidelines for prayer and fasting

Matthew 6:16-18--Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. ( That reward is the praises of men and not the praises of God as they only did what they did out of insincerity of selfish desires of their heats and they were not seeking God nor were they wanted the praises of God) vs 17-- But thou, when thou fastest, annoint thine head, and wash thine face: (The Pharisees prayed and fasted but they only practiced prayer and fasting outwardly and not inwardly from their hearts. But they put on a show outwardly so the people would give them praises and that was their reward being the praises of men)

vs 18--That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father, which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (There are things we should do in order to prepare ourselves to enter into fasting so God will see you in secret and reward you openly as people will praise God when you get your reward as people will see the work of God and give their praiaes unto God.)

annoint your head

wash your face

fast in secret

If we fast in secret then we will get the attention of God and he will reward us openly as God will give us a reward. If we fast and pray in this manner we might as the children of God get results when we fast and pray.

blessings

oc

[Openly Curious]

I have a quick temper. I know that this is part of my sinful human nature, and I daily struggle with it. Since I became a Christian about 13 years ago, God has done amazing things with my anger and has made me a more compassionate and calmer person. ANY good that comes out of me is from Christ living within me.

That being said, I blew up last night over something stupid and sinned against God. ("Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger." Eph. 4:26 ESV). I didn't do anything to hurt anyone physically, but I was.... well, a bit of a jerk. Afterwards, I felt the Holy Spirit leading me into a time of fasting for seven days, and also to take a vow of silence for 24 hours, so that God may deal more directly with me regarding my temper.

My question is this: do you think that a vow of silence is biblical? I can't find an example of someone deliberately taking a vow of silence in God's holy word. I don't want to do ONE SINGLE THING outside the will of God, and if this vow I have taken for 24 hours is not biblical, then I don't want to do it.

What do you think?

Your anger and a lack of temperance is manifesting itself outwardly and is your evidence that you have things within your heart that needs to be dwelt as God will give more grace. The verse below has helped me tremendously as things get down in our spirit. And I had all kinds of things I had to get rid of within my spirit like hate, unforgivenees and other things. But when our mouth spews out our words are evidence that we can't deny something is in your spirit that needs to be dealt with.

Ephesians 4:30-32--And grieve not the Holy Spirit whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemtion. vs 31--Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you with all malice: vs 32--And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's hath forgiven you.

I hope I've been of some help to you.

oc