Fasting

[sport123]

What's the real reason to fast? If we fast will it bring answers to pray quicker, bring healing, blessing, etc.

[Live4Eternity]

What's the real reason to fast? If we fast will it bring answers to pray quicker, bring healing, blessing, etc.

Well, mostly we fast because we ache and long for something that we don't yet have. Not to say that we don't have a personal relatoinship with God, but that we're not in Glory with Him. As children of God, we long for our eternal home. Sometimes in ones life, they get so desperate for Christ's perfect fellowship that they disconnect themselves from filling themselves with food and focus all attention on God who can fill them with far more than what mere food can do. Jesus said, "man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that preceeds from the mouth of God. So that's the main reason for fasting, is closness to God. When the deciples were with the Lord, they needed not to fast. As it's recorded in Matthew 9:15 when Jesus was questioned why his deciples didn't fast, it goes like this, "Jesus answered, "How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast." This points to when Jesus would be crucified and resurected to the right hand of God. It is then that the deciples would long for the same fellowship that they once had when he was physically with them.

There are numerous reasons why we do it, I'll list some in no specific order.

Health reasons

Spiritual cleansing

Drawing close to Christ

Seperation from the world

Prayer

Support for others

Pleading

Honoring God

Honoring starving people

Honoring the Sabbath (though not required)

Decision making

Seeking an answer

Seeking wisdom

There could be so many things.

I hope this helps!

God bless!

[Live4Eternity]

If we fast will it bring answers to pray quicker, bring healing, blessing, etc.

Not necessarily.

Yes and no..

lol

[EricH]

Any of the spiritual disciplines (fasting, reading of the word, silence, prayer) should not be viewed as ends in themselves. They are simply means God has provided so that we can connect with Him and receive life and sustanance

[shepherdsgrace]

Fasting is a form of humbleness. In some strange way if we fast even if we are fasting because we want something so we are attempting to receive through fasting, the fasting will be used by God to humble us. Fasting quickly reveals the weakness of the body and the soul. If we are wise we begin to realize our total need to rely upon God.

But fasting cannot be used as a tool of manipulation. Although all people sooner or later in one way or the other try to manipulate and control God to get him to do what we want, it just does not work that way. Fasting, as prayer, changes us. It helps to brings us into the reality of who we are in Christ.

Fasting empties us spiritually as well as physically! In that way we are possibly able to receive more of God and who He is. Fasting is a God ordained method of receiving more of the Lord and less of ourselves. Therefore we sometimes receive through fasting answers to prayer that we would not otherwise receive. Sometimes we receive power and anointing through fasting because we are emptied more of ourselves.

Fasting must be done in faith and submission............

[Live4Eternity]

Fasting is a form of humbleness.

Couldn't agree more...

In some strange way if we fast even if we are fasting because we want something so we are attempting to receive through fasting, the fasting will be used by God to humble us.

Fasting quickly reveals the weakness of the body and the soul.

shewey, you got that right

But fasting cannot be used as a tool of manipulation. Although all people sooner or later in one way or the other try to manipulate and control God to get him to do what we want, it just does not work that way.

Fasting, as prayer, changes us. It helps to brings us into the reality of who we are in Christ.

This is very important. SOme things can't happen without prayer and fasting.

Fasting empties us spiritually as well as physically! In that way we are possibly able to receive more of God and who He is.

Fasting must be done in faith and submission............

This is probably the best discription of your entire post.. Thanks so much and God bless!