How many of you wanted attention while fasting?

Question

I know almost every christian has purpously gotten attention one way or another when fasting. Even I have a long time ago, I had a painful face on wanting someone to ask me what was wrong, and I would tell them I was fasting and I would feel good about it. I can't believe how stupid I was a long time ago, and I'm surprised that almost every christian has done that. How many of you have purpously gotten attention while fasting? I think its something thats suppose to between God and the person fasting, I also believe that once you seek attention for your fasting, you will receive no blessings from God. What are your opinions?

What I mean is of course you will always receive blessings from God, but in my opinion when you seek attention for fasting, he will look at your fasting and see that you want more glory for yourself then for God.

Answer 1

I spent 10 years eating 1 meal a day . . . essentially I was just half an hour away from fasting EVERY day.

But I didn't think anything of it. I was used to it. It was my way of dieting.

By the way . . . projecting your motives onto "almost every christian" is delusional. Many who fast, do so because they want an inner experience with God -- not an outer experience with disinterested bystanders.

Impute your motives to yourself. Or try fasting . . . I hear it can inspire humility.

Answer 2

No matter what you do, you won't get blessings from a god because all gods are fictional characters. If you want to fast, fine. I've fasted on nothing but water for two weeks, but only for the experience, not because I expected some fictional character to notice me and like what I was doing.

Answer 3

a better question might be, how many of us wanted food while fasting...

it is very hard to avoid mentioning fasting especially around other women! if you go somewhere and everyone else is eating - how do you avoid the interrogation? i tried saying i wasn't hungry, i tried saying i was going to eat later, i even just changed the subject...no good! these women were practically trying to force food into my mouth, making comments on how unhealthy it was to miss meals, etc. etc.

so the next time i fast, i think i will have to go to a quiet, solitary place, away from everyone.

i can't say that i wanted attention, because that meant worldly advice and worldly interference which was kind of annoying. but i dreamed of food the whole time... not in the sense that i was crazy to eat, but i had these realistic dreams of smelling and eating wonderful food.

weird, huh...

Answer 4

Every man worth his salt is craving attention from other fellow beings.And they resort to various means to draw this attention. But fasting should never be used for this. Fasting is a personal agreement between man and god. God doesnt care whether we fast or not.. He knows how essential our daily intake of food is for us. But for us, it is the ultimate show of our dependence on him, that is, god will not allow us to feel that hunger or tiredness. I know, I am writing this from my experience.I never let any one know I am fasting. No one can read it from my attitude or body language.
And, it is so filling you know, jesus take care of my every need.

Answer 5

Why did you want attention? I never told anyone about my fasting unless it physically made me sick (a couple of times) and I needed medical attention.

I fast because I believe that it is good for me, not to get attention, because Jesus said not to.

Answer 6

The least thing anyone wants while fasting is attention. Most people don't think its being done for god, but for your yourself (weight). i know when i fast for ramadan (I'm muslim), i usually don't tell anyone.

Answer 7

The Christ said not to have long faces to draw attention to oneself, as you have received your reward.