2006-10-15 18:22:04 · 13 answers · asked by moon420 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Fasting has NOTHING to do with pleasing God.
The purpose is to realize other's sufferings, clear our mind and detox our body.
The same purpose can also be achieved through proper meditation, etc.
2006-10-15 18:38:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The effects of fasting depend on your motive. First I think one fasts 'before' God rather than 'for' God. Whether you are a Christian or an Eastern adept you fast for the benefits it brings to you.
I suggest that the best fasting for Christians is often and short; from one up to three or four days. The fast should be total. That is plenty of water but no food, juice, chewing gum, candy, etc.
One can better attend to Bible reading, prayer and doing extras for others; in place of all the rituals we go through and time we spend to feed our face. The body gets a chance to clean out toxins and take a little rest.
There is a certain spiritual power and even a physical high that comes with fasting. You may find that some fruits of the spirit, that the Bible speaks of, become free to grow because of your attendance to fasting and prayer.
God is a spirit. We are spirits contained in clay. Fasting allows us more concentration and freedom in the spirit with less focus on the flesh. The bestway? Just do it.
2006-10-16 02:25:37 · answer #2 · answered by Tommy 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fasting is an awesome way to draw near to God and grow spiritually. Just as a physical detoxing takes place, so does a spiritual detoxing take place! I recommend drinking lots of water and keeping your mind focused on God as much possible instead of food. You will soon find out how powerful is the verse, "resist the Devil and he will flee". Because if you find yourself dreaming about food too much, it will soon become an obsession. But if you "hunger for righteousness" you be much more at peace. I have done fasts as short as 1 day and as long as 36 days. If you go beyond 5-6 days, make sure you come off it very slowly (starting with juice, fruits, and veggies and very small portions). And make sure you do not have any medical conditions such as diabeties, etc that could be a medical issue. God Bless!
2006-10-16 01:31:39 · answer #3 · answered by whitehorse456 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Fasting to me is letting God and prayer sustain you instead of food. It isn't something to be taken lightly because fasting is intense prayer for a certain need or request. The effects are different since in the end it is up to God what the outcome will be, but all prayer is answered, He just knows what's best for us.
2006-10-16 01:30:18 · answer #4 · answered by rebecca 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The purpose is to bring forth the prayer need ...faster. To show God that your dependence is totally on him! The effects are usually crankiness's(for me) because my body goes through withdrawals from caffeine. Depending on how long and what type you are doing. If it an extended one your body will start a cleansing. All the impurities will start coming up and out! And what you do during is ...PRAY..PRAY! If you don't pray all your doing is starving yourself! For the best way ask the HOLY SPIRIT! He will tell you what kind is need! Be Blessed!
2006-10-16 01:40:36 · answer #5 · answered by Proud MOM 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow! I'm learning a lot reading the point of view of Islam.
From a Catholic standpoint (our fasting will come in the late winter / spring with Lent), fasting is supposed to help us re-focus and realize what is really important in life and faith. While we do have a food aspect to fasting, we also emphasize fasting from negative things in life. When it gets hard for me, I realize that there are people who don't even have the options that I do and that I need to be thankful for what I have and do my best to be worthy of it.
2006-10-16 01:38:22 · answer #6 · answered by Church Music Girl 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Wisdom behind fasting is to develop self-restraint, feel for the poor, and to fully appreciate Allah Almighty's Holy Gifts to us here on earth from food, drinks and daily comfort.
Pregnant women, breast-feeding women, and women having menses are excused from fasting, and they are not expected to make up any lost days. People out of town, and people who are ill are also excused from fasting, but they have to make up the days they missed sometime before the next Ramadan month.
Anyone who can't resist food and drink deprivation during the fasting day can also break his/her fast, providing that they make up the lost day sometime before the next Ramadan month.
If a person can not make up a fasting day after they honestly and sincerely tried, and the next Ramadan month already came, then Allah Almighty is the Most Merciful and Oft-Forgiving.
2006-10-16 01:30:02 · answer #7 · answered by Realcharm 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
You fast so you have food left over for the poor. The best way to fast for God today is to cancel your cable TV, spend less on clothes, cars, computers and PlayStation games and give the money you save to charities and soup kitchens.
God says, "I require mercy, not sacrifice."
2006-10-16 01:30:58 · answer #8 · answered by angrygramma 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Fasting is used for religious means, weight loss, donating the cost of your meal to a good cause instead of eating. Spending the time praying instead of eating.
2006-10-16 01:29:52 · answer #9 · answered by BP 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Don't eat anything solid. you can drink water. But if you mention to anybody that you'r fasting, that's you'r reward!!
2006-10-16 01:25:22 · answer #10 · answered by alfonso 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋