A question for my fellow believers in Christ?

Question

I've been saved for almost 8 years now and I have never fasted......ever.

I know fasting is not really a requirement concerning our walk with the Lord (that would be legalism & works if it was).

But what is the actual purpose for fasting? Please elaborate if you would.

Thanks,

Primo

Answer 1

The sole purpose of fasting is to bring oneself closer to God. By abstaining from food, we put aside the desires of the flesh and concentrate on the spiritual.

For example:

Ezra 8:21 Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God, to seek from Him the right way for us and our little ones and all our possessions.

Isaiah 58 describes the wrong way to fast; we should turn from the pleasures of life and solely seek Him. We should do no wrong and treat each other with love during this time.

There are several types of fasts; another requires a person to only eat foods that are not enjoyable and to drink only water; this is known as the "Daniel fast," and is described at Daniel 10:3.

Answer 2

Dear Primo,

Neither have I fasted for the purpose of drawing nearer to God.

I have diabetes and try to maintain a regular schedule with my eating and insulin injections. Going on or off daily saving time gives me enough trouble!


This past year I've been periodically "fasting" from Yahoo Answers because it is a very addicting practice. It is way too easy to get caught up in the knee-jerk reactions rather than focusing on what the LORD would have me say.

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 3

Fasting is thought to quench the desires of the flesh to bring you on a level of spiritual connectedness that you normally can achieve in normal day to day life.

When done properly your thoughts become very crystal clear and certain spiritual thoughts are easier to maintain.

My martial arts instructor once fasted using an asian method. He was at his most mental alertness then he ever had been. He was weak in the body but his mind was clear.

Generally fasting includes a lot of prayer. Jesus, being Jewish, probably fasted using the Jewish method which generally only lasted for 25 hours - sundown to sundown.

This is a good site about it:
http://www.spirithome.com/fasting.html

Answer 4

Hi Primo,
It's funny you ask this now, because I just stopped a fast I started last week. There's many reasons to fast, and they're all individualized, but my main reasons were to detox my body, refocus my mind, and renew myself spiritually. I've been going through some changes in my life and this just seemed like a good thing to do. And it was.

I don't personally see it as a requirement, it's a decision to make for yourself whether you want to or not. For some people, it may not help at all.

Answer 5

The first thing that I would do is consider where this idea about fasting came from. Often people are being directed to fast but they are unaware of it. This may be happening to you.

Fasting helps to clear the mind and deepen your connection with God. Your prayer life can become more of a conversation than a monologue. It also cleanses the body and in general makes you feel better.

If you decide to fast, it is important that you prepare and start out slowly. It can be a shock to a westerner who is used to having all they could want to eat at their disposal.

It is imperative that you keep yourself hydrated. Toxins are released when the body switches from metabolizing food to metabolizing stored fats. These toxins need to be released and urine is the way that they exit the body. Drinking also helps to minimize hunger pangs.

If you are not used to drinking a lot of water it is helpful to add some freshly squeezed lemon juice with a natural unrefined sweetener like maple syrup. This makes the water more palatable and helps ward off low blood sugar. The caloric impact is negligible so you are not really cheating on your fast. Understand that we are talking about real maple sugar here, not the maple flavored high fructose corn syrup that is sold in the supermarkets.

If you have any metabolic dysfunction such as diabetes I suggest asking your doctor it fasting is a good idea for you.

Take it slowly. Don't go for 40 days and 40 nights for your first try. One or two days is a good place to start. Reintroduce your self to food slowly, with fruit only the first day. I seem to do fine up to 8 days. After that I am not as sharp mentally as I need to be to accomplish what I need to on a daily basis.

What ever you do, don’t gorge your self with high calorie foods right away. I normally fast 1 week out of every two months. It renews my spiritual connection, and as a side benefit I just feel a lot better having all of the toxins that are hidden in the food that we eat being flushed out. Try it, your may understand why Jesus said “when you fast” rather than if you fast. It was key to his teaching, but this is ignored by nearly every form and flavor of Christianity.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 6

First off Fasting isn't always food. The point of fasting is more for clearing the mind (and body) Giving up something that is IMPORTANT to you and spending that time in prayer. I just had one of my Bible teachers telling us he LOVES video games and it relaxes him. For him, giving up that time to pray was a real hardship because it's something he loves.

I have fasted for a whole day but I do better physically with a Daniel Fast, which is a partial fast. I usually will fast lunch and spend that time in prayer. Daniel in the book of Daniel fasted meat and ate only water and vegetables.

In studying about fasting, I learned the answer you're fasting about doesn't usually come when you're fasting but after you're finished clearing your mind, sometimes a couple days after the fast. But for pastors and pastors to be it is a smart idea to get in a habit of fasting.

Blessings my friend.

Answer 7

Back in the days of the OT, when in grief or in repentance, they would put on sackcloth and ashes. For what purpose? Why would wearing itchy cloth or dirty ashes make an impression on God more than just coming as you are? I think it has to do with giving your flesh a hard time. 99% of the time, we pamper our flesh and give it what it needs or desires. I think there is something within the spirit world that when you deny the flesh, it is like turning down the loud radio in your room so you can hear your parent talking to you. When you "turn down the volume" of your flesh, you in turn, "raise the hearing" of your spirit.

Fasting is another way of shutting your flesh down. Your flesh is liked a spoiled child--always wanting. Fasting is basically telling this child to hush for at least a day!

Fasting is great in that no one but you and God knows that it is taking place. Unlike sackcloth and ashes, you can go about your day with a smile on your face, when inwardly your flesh is screaming like the spoiled child that it is. Even over this internal din, your spirit is stronger because the fast keeps you ever aware of your desire to communicate with the Lord.

Suzanne - That is a good break down. Well done.

Answer 8

For prayer (focusing on God, keeping our minds alert on only Him and not ourselves)-- say you are having a really bad time in life, or in great need, and just completely troubled-- fasting while praying is good, I mean the bible speaks about it as something we do to really focus on God-- when coming to Him with BIG needs....I have fasted twice- one time it was for 2 days and one time it was just one full day. I get lightheaded if I do not eat - LOL
BUT I did drink juice while fasting, so maybe that is not considered a real fast, but I sought the Lord in prayer continually those days....and it is amazing to see what the Lord had done! He definately came through for me, and it was in HIS way which was more awesome--- and it had to do with personal things I was going through-- that definately needed God's hand, and I was at my wits end-- I just came to Him on bended knee....decided to pray and fast.
Here are two instances in the Bible of prayer and fasting:
Ezra 8:23
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer.

Nehemiah 1:4
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.

-There are many instances in the Bible where those who loved God fasted and prayed.

Answer 9

Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Too often, the focus of fasting is on the lack of food. Instead, the purpose of fasting should be to take your eyes off the things of this world, and instead focus on God. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God, and to yourself, that you are serious about your relationship with Him. Fasting helps you to gain a new perspective and a renewed reliance upon God.

Answer 10

Primo.... :) actually, you HAVE fasted.... from the moment after you finished eating your night-time meal to when you awaken the next morning, you have "fasted"...been without food....that is why they call your morning meal "breakfast"... when we eat that meal, we have broken our fast. :)

God seems to call us to prayer early in the a.m. BEFORE we break our fast and eat....there's no such thing as a "coincidence" with God, whatever He does is with a good reason.....God has often led me to continue my "fast" for a part of a day or longer and during those times, I was led into prayer that needed MORE than the usual prayers....I haven't really done any long term fasting. [ it's hard to call anything a "fast" when you are able to drink juices and the water you have boiled vegetables in, etc....especially to many of us that have been poor and things like that were considered MEALS! :) ]

Anyway, ...Remember when the Disciples went to Jesus and shared how they were unable to help some people? Jesus told them that they needed to Fast and pray for those types of healing's and deliverance's...

So, you see, if fasting was important enough for Jesus to point this out to them and to us, then, it is something important for us to know...and do....when we are undertaking prayer or deliverances or intercession for another (*or ourselves) that satan is REALLY going to try and STOP. :)

* edited "or ourselves" in because it is equally important in our own personal lives in battle against satan as it is when praying for others :)

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