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I would appreciate hearing of your experiences with fasting. This is a new venture for me.
Thanks very much.

I don't have a lot of experience with fasting but my wife fasted with just water for several weeks. There are also other types like a fruit fast. The body goes into Ketosis on a water fast after about 3 days. This is because the body can store 2 or 3 days of glycogen to provide energy. After around 3 days the body enters Ketosis which converts fat into energy. The brain requires glucose to function but will start to use keytones as fuel after the glycogen is gone and the ketosis starts. Long water fasts require proper eating at the end of the fast starting with things loke orange juice I think. The bodys metabolism slows way down after a long fast so its not wise to consume mass quantitys of food and especially solid food as it is know to make people sick if that don't taper back up to solid food starting with things like juices. Eating the normal amount of food can also cause weight gain until the body starts burning calories at the level that it did before the fast. A water only fast can make a person weak so it can really affect how a person functions at work. I would suggest trying a 3 day fast and doing longer fasts during vacations. There are some good books on fasting by Christian authors. Do not take fasting lightly. Get some expert advice and do some reading before you start.

With Love,

BlackHeart

Whats "fasting" ?

Fasting is not a lifestyle. Some people fast every other day and there are no results, in fact it become ritualistic.

When fasting we need to set time aside seek God's face and pray. We must fast for a reason not because we simply want to and also we need to get results. I personally don't think not eating and carrying on my normal everyday tasks are effective (for me). I do not fast very often, but when I feel there is a need and I really want to get closer to God I will go into my closet take out that day or morning and pray, read, sing and seek God's face on the matter.

Many a time when I am at home (or when I used to work) I am so busy I do not get to eat anything before the evening, and I do not even realise. Not because I am fasting but because I am busy. We must recognise that we are abstaining when we fast and not simply go through the motions.

And I know fasting can be effective.

MikePhill asked



Please look at this site and learn something new.

http://www.bible.org/topic.asp?topic_id=33

Maxine Edgar

I spent a few days fasting, and God was very good to me - gave me plenty of work to do to keep my mind off my stomach.

I kept drinking cups of tea at intervals during the day, and had a water bottle near me, so my stomach wasn't totally empty.

I think the intended value of fasting is to give you more time to pray - freeing up all the time spent reading the paper over lunch, preparing meals, going to the toilet, etc. For me, it did that very well.

On that theme, I think there is some value in a partial fast - slice some bread, pop it in the toaster and have a very brief meal. That way you still save some time for praying but you're not upsetting your digestive system too much.

And now I'll stop before I start getting into details of the digestive system.

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Michael Angelico

Prov 17:22

Fasting was not and is not something required of Christians for any reason other than personal. Fasting in the first century was done in the "spirit" of mourning and those who lived in the first century had much to mourn about - under Roman rule, High Priest's not being the "right" ones, centuries of oppression and waiting for God's promises, etc., etc. Therefore most fasted twice a week.

This from http://www.bible.org/qa.asp?topic_id=33&qa_id=121

Possibly Jesus did not intend to give a precise symbolism to the "bride," the "bridegroom," and the "wedding feast." He was simply making the point that when things were going well there was no reason to fast, but in times of sorrow His disciples would indeed fast. Similarly in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:29-37) it is not necessary to look for a symbolic meaning for each person involved ("certain man," "priest," "Levite," and "Samaritan"). Jesus was simply answering the question, "Who is my neighbor?" (Luke 10:29). So in this instance (Matt. 9:14-17) Jesus was simply answering the question about why His disciples were not fasting.

There is nothing wrong with fasting as long as it is not taken out of context or you believe it is required or necessary to "get closer to God." Believing this mocks God as he is always available and seeks to be closer to each of us without restriction or actions beyond belief in His presence.

It is very sad that most do not "know" the symbolism, history or truth behind fasting, much less other biblical "things," and instead just follow the crowd because the crowd has been following other crowds for generations.

Fasting is not required, and pastors, believers and all others who suggest otherwise are not being truthful to history or other "required" exegetical truths to God's word.

God Bless!

Fasting: connecting with God. I believe the prophets fasted and prayed to God to receive an answer for their prayers.

Not recommended for people with health problems. I did until I had a bleeding with my ulcer. Must eat!

Fasting: I believe it's a 12 hours increment. You cannot eat or drink for 12 hours and do it for the next 3 days. The reason is not to harm yourself.

In my opinion, fasting and prayer--- so Satan cannot tempt you.

There are different types of fasting. In our food oriented culture, everyone automatically thinks of fasting and food! You can fast from internet use, talking, TV or any other activity which you normally enjoy. This is an activity which sets aside our personal agendas or wants and instead dedicates that time to God. I was surprised to learn that Jesus endured a desert fast during his 40 days in the desert as explained by the NET bible. It put the whole fasting idea into perspective and showed how we sometimes misunderstand what actually transpired in ancient times as opposed to modern times because of a misunderstanding of language and practices.

I would have to say that I definitely agree with that. I noticed that when i was heartbroken I couldnt eat. So generally when i was down emotionally it was far easier to fast.

Hugs
Phoenix

Fast when it helps you to pray and concentrate on God's word. Fast if you feel led to do so by the Holy Spirit. Fasting is about reaching out to God without the interference of the preperation and eating of food.

Fasting allows one to concentrate upon God rather than the mundane maters of this life, but It should be practiced as a matter of personal conviction - not from community or cultural pressure.

On the whole, I pray with better concentration when I am full rather than empty. I am now also a diabetic so I am not supposed to skip meals, but I am not afraid to delay them if my studies are going well. I have asked my wife to eat without me so that I can work through a section of Scripture snf be comfortable that I have prayed and meditated sufficiently to be at peace with the Holy Spirit.

John

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"The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Gal 5:6b

Pastor John C. Blackburn

I have fasted and I have prayed and fasted. There may be some health benefits from fasting itself, but in my opinion fasting without prayer accomplishes nothing spiritually. In my experience, prayer and fasting makes me more sensitive to spiritual realities. I find that I can often look at a situation in the natural world and discern what is really going on in the spiritual realm. (We wrestle not with flesh and blood.) I find that I can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit more clearly. And because I am more in tune with God, I often gain confidence in what His will is for a specific and am therefore able to pray with faith that I did not previously have. I find that while my body is weakened, my inner man is strengthened. I am spiritually focused and the "pull" of the flesh seems to ebb away. I don't think fasting (with prayer) changes the way God interacts with me or gets Him to do anything He would not otherwise do. I do think it changes me and facilitates my interaction with Him. I have found prayer and fasting to be a very effective means of discovering God's direction for me at critical junctures in my life. In retrospect, I think having that clear vision and confidence that I was doing what God wanted me to be doing enabled me to endure things that I otherwise might not have.