Reason for fasting?

[accensa candela]

I have been seeking different ways that I can strengthen myself as a Christian and fasting comes to mind. I know fasting should be kept between the person fasting and God but is there a particular scripture on why fasting is done? I am thinking it is to strengthen ourselves by humbling ourselves, but I'm really not sure.

[OneLight]

Read Isaiah 58.  This shows why and why not ...

[Guest]

Along with Isaiah 58, please read what Jesus taught concerning fasting.  You'll find it in Matthew 6:16-18. (I believe you may of already been there considering that you do know this is between you and God.  I include it because it was the first Scripture I read about fasting, and have held to it's truth).

 

God bless you,

Randal

[accensa candela]

Thank you both for replying, very helpful. I have been there Randal, but not for a while and I did not recall where exactly it was so it was nice to see.

 

God bless,

Mike

[Willa]

We are to seek God's face and pray to Him earnestly from the heart during this time. (Don't just repeat a written prayer.) As you said, it is to humble ourselves so that we can hear God better and be willing to obey. But faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. So for strength of faith, I have also heard it even helps to read the Bible out loud to one's self. I always ask God to speak to me through His word, as well.

Blessings

Willa

[Guest destroytheworksofthedevil]

I find it may be the hardest thing to give up food for a time. I believe fasting is a form of self we give up for a time, to give of ourselves to our Father. The times I have fasted have been so awesome, and have recived answers I had been seeking. It is also is very good for the body and mind bring clearity to me.

[Seeking1]

How do some of you fast? Have any of you ever done a Daniel Fast or an Esther Fast? How have you done them? What foods/drinks did you include/exclude? For how long (days) did you do them? Thanks!

[rebbell]

 

I have been seeking different ways that I can strengthen myself as a Christian and fasting comes to mind. I know fasting should be kept between the person fasting and God but is there a particular scripture on why fasting is done? I am thinking it is to strengthen ourselves by humbling ourselves, but I'm really not sure.

 In order for Him to increase; I must decrease

When I am weak; He is strong.

These are immediately what came to mind when I read your post. Fasting weakens the fleshly body and strengthens the inner man.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. What are you feeding the spirit man within you? He craves the Word of Truth, not that nasty movie you are about to watch.

For Him to become stronger within you and your life, HE must be the center of your life. HE waits on us to want (not necessarily need) Him. Do you know how many people only talk to Him when their lives are in need or in pain? then when things settle down they need Him no more. Want Him to come and be your life and He shall.

He is your best friend. Be His best friend as well. Now, that you are seeking more of Him, give to Him more of you. He will meet you there.

God bless you

[ajchurney]

Just to clarify, The body is not "the flesh" in the sense of its fallen sinful desires. Paul explained that sin dwells in the body.  We don't battle our own "tent" that God gave us, but the invader of Adamic sin that indwells the body.

Fasting from food or media or whatever is only as spiritually effective as it is replaced with something that is focused spritually. That is the point of Is 58. Simply starving the body can do more harm than good and make one even more given to sinful desire or faults! Jesus rebuked the pharisees, as they were actually even more prideful in their false humility when they fasted. Paul said that he fasted in order to keep his body in subjection to the spirit (born again inner man, or "new man"). Fasting definitely needs a clear spiritual focus and purpose in order to be edifying, but it is definitely one of the Christian disciplines clearly recommended in the NT. Richard Foster wrote a book called "Celebration of the Disciplines" that is a classic and quite conservative and acceptable to most Christian traditions and persuasions. Foster teaches on fasting as one of the disciplines.

Blessings, Andy

[Donibm]

If I may....

 

... and I like this topic.

 

Here is my perspective, so, consider these things.

 

 

#1

You show God that you are willing to sacrifice self in order to get a breakthrough.  Now THAT is commitment.  I believe He honors that.

 

#2

And this is more important than #1 - but it is a COMMANDMENT.  Fast and pray.  Too often modern Christians think that the Bible is full of "observations to be considered" instead of "commandments to be obeyed".  So, you are on the right track in your thinking, now you just gotta at the "obey" part.  After all, Jesus said blessed are they who keep MY Commandments (not traditions, or Law of Moses, or the 613 Mitvot (the true Law), or ... but MY Commandments)

 

#3

This is important.  In some ways, I feel that the level of importance is in ascending order.  So, this may be the most important one of all.  So, try and get this and understand it ... if you can.  If you cannot, think on it as you get in bed to sleep.  Meditate on it. 

 

When you fast, you are telling your flesh "NO".  Of everything that your body craves - drugs, alcohol, sex, pornography, retaliation, loose lips, murmuring, violence, envy, etc.  Of everything, FOOD is the one thing the body NEEDS.  And it is CONSTANT.  Those other temptations are seasonal.  They come and go ... until you overcome them through the blood of the Lamb.  But food?  LOL  Good luck ever overcoming the bodies cravings for it.

 

But, this is what I know.

 

When you FAST, you are mastering (exercising) the ability to tell yourself ... "NO!"

 

You are actually EXERCISING YOUR FAITH.

 

And in doing that, when you are faced with that idiot who gets you hot under the collar, you know to say "NO!" to your flesh that wants to hit him or curse him.

 

When lust creeps up on you to sin with that woman (or man, for you women) or go to that easily accessible porn site, you have exercised that muscle to say "NO!"

 

When frustration and disappointment and pain cause you to do all measures against God, even blame God (dangerous game that), because you have fasted frequently, you have MASTERED YOUR FLESH and you have BROUGHT YOUR FLESH UNDER SUBJECTION, so you are better able to say "NO!" to your base instincts.  You have learned to "deny yourself"

 

Are you following?  Are you able to receive that?  Does it make any sense to you?

 

 

I believe this is all PART of fasting.  But, on the flip side of the coin, what is its opposite?

 

GLUTTONY

 

 

 

So, since gluttony is clearly a LACK of self control over the flesh, fasting, being the polar opposite, IS control of the flesh.  Likewise, since God HATES gluttony, then, He must LOVE the faster (one who fasts).

 

 

I hope that makes sense.  I'm not sure if everyone can receive that, but that is what fasting is to me.