Is it bad and something to worry about if you fail in fasting? Today and a few times before I decided that I would fast, but I could not continue it all day. I just thought that my faith had progressed enough that I would be able to do this, to go without a luxery that I take for granted and may sometimes take away my attention. Food is actually something I have a problem with and am trying to get control over.

Unfortunately today I didn't feel that I was able to function without eating. Is that like breaking a promise to God, am I letting him down?? Am I supposed to be able to stop or ignore my body's reaction to fasting, do I not have control over my body? Is it a sign of insufficient faith that I cannot complete a fast? Should I just stop trying until I know I am ready? Am I worrying too much about this?

I always test my own heart. I found from experience to never proclaim it until l understand my own motivations. The testing comes as you enter into the desert of temptation. If you fail you've seen your own heart in the matter. You've not declared anything so the only one you're letting down is yourself.

As you begin to gather strength in weakness the desert of desire will pound on your door. If you don't answer you will know the Lords strength is growing in you. Never tell people you are fasting. I'm not sure why? But this has always had an adverse effect on the fast and the outcome. Just my personal advice.

If you are having a problem with food the Daniel fast is a good one. Fruits and vegetables will take you through the reality of your weakness. You can go for quite awhile on this. Fasting breaks the yoke.

I believe fasting models my willingness to endure suffering and humility as a burden. It's like when I promise to do something for someone and later I am confronted by the feeling of obligation I then remember "I want to do this, I am willing to do this" otherwise I would not have committed to doing it, so I follow through.

Christ took upon suffering and humility as a burden for mysake and he did it willingly without complaint. That inspires my effort to continue my fast.

Does that help?

Don't worry, I fail every time. Sometimes after a day, sometimes two, sometimes after a week but I always break down and eat at some point. I may always fail but I don't stop trying. If I haven't fasted awhile, I start with a juice fast first, everytime I feel hungry, I drink a glass of juice. Start with small, achievable fasts, to build confidence and experience. Maybe go from dinner to lunch the next day, then go from dinner to dinner. Like anything, fasting gets easier with practice.

Oh no, not a failure at all... I really believe Jesus looks at the heart, and cherishes every movement of our heart toward Him, including a fast that we feel like we have failed at... don't let the enemy beat you up over this, because I know that Jesus isn't at all, just try it again when you are ready and Jesus will honor it too! I am a miserable faster, but it gets easier the more you practice it. Some of the best fasters in church history were the desert fathers of the first few centuries, a common fasting practice for them was to have a small "snack" in the afternoon on something that is like our oat meal...

Blessings,

Caneman

It's the second time I fast. Last year all I could last was three days (coffee, water, orange juice). This time, I just missed a meal. (Breakfast). It's hard not to eat when you want to but it's not impossible. Plus I see my waistline get thinner, and that's always a plus!
And yes, it's better not to tell. At least, people leave you alone!

You guys have given some really good advise. I just have one more comment.

Fasting really shows us what a grip food has on us. We can get so pious until we try to fast!

Then we know the truth of sacrifice and flesh!

Wow guys thank you SO much for the encouragement!! I really think that after what you all said I will be in a much better mood when I do try a fast. And it will be a lot easier to do it and remember that others have felt the same way but have been able to complete it. And of course I will be able to realize a tiny bit of what our savior went through to reach us. Thank you all again, you all are such a blessing and I will continue to pray for each one of you

Hi there,
No you are not worrying too much. Addiction to food and other substances is a major problem amongst Christians today. Remember that Esau gave up his birthright for a bowl of soup. We must guard against doing the same because of slavery to the flesh. Much of the Western world worships the Lord of the Fork.

Fasting trains us and prepares our bodies so that we will not fall into these conditions. The more difficult it is to fast, the more desperate the need for fasting is.

I suggest getting out of town into the bush. Go for light walks. Take a bottle of water. Fasting without water is really hard going. Getting out of town takes you right away from food and socialising. Go and sit under a tree and mourn and lament because of your terrible discomfort.

Next time get a little tent and stay overnight in a camping ground with nothing to do except pray and read the Bible. Eat nothing for two days. Building up gradually that way you can then start to do lengthy fasts. After about three days without food the addiction is broken and the terrible growling of the stomach ( which is actually dyspepsia not hunger) abates and you can carry on light duties on water only for longer than you would imagine.

Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
If we cannot control our eating then the fork rules over us and we are servants of the fork, and then it becomes sin to us and idolatry because we have only one Lord even Jesus Christ.
Fasting is a rejection of the false Lord and a dedication of our service to Jesus Christ.

I am not sure that I know of anywhere in scripture where we (Christians) are commanded to fast. The Lord has provided abundant liberty.

But I do fast ... at times.

Humbly, I tell you, I cannot fast without first seeking the Lord's permission to do so. He is the Living Water, the Bread of Life - The only Way for me to be able to fast and not fail in doing so.

Is the reason that you do not know anywhere in scripture where we are commanded to fast because you have not bothered to look?
It's quite easy to check you know. Go to http://www.christnotes.org/bible.php and type in fast and press "Search"
Then select Limit my search to the New Testament.

And why have you put such a negative spin on it. God's commandments are not burdensome and onerous robbing us of freedom. On the contrary they are liberating. So if your earthly Father asked you to do something like "Go and clean your room" and half an hour later you came out and said "Dad, Can I go and clean my room" He would think you were mad. So if your heavenly Father asked you to fast why would you then have to go and ask for permission? On the one hand you extol the abundant liberty of the Lord and in the next breath you feel that you have to ask permission to do something which the Lord has commanded. What confusion.

Here are some of the scriptures I came up with in 5 minutes.

Jesus' Teaching on Fasting
Matt 6:16 Moreover when (not if) ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. (do you want to be rewarded?)

The Question about Fasting
Matt 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? 15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. (Will they?)

Casting out Demons with fasting
Matthew 17:21 Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting. (Make sure you read this in the KJV as it is not in the NIV)

Serving God with fasting
Luke 2:36 And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; 37 And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. (Do we want to serve God?)

God answers prayer with fasting
Acts 10:30 And Cornelius said, Four days ago I was fasting until this hour; and at the ninth hour I prayed in my house, and, behold, a man stood before me in bright clothing, 31 And said, Cornelius, thy prayer is heard, and thine alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God. (Prayer, fasting and Alms results in Gods reward as in Matt 6)

Barnabas and Saul Begin Their First Missionary Journey
Acts13:1 Now there were in the church that was at Antioch certain prophets and teachers; as Barnabas, and Simeon that was called Niger, and Lucius of Cyrene, and Manaen, which had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. 2 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. (Do we send off our missionaries with fasting?)

Fasting for new elders
Acts 14:23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed. (Do we fast for the newly ordained elders of our church?)

Husbands and wives taught to give themselves to fasting and prayer
1 Cor 7:5 Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.

Jesus himself fasted in order to spiritually strengthen himself for the temptations of Satan. If we need similar strength then we should fast. If we lack strength to even fast; then fast for one hour for strength to fast for 2 and then for 4 and so on.

So seeing it is so easy to check whether or not we should fast I wonder why you have not done so? I will tell you why, because you are afraid that if you find an injunction, command, instruction in the scripture to fast then you might feel obligated to fast, and that can't be right because I am supposed to be Freee!!! (spoken with a beatific gay smile and with a skip like a little girl playing with butterflys).

Yes you are free. Free to participate in the important work of God which isn't always a walk in the park. Paul suffered for the work of the gospel with fasting.

Paul's Sufferings as an Apostle
2 Cor 11:16 I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive [2] me, that I may boast myself a little.... 19 For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. 20 For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face....23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more...; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

We are called to share in the sufferings of Christ. Lets train ourselves for those things which may come upon us tomorrow with prayer and fasting today.

stupid question: but what IS a fast?
Where is this instruction given?

I think it's a good question. I always thought that a fast was the complete deprivation of food, including juices. Basically, anything with calories (fuel for the body). Maybe why I've never been able to keep one up? Any info on what's allowed?

In Christ, Angela

.


The Lord has never chastised me for seeking Him.

Never.

I find it, rather telling, that excubitor feels the need to chastise me for seeking the Lord.


There is great power in the Lord's sustenance while fasting.



excubitor proves the point, though. There are many scriptures concerning fasting, and being involved in it, not one is a commandment to do so.


Shame on you.
Eccl 10:1

it is fast becoming evident that in all this discussion i hear
the Lord calling me to fast...

thank you for the fast plan you laid out.

blessings,
signet

Hello, I am having trouble posting an introduction of myself, so I guess here I will just say Hello, and ask please direct me to the forum where I can learn Bible Phrophecy. Thank you

Glad to help,
I forgot to mention in my post, why it is important to get out of the home and go into the bush or the wilderness. The main reason is to get away from food where temptation lies. You will be less tempted by leaf, grass and grub in the wilderness than you will be by fries, coke and cookies at home. Also in the quiet places we do not have the distractions of people coming and going and taunting you with delicacies. Also they will be fed up with your misery and will encourage you to eat. Also in the quiet places you can truly commune with the Lord and be devoted. Go for gentle walks. Enjoy the tranquility and the birds. Pray as you go praising God. Read the Psalms.

If you stay overnight in a tent get up early and watch the sun rise. Worship the Lord in the beauty of his creation, as good a cathedral as you will find in all the world to worship and honour God. Fasting in the wilderness was an example that our Lord set.
I'm not sure how this works for women or how women should find solitude? Maybe you could go to another town where you don't know anyone and stay in a motel. Trouble with this idea is that motels have minibars and restaurants and on your walks you walk past shops etc. To be honest I think that the dangers of solitude in the country are minute compared to the luxurious dangers in the town. Maybe you could get a little campervan where you can sleep securely at night if a tent does not feel safe.

Many people find it frightening, the prospect of being alone with their thoughts without the distraction of other people chatting and televisions blaring. The reason for this is that they have unresolved issues and disturbing thoughts. If we lack peace in solitude then all the more reason to confront our demons and place the situation in the Lords hand. To be honest it is astonishing how rewarding fasting and praying in solitude is.

God will bless you in unanticipated ways. With beautiful revelations in his word and inspirations and rejuvenations from the creation. On one of my fasts here in Australia I was in a weakened state from fasting. I was sitting on a rock in the sun for a very long time hardly moving. An echidna, which is a spiny porcupine type creature came snuffling right up to my feet. They are very short sighted and because I had been still for so long he was not aware of my prescence. It was a very special moment for me where I felt that God was blessing me.

One other thing while I am on my bandwagon. Set a reasonable goal. Half a day to start with, then a full day, then maybe two days. Then stick to it. Make this a commitment to God. It is perilous to fail as it is extremely discouraging and you feel very disheartened and flat afterwards compared to feeling uplifted and rejuvenated. The other thing is be careful not to gorge yourself with food when you finish the fast. This defeats the whole purpose of fasting which is to break the bonds of sin. Fasting is not for the making of a hole into which food can be stuffed.

Now may I share with you also one inspiration that God gave me on a fast. Contemplating the manna which the Israelites ate which came from heaven, and the water which they drank from the rock, and the quail which the Lord sent to give them flesh to eat. Jesus is the bread from heaven John 6:48 I am that bread of life. The water from the rock is the living water from Christ "John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life." "1 Corinthians 10:4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ."

Let us drink from the Rock which is Christ and eat from his body (read all of John 6) and we will have abundant and eternal life. But we must deny the craving of flesh for in it lies destruction.
"Numbers 11:13 Give us flesh, that we may eat." then God sent quails which the people engorged even before it was cooked such was the ferocity of their lust. "19 Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; 20 But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that ye have despised the Lord which is among you, and have wept before him, saying, Why came we forth out of Egypt? 32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp. 33 And while the flesh was yet between their teeth, ere it was chewed, the wrath of the Lord was kindled against the people, and the Lord smote the people with a very great plague. 34 And he called the name of that place Kibrothhattaavah: [4] because there they buried the people that lusted"

So we feed on Christ and avoid lusting after the flesh.
"Romans 8:5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally [2] minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal [3] mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. "

Again I reiterate; fasting is a denial of the cravings of the flesh and a turning to the Lord for the life and food which he offers us. I encourage Christians everywhere to fast and find favour and reward from the Lord.

God already knew you would fail. You didn't let Him down because He knew how foolish you were to try it on your own without Him. Ask Him for it. Get up every morning without fail and go out under the sky somewhere alone and hold your hands up in the air and ask God to forgive your sins and ask Him for His Spirit that you can walk righteously in His sight. Don't stop asking Him and don't worry about any of your problems anymore because you will receive your request. If you keep asking and keep asking after a while you won't even have to turn on a faucet to get a drink of water you'll just tap the face of the rock and it will pour forth the purest water you have ever drank.

Dani... I'm with you. I cannot make it through a fast unless the Lord is there with me- helping me through. Perhaps others are different- and they can easily wizz through days with no food. If so, Praise the LORD... God gives good gifts to His children (and, yes, I believe that this ability is a GIFT!). But me, no. I need the Lord sustaining me. I have tried to fast "on my own"... (what I mean is- without the Lord PROMPTING me to a fast) and I fail every time. EVERY TIME. I just cannot do it alone. I WISH I could. Perhaps one day (please Lord).

As for seeking the Lord, I say: A humble person seeks help- a proud person says, "I don't need to reach out and ask." A humble person will be exalted, a proud person will be shamed in due time. Seeking the Lord is never a bad thing.

Excubitor... I will tell you this- and perhaps I should show the same self control as she is- Dani is showing great restraint in this conversation. Why do you speak about someone you know nothing about?

On a lighter note... I liked the "god of the fork". Man... way to put a nice ZING to it. Sheesh. I'll never look at a fork the same again. I'm in Weight Watchers- trying to win the battle over the flesh in this area of my life (just a little transparancy here). Could I use that line in the next WW meeting??? LOL!

This is hard to start writing on this topic. I have been reading it because I love hearing about people who fast.
I know it is not to be taken lightly and I think this is why we feel so guilty when we fail. We want to and when we fail, then we feel so unwortly.
I have fasted and I remember it so clearly. Every Tuesday was my day and when I would get hungry I would know to pray. Yes, I was bless by God but there was times when I couldnt make it and I felt so guility because I couldnt make it.
Remember it is not a requirement to fast. If we fail then we have to remembered we tried. Our Savior understands us where no one else does. So remember the saying that goes one day at a time.
Yes, praying first is always a must but God know we are not prefect just forgiven. We are weak but he is strong.
You are loved and God made you just the way you are for a reason. He didnt make any mistakes.
Kim

Thanks, Kim.

I can't take the credit for the "Lord of the fork" line. I found this in an excellent article by Betty Miller on gluttony. Here is the link http://bible.com/overcoming-life/digest6.php#foxes
I thought it was great too and have been chuckling about it for the last couple of days.

Perhaps I went over the top with Dani. So I'm sorry that I was rude. I hope that you will accept my apology Dani.

Don't worry dear Dani...

The Pharisees expounded their successes on the street corners and we all know what happened to them.

The first thing fasting teaches us is what we are made of and what we don't know about ourselves.

Didn't the first sin have to do with eating? Don't give up.

It's really hard but go for little successes...and remember that fasting is really about 'set apart time' with the Lord in humility...The health food stuff is the flesh road mingled with the new age movement.

Don't get all technical unless you plan to go more than 10 days.

Just wanted to add a small note to this. Be sure that you are healthy before attempting a fast as well. I am diabetic and unable to go long periods without some kind of sustenance as my blood sugar drops too low. It can also affect the way any medications you are taking react on you. I know that God can take care of all that and protect you, but I believe He also does not want us to purposely tempt him by doing something that could cause harm as well.

Sickness is a reason to fast. Sickness is NOT a reason to avoid fasting.

In fact fasting is the best way that we can rest our bodies. A huge amount of nerve energy is expended to digest food and eliminate toxins from the food we digest. Most sickness in the western world is caused by TOO MUCH food being consumed. This overloads the elimination organs such as kidney and liver. When this happens the body stacks away the toxins into the cells of the body causing sickness. To try and protect vital organs the body puts a coating around the toxins which is generally a mucous or a plaque of some kind. Fasting is actually very safe unless the fast is broken improperly. By fasting we give the body a chance to concentrate on breaking down and elimating all the toxins within the body because it no longer has to worry about new food coming in.

Having said that, I have not got a good handle on diabetes with regards to fasting. I believe you may be right that there are some types of diabetes which should not be fasted for. A diabetic should definitely seek advice from a fasting therapist (not a regular GP) before undertaking a lengthy fast. Diabetes is however the very rare exception, and most sicknesses will be remarkably aided by fasting. I know that a lot of Diabetes develops after years of diet abuse and overeating and obesity. I suspect that this type of Diabetes would be admirably suited for fasting however again I recommend consulting a fasting practioner. While I think of it fasting practioners often use enema's which I am violently opposed to. Please read Herbert Shelton's book on this issue. Choose a fasting practioner who does NOT deploy enemas.

I would like to point out that in Natural Hygiene, the emphasis is not on curing the disease. In fact the use of any kind of drug, tonic, medicine or treatment is expressly avoided. The symptoms of disease are not considered evil and something to be remediated. They are considered friendly natural agents of the body to eliminate toxins from the system. They are called secondary elimination mechanism. It actually takes a lot of nerve energy for the body to throw off toxins in these secondary ways. This is why fasters will often get very sick before they get better. Because the body suddenly has energy freed up so that it can kick in rashes, fevers, mucous etc. which all serve to eliminate toxins.

The emphasis in Natural Hygiene is therefore on resting the body and enabling it to concentrate nerve energy on recovering and renovating the body. The body has staggering curative powers of its own. But most sick people are running on empty and habitually trashing their bodies with lots and lots of bad food, lack of sleep and exercise, lack of fresh air and sunshine, lack of recreation and rest.

Natural Hygiene remedies this situation through fasting, bed rest, sun bathing, fresh air and water. Stressful and exciting TV shows and activities are also avoided so that all energy of the body is focused on aiding the bodies natural curative powers.

Of course in the Medical world this system is spurned because there is no money to be made in expense drug and surgical therapies. But for the individual interested in restoring his body to optimum health without expensive treatments; Natural Hygiene including fasting is a common-sense approach to dealing with illness.

While I think of it we should not put all our confidence in the body to heal itself. We must recognise that God has created this healing capability into the body. We are also taught to seek God for healing if we are sick. Turning to God by the prayers of the Saints and the laying on of hands and anointing with oil are the most important steps which the sick should take, followed by common sense measures outline in Natural Hygiene.

Do this early before the health situation develops to such an extent that an emergency develops. In an emergency we are very often forced into the clutches of the medical system where much of our autonomy and freedoms are removed. The Bible is very clear that we must put our confidence in God and not in men when we are sick.

...i love when that happens...