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I have read some informative posts here on fasting, and it "sounds" like a good way to clear ones head and become open to God. I have never tried it, and wouldn't know where to begin. The churches I've been to didn't really get into the nitty gritty of it, just said it was good to do. Of course when I was a child going to church I wouln't have understood anyway.

How Does one Fast?

Abstain From one food Item, or a multitude of items? What about hydration?

I dont know about anyone else but when my blood sugar gets low, I start feeling sick. I've been in ketosis before and found it the only thing I could think of. It would seem to me that there has to be some sort of healthy way to do it. Oh, I'm not diabetic. (tested for that already). i am open to suggestions.

Robert

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Well I fast a couple of different ways. One is a complete (water only) fast for a certain length of time. Another way is abstain from eating during the day light hours (between sunrise and sunset). And some times a mixture of the two. The length of my fast will be either last for one week, or if I’m fasting for God’s guidance, it will last until I get an answer.

So for an example, I will fast during solemn assembly. In which I will typically do a water only fast for three days then switch to eating only after sunset and not east after sunrise. I will spend the time I typically eat (lunch) in a time of prayer.

Now this is different for other people of course. My wife as an example will get headaches if she does not eat during the day. (She suffers from migraines) Her fast would consist more of not eating certain foods that she likes to eat.

Also during solemn assembly we also fast in other areas then just food. One is congeal relations with our spouses. Our aim is to shed any and as much of our fleshly desires we can that will interfere with our relationship with God. Our children will join in as well, but not with food. Instead they will fast by not playing video games, or the like.

It is a great exercise (and biblical as well) and when you do it, I think you will be surprised just how strong the flesh really is and what things we are addicted to. I know it was enlightening to me. One thing that was brought to my attention was my addiction to caffeine. I suffered a major headache from withdrawals the second day of my water only fast. I now use that as an illustration of how sin can creep up into our lives with out us knowing. Not saying drinking caffeine is a sin of course, but I did not know the control it had on my life until I gave it up.

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Wow...Thats awesome! I need to try that with movies. My entire adult life has been consumed with the accumulation of stuff, until recent years. now in my forties I have TOOO much junk. The Lord has pointed this out to me. A little over a year ago I recommitted myself to Christ, and Wham...I got smacked in the face with major conviction about stuff. How it's been my priority. What idolitry! Getting rid of it is the hard part. WHere to donate, etc.. Anyway I have been into watching movies my whole life and have recently Found that movies are gettin in the way of my Bible study and quality time with my God and My wife. That conviction is setting in and the adversary doesn't like it. he is very subtle but persistent. I even added many good DVDs about Paul, the life of Jesus, and the sort.

Sounds like a good thing to make a long fast from.

Still Open to more info
God Bless

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Fasting can be practiced in a number of ways …. Including as you have done, from movies.

Reading was my obsession …. And one day, God made it plain to me that I would have to choose between reading and obeying Him. So apart from the Bible, I was not allowed to read for over 12 months. It was after that time that God place in my heart a passion for reading books about Himself …. So now I read just as much, but only Christian books …. Preferably theology etc., and also occasionally Christian fiction.

Movies and computer games are sources of addiction in this time rather than books I think. Also the amount and content of what is watched on TV needs to be strictly monitored …. So much rubbish is siphoned into our minds, and whether we realize it or not, it changes us.

There is a great series on fasting at bible.org, for which the link follows, as well as quote form one of the articles :

Topic: Fasting

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

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Hi

Today is my last day of my 40 days and 40 nights of fasting - and still I think I did it incorrectly because I simply had no real guidance as I am a new Christian. I don't even know if it is wrong to speak about it, but I need some guidance so I need to speak even though I am meant to keep my fast secret according to the bible.

I fast from 3am to 6pm. Then from 6pm onward, I eat but I eat no meat (I was/is vegetarian anyway so it made no big difference). Although I am not eating, my biggest fast during this time is from "divination" as I was into astrology, numerology, tarot, lexigramming and all things that the bible calls sinful. I didn't know this until I became a reborn Christian (and I am not even sure whether I am that too). I was a moderator for one of the biggest Astrology communities on the internet and part of my change was to let go of that world.

I pray during my fast and ask God to forgive me, to cleanse me and to break all sinful ties that I have had.
Regardless of what I have done though, I still feel terribly unworthy to call myself a Christian even though I am in all ways.
All I have been doing is confess and repent my sins and above the ones in the past, I seem to always be sinning, mostly through thoughts and emotions, ungodly thoughts of anger or irritability and such and all of this just makes me feel that I haven't accomplished much.

I am going off topic, so let me get on it...

So, I have gained weight due to my fast slowing down my metabolism. This has been tough for me, and I have been tempted many times to stop my fast because I get a lot of worldly benefit from how I look (career and self-esteem), but what has kept me going is that I am fasting for God, to be pure for him so that I can be better able to will his will on earth as it is in heaven, and so, I just believe that if I please God, I will serve my purpose better than if I please the world.

I have also lost friends because all my friends either smoke, drink, go clubbing and gossip a lot, are astrologers, numerologists, psychics, and such, and I have refused to be part of any of these things. But one person remained who I couldn't cut ties with, someone I should have cut off, and that is the reason why I think I have failed in my quest to cleanse myself because just yesterday I discussed astrology with him and I feel terrible. Now I don't know whether I should fast again or what?!

I don't know what to do because I can't forget all that I have learned, and all along I kept reiterating that astrology is not something to trust. This person knows that I am a reborn Christian, so being a little paranoid after what I have been through in the occult, I have no idea what this person signifies. But, he is a doorway to much of the things I would like to leave behind me. The strange thing is, prior to being saved, we lways fought with one another and since my fast, we have been communication very easily. Somehow he feels like a trap.

I have seen major results though in my general demeanor. Firstly, I am no longer obsessive and I do not have that huge thirst to know the future. I am comfortable letting God handle my future in a sense that I am no longer trying to predict the future. I am noticing that I see clearer too and that I am no longer easily hurt, or even hurt at all by petty human dealings. I am less jealous or envious and my wrath is calmed.

So, here I am after 39 days and I feel... a little lost yet I have a huge amount of faith that I am being tested and that a lot of good has resulted but just have not seen it yet.

Thank you for listening. I apologize for probably posting in the wrong place. I am new to this site.

Welcome to our forum

This is a safe place to grow as a Christian, and we have many reliable Christian resources .... both to grow in your knowledge of God and His ways, as well as to grow in your relationship with Him. (check out the Spiritual Formation section ).

You are doing the right thing to 'fast' from your old way of life .... with anything to do with the occult, a complete break is the only way.

With regard to your friend .... the only possible way to keep the contact is to explain to him that you are now a born-again Christian, and anything to do with the occult is strictly forbidden (... it is like fraternizing with the enemy, or being a double agent .... and most important, God will not allow it.) .... so, tell him that you will not talk to him about anything to do with the occult. If he is truly a friend, then he will do this .... if he is a trap (and he could be, the enemy does not let us go easily) he will not .... and then you will have to cut ties with him also.

Please find a church where you will make new friends, and get the love and support you need. Being Christian means being part of a family, we need each other.

I wouldn't re-start your fast as far as food is concerned .... but continue fasting from anything that is related to your past life. This may have to include TV and movies, as many of them now have occult themes.

God is good .... and He is infinitely faithful ..... He will never let you go.

As to not being worthy .... none of us is .... even those whom people call "saints" .... because the standard is Jesus Himself.

The wonder and the glory is that we are promised that when God has finished with us ... we will be like Jesus! ... how exciting is that.

Read the first chapter of Romans .... that is where we all came from. Then read chapter 7 ... that is where we all are .... then read chapter 8 .... that is the glory and the promise.

your sister in Christ

Dinah

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Thank you. I will go ahead and do the reading you recommend.

I fast from food from basically sundown to sundown. I can't nail it down, but it seems to be the biblical pattern. When the Israelites fasted for "a day" it would have been sundown to sundown. It is hard because I work in a physically demanding job. I have to drink water or I will get dehydration sickness.
vewpz,
You said,

But you also said,

You display every mark of being reborn. Do not doubt the work God has done in you! Praise Him!
I also commend you on your commitment. I don't think I could have done what you have done. Perhaps, though, I would advise that long fasting as you have done may not be the best. Paul said our bodies were the temple of God. Of course he was speaking metaphorically, but the idea was that we should respect our bodies. I'm not a health expert, but if you are having health problems resulting from such a long fast, you might not want to do it. Certainly fasting is wonderful, but like anything else, excessive fasting isn't.
Also keep in mind, the blood of Christ has made you worthy. Not one of us was worthy on our own, but God (thankfully) does not seek the worthy to save.
I don't know if it will help you with the astrology issue, but also keep in mind, God is the Lord of the universe. He controls all things, not the hydrogen balls floating around in space ! He is the Master, not random flips of cards. Even if occultic practices are influenced by demons, the only power the practices have are allowed by God (for His own purposes which we may never know), and will be punished by Him in His own time.
You have come to the right place, but also it is important to connect with a local congregation of believers. You will begin to make new friends who share your belief. This doesn't mean you have to disown your former friends, but you can no longer allow them to influence you.
May God richly bless you as you seek to do his will!

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Στηθι εδραιος, ως ακμων τυπτομενος. - Ignatius |II Timothy 4:2| All Scripture is NKJV, unless a translation from the Greek text or otherwise noted.
M.A. Theological Studies (New Testament), Faith Seminary, Tacoma WA
Member, Evangelical Theological Society, North American Patristics Society.
Assistant Editor and contributing author of several published and forthcoming publications.

Thank you...

I suppose there was a I was expecting to feel a huge difference imediately whereas the changes are subtle and they seem to be occurring over time.

there are no fast rules i would probably start with one item and say from early morning upto luch time also adding prayers and being led by the HOLY SPIRIT.
i would say if for any medical reasons that you shouldnt fast then dont.
if you want to go all the way then have no food but do take fluids GOD knows your heart,
and you are wanting to get closer to him.

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Oh all of these post are awesome in there information.

Another way you can fast is by drinking juice (100% vegetable juice) Stay away from acidic juices like orange as it can upset the stomach. Drink the juice 3 times a day breakfast, lunch and supper. This will not only work for a fast but will cleanse the body of toxins we put into it. I did this fast a few weeks back and the first day was the hardest and it was only a 2 day fast but I think I could have kept this up for some time as on Monday I woke up with more energy and not hungry at all.

It is best to ease into fasting and back out of it as well. If you have been on a 3 day fast and nothing but water you should take it easy on what you eat and in small amounts.

I am thinking of doing a one day fast each week (water only).

Speaking of fasting, I decided to fast for Lent this year, and I decdided practice a modefied form of the Eastern Great Lent, cutting out just meat for the month prior to Easter. Except for the week before last (I was visiting my parents, and did not want to burden them) I have not had meat in 3 weeks. It has been an incredible time of spiritual reflection.

DB, I agree that "fasting" can be things other than food, but gossip or irreverant language? I'm not sure fasting from sinful activites is what fasting is about.

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Στηθι εδραιος, ως ακμων τυπτομενος. - Ignatius |II Timothy 4:2| All Scripture is NKJV, unless a translation from the Greek text or otherwise noted.
M.A. Theological Studies (New Testament), Faith Seminary, Tacoma WA
Member, Evangelical Theological Society, North American Patristics Society.
Assistant Editor and contributing author of several published and forthcoming publications.

I have to agree with psychobobicus. We should be striving to have Christ live through us through our relationship with him. Abstaining from a sin isn't fasting. IMHO

We should leave our sins at the Cross.

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The proof of love is in the works. Where love exists, it works great things. But when it ceases to act, it ceases to exist.