Fasting...?

[stitchy]

In the Bible Jesus preached a bit about fasting. But being sort of new to christianity and the Bible, I don't quite understand this. When and why do we need to fast?

[larryt]

In the Bible Jesus preached a bit about fasting. But being sort of new to christianity and the Bible, I don't quite understand this. When and why do we need to fast?

Hi stitchy,

Welcome to WB.

Since you are new to Christ, get to know the Word of God, for in knowing Him(John 1:1) you will be getting to know your Lord and Master, and Friend. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you in the truth.

Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, [that] shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

You will probably get all kinds of input here about fasting. Some may be good and some not so. Check it all out in the bible. If you are in a good church, one that is lifting up the Lord Jesus Christ then by all means ask your pastor.

One of the best scriptures on fasting is Isaiah 58. Meditate means to chew like a cow chews until is is mush. Meditate on this passage and ask the Holy Spirit to help you know what he would have you to know. He will do it. He has promised.

LT

[felix]

Amen,

The Word of God is a light for our path and true food for our being. As it is written, "man lives not on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (matthew 4:4). So being new to the bible it is important to read much of it and to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation or teaching of it's meaning. After you have much of scripture in your heart I think you can then safely fast and live on every word of God.

Fasting is a powerful way to get into the spirit. It's a great thing that you want to seek a deep and powerful experience with the Lord. Just a precaution, a lot of studying in the scripture and time with the Lord in prayer should be done first. I have only fasted and prayed when I came across certain situations in which I felt led to fast and pray. "Fasting" and "Prayer" usually go together. Both fasting and prayer is a way to get to the spirit which is where we can commune God.

We can always reach the spirit through prayer without fasting. This can be done each day. I think fasting is usually done in more dire situations and when the Holy Spirit leads us. Fasting and breaking the fast are very delicate things and if done wrong can be very harmful to the body. On the day you do feel led to fast consult a lot of advice and knowledge on fasting properly. As always the motive needs to be in the Lord.

May the Lord lead you and give you a lot of grace in all things! You have a great testimony.

[bethshemaiah]

Amen,

The Word of God is a light for our path and true food for our being. As it is written, "man lives not on bread alone but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (matthew 4:4). So being new to the bible it is important to read much of it and to ask the Holy Spirit for revelation or teaching of it's meaning. After you have much of scripture in your heart I think you can then safely fast and live on every word of God.

Fasting is a powerful way to get into the spirit. It's a great thing that you want to seek a deep and powerful experience with the Lord. Just a precaution, a lot of studying in the scripture and time with the Lord in prayer should be done first. I have only fasted and prayed when I came across certain situations in which I felt led to fast and pray. "Fasting" and "Prayer" usually go together. Both fasting and prayer is a way to get to the spirit which is where we can commune God.

We can always reach the spirit through prayer without fasting. This can be done each day. I think fasting is usually done in more dire situations and when the Holy Spirit leads us. Fasting and breaking the fast are very delicate things and if done wrong can be very harmful to the body. On the day you do feel led to fast consult a lot of advice and knowledge on fasting properly. As always the motive needs to be in the Lord.

May the Lord lead you and give you a lot of grace in all things! You have a great testimony.

owe

Fasting is very powerful if it is something between you and God. There are many ways to fast and it does go hand in hand with prayer. The primary reason to fast is to not move God (He does not need our help) but to move ourselves closer to God. By denying the flesh and earnestly focusing on Him and His will, our prayers become more effective. It is a spiritual dynamic that is sometimes hard to understand but it does powerful things if entered into with a humble and willing heart. Many times when I earnestly needed God to move in a situation I have fasted and prayed, sometimes total food fasts for days, sometimes a Daniel Fast (this one is the best for long term fasts). Others fast by skipping meals in a routine, or spend one day a week fasting. The point in my case in not to make a ritual of fasting but to pray and be led by God in response to a burden that He has given me, or where His divine intervention is needed. He moves the hearts of His saints who are His disciples in response, or leads us in the direction that we be going, and sets up the situations we need in our lives as a result, but if we look hard it is generally us that change. There are so many examples of the powerful results of long term fasting and prayer. There are so many books on the subject you head would spin, and generally most books on prayer touch on it as well.

I think it is awesome the hunger you have for God and the things of God Stichy, it reminds me of when I was first coming to know Him myself. Keep the questions and comments coming. God Bless.

Bethany