Hi Becky,

I went through the website you have linked here on fasting. Fasting is ofcourse for spiritual discipline and also for  seeking God's help in coming out of our sins and problems. When we do this prayerfully, we get freedom from bondage.  Ragland

Lara hey... yeah cutting took away the pain in my heart of falling to sin again. and my previous comment was directed back at you.

Mike you will never offend me... even if you are trying to repremend me like Pastor Ami had to do when I had my mental breakdown and wanted to become 7 of 9. new friends this is an inside joke

Mike  you know the golden star rule... star and you will be starred..

Cheryl you obviously know what Mike doesn't oops hope I didn't offend him.

CYN thanks

Ragland thanks that is beautiful.. hey you got a verse yet? I know of it but I can't quote...

here they are

the pharasis they would throw dirt on and dress in rags so they would be like the people

or when you fast you tell no one as to not think too highly of yourself

Somebody help a sister out

Brother Ben where are you when I need you... sister Chrishyhana.. aka Heather.

peace

Becky, I can only think of what Jesus told us (His disciples) : 

Mat 6:16  Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may be seen of men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have received their reward.

Hey, Becky!  I didn't go to the link you posted on fasting, (no time at the moment), so, sorry if anything I write is repetetive of what's already on that. 

I fast probably every month or so.  Sometimes for a day, sometimes for weeks.  Those are complete fasts:  no food of any kind, just water or plain green tea.  There are other times I fast for extended lengths of times, and for those I fast from specific things and foods.  Right now I am on a no-sugar fast and have been since the spring.  (I have a friend who is in need of physical healing and I am fasting from sugar until she gets it.  It has been prophesied repeatedly that she will be physically healed in this lifetime, and I'm pressing in to God for it to happen!  I realize it may be years before I ever have another Hershey's Hug!)  I have fasted from meals, (no food from noon one day until the next day at breakfast), for weeks on end when I was lifting something up in prayer for a long period of time.  I've fasted from reading, (other than the Bible), and fasted from time spent on the internet.  (I don't watch movies or any TV, so I can't fast from those, but they would be a good one for someone who does spend time watching.)  I'm telling you about all of these cuz I believe the different "fasts" can all be effective.

I never had any desire to fast in my earlier walk, although I did it a few times anyway as a corporate thing, ie. our whole congregation fasting for a day or two.   I hated it!  It is a discipline, one that I have cultivated since becoming an intercessor.  Sometimes I am called to fast with my fellow Prayer Shield partners (group of us that pray for our church and our leadership, primarily, although we have been expanding our prayers to cover our city and city leaders, etc. as of late). Our Prayer Shield leader will let us know of an important prayer request and indicate that this would be a good one to fast for, if we feel so led.  Other times, I can feel a fast coming on.  It's like the Holy Spirit starts nudging me, whispering to me, letting me know that it's time to bring out the "big guns".  When I get to feeling that way, I ask (pray) about when I'm to start it and what I should fast from.  I usually already know why I'm fasting.  That's usually the first thing communicated.  I often don't know how long I will have to fast, so I just ask God about that at the end of every day of the fast.  "God, do you want me to fast tomorrow, too?"   

A verse I've always found interesting; don't know offhand where it's at:  Paraphrased:  After the forty days (of fasting) then Jesus became hungry.  

The way it's worded, it sounds like He didn't become hungry until the fast was at an end.  This has often been the case for me, regardless of the length of the fast.  Weird, huh?

I'll shut up now! 

James Packer, Your Father Loves You,  Harold Shaw Publishers, 1986, p. 14

GREAT BLOG BECKY

I cannot answer for anyone else but when I first got saved though  of going without food was noot such a great thing, but now I never even think about it I never eat breafast see you don't have to fast all day or every meal, for me I must eat I love to eat not only that I am on meds I must eat, so in the morning I don't eat until noon & in that time I give my time in prayer and taking care God's business. 

 FASTING
Fasting means eating little or no food, either from necessity or by choice. In medicine, fasting means flushing unhealthy substances out of the body by restricting food.
Spiritual fasting, on the other hand, means more than just reducing the amount of food one eats. It also means cutting down on the activities one does and replacing these with prayer and meditation on spiritual concerns. The New Testament word that is translated “fasting” literally means one who has not eaten, one who is empty.
Three types of fast are generally recognized:

1. normal, in which there is no food for a period of time, though there may be liquids;
2. partial, in which the diet is limited, though some food is allowed; and
3. absolute, in which no foods or liquids are taken into the body in any way.

In the Old Testament the fast was thought of as a way of renouncing oneself and as a way of reducing God’s anger, moving him to forgiveness. In times of emergency, the people fasted to persuade God to spare them from calamity (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 7:6; 1 Kings 21:9; 2 Chronicles 20:3; Jeremiah 36:6, 9). Individual people fasted in the hope that God would save them from trouble (2 Samuel 12:16-20; 1 Kings 21:27; Psalms 35:13; 69:10). Prayer was a part of fasting (Ezra 8:21; Nehemiah 1:4; Jeremiah 14:12).
Regular fasts usually lasted one day, morning to evening, with food permitted at night (Judges 20:26; 1 Samuel 14:24; 2 Samuel 1:12), although there are reports of longer fasts, such as Mordecai’s call for a three-day fast (night and day specified-Esther 4:16) and the seven-day fast at Saul’s death (1 Samuel 31:13; 2 Samuel 3:35). Special fasts included Moses’ forty days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28) and Daniel’s three-week fast prior to receiving visions (Daniel 9:3; 10:3, 12).
Fasting was often abused during Old Testament times. It was often done insincerely and as a way of showing off; rather than fasting for God, people fasted so that they would seem pious and spiritual. The prophets cry out against this kind of fasting, as in Jeremiah, in which the Lord says “Though they fast, I will not hear their cry” (Jeremiah 14:12, RSV; see Isaiah 58:1-10).
During the time between the Old and New Testaments, a great tradition grew up around the practice of fasting. People confirmed vows by fasting; remorse and penitence were accompanied by fasting; and prayer was supported by fasting. Special fast days were observed, some voluntarily imposed. In the opinion of many rabbis, fasting was the primary way to demonstrate one’s piety. Those who fasted often wore mournful expressions on their faces, and the mood of fasting was one of gloom.
Jesus thought of fasting differently. He fasted as part of his temptation in the wilderness (Matthew 4:2; Luke 4:2), and taught about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:16-18). These two scenes from the Gospels tell us about his mature attitude toward fasting.
Jesus’ temptation took place in the midst of a struggle. Immediately after his baptism, he was cast out into the wilderness by the Spirit to face the temptation of Satan. He fasted and prayed during this time because he was depending totally upon God.
Jesus’ words about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount illustrate a totally different approach to fasting than the one taken by many teachers who lived at the same time. Jesus condemns the type of fasting that seeks to impress people. He gives it a new meaning: Fasting is service to God. This new meaning is part of Jesus’ message of hope and salvation. The Bridegroom (Jesus) is here. It is a time of joy, not of sorrow. The coming of the Messiah has broken the power of the evil age. This means that fasting is inconsistent with the joy and happiness of the new age that Christ has brought, but because the kingdom of God is not fully realized-has not completely arrived here on earth-there is still a place for a certain kind of fasting. It should be a part of prayer, and we should fast in the same way that we pray: with quietness before God, not trying to show off, grateful and thankful, grounded in faith, hoping to grow spiritually.

Hi Becky!

I got one more verse for you regarding fasting.

King David had fasted to afflict his soul and when he did that he says his prayer returned. Hope this helps you. Fast and pray. God bless you.

Becky,

I loved MaKelly's comment. Our local church will have corporate fast at times. Our pastor will ask us to fast for 21 days, one meal a day. Spend that time praying for our church body. We have also done other types of fast....Daniel fast (eating nuts fruit, veggies). I strongly believe fasting is not just "not doing or no eating" and "praying" it a matter of the heart.  If we live a fasting life, all things in moderation, Jesus is glorified.
May advice, and everyone has their own, seek God for what he would have you do. He may surprise you. If your heart motive is pure in seeking His will, you'll be blessed beyond imagination.
Hope this was helpful.
~Robin   

A Hunger for God; Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer, John Piper, Crossway Books.

I had been thinking a lot about fasting because I kept seeing it in scripture.  Then I found out about a fasting class at a local church (not mine) and signed up.  This book did a wonderful job of coaching me through my first successful fasting experience.  There were 8 or 9 other people who took the class with me.  It was a wonderful experience.

Some of it is just making room for God.
Some of it is learning to say to "no" to the things that become very appealing in our lives.
Some of it is learning to identify with those in need.
Some of it is placing into practice those things in live that really are the most important.

We all have good comments to all of that, but we have to experience it all first hand to start to understand the real value.  It is in experiencing that value added that fasting becomes successful.

Gene