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Have you ever fasted?

 
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Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 4:30:34 PM   
ChelaW

 

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If so, what were your reasons for doing so? What were the specifics of your fast (total, partial, absolute, how many days, etc.)? What were the results of your fast?
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 4:32:16 PM   
earthless


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The Bible tells me not to tell you.

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 4:33:13 PM   
ChelaW

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

The Bible tells me not to tell you.


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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 4:55:56 PM   
christsstar


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Yes
24 hours
total fast
was challenged by sermon

results: It was the best day I'd had at work in a long time. Made me realize that relying on God throughout my day makes the day better. Go figure.

My pastor, along with several others in the area, did a 6-week sun-up to sun-down fast a few years ago. The fast was for the murder rate in Oakland (the highest in the country several of the last 10 years or so). During that 6 weeks there were no murders. When the fast was completed, they started up again.

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Grampa John - 10/23/1920-11/26/2008
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 5:04:10 PM   
ChelaW

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: christsstar

Yes
24 hours
total fast
was challenged by sermon

results: It was the best day I'd had at work in a long time. Made me realize that relying on God throughout my day makes the day better. Go figure.


That's incredible about your Pastor's fast!

When you did it, were you more sensitive to God's voice? That's the main reason I'd like to try it.
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 5:07:12 PM   
christsstar


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quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW

quote:

ORIGINAL: christsstar

Yes
24 hours
total fast
was challenged by sermon

results: It was the best day I'd had at work in a long time. Made me realize that relying on God throughout my day makes the day better. Go figure.


That's incredible about your Pastor's fast!

When you did it, were you more sensitive to God's voice? That's the main reason I'd like to try it.


You got it.
The hunger pangs remind you to pray to God and rely on Him for strength, not your own self.

Work was just as stupid as ever, but I was less frustrated with the stupid.

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Christine

Grampa John - 10/23/1920-11/26/2008
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 5:38:52 PM   
LivingNdaLight

 

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Yes, for many different reasons, different lengths etc.

You can choose how long you want to fast. As earlier stated, you are not to "show" people that you are fasting. So if you are fasting from food don't look HUNGRY or starved.

I have done a 40 day corporate fast with my church; fasted from 24 hours to 14 days family; fasted from 14 days to 6 months with special friends. Not always from food. We have given up something: TV, non-christian media, beef, meat, all liquids but water and one glass of OJ (we had to have something sweet!) also fasted from spending money on anything other than FOR REAL needs. Once during the spending fast, my car broke down and I still had 3 months to go -- I didn't buy a car until I was done. 1 reason was someone offered to take me and my children where we had to go therefore it wasn't a need for me to buy a car! God is good and faithful to those who are good and faithful to Him!!! When it came time to buy my car, I go what I "wanted" without a problem only because of God!

In every fast the results should be to gain greater knowledge of God or to go deeper in the knowledge of God! But on the 40 day corporate fast, where it was a structured food fast (starting with 3 meals a day then week by week decreasing the meals to one meal a day and then the last three days nothing to eat but your vitamins and water) a lot of people lost weight and changed to a healthier diet due to the restrictions.

But you do it for you and your longing for God in whatever area of your life!

The corporate fast was the best

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 6:08:46 PM   
mutinywxgirl


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Variety of lengths, and reasons and styles.

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 6:27:52 PM   
rcjames


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Yea, a variety of lengths with some of them quite long. Usually when embarking on a new ministry.

Thsnks
RC

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 7:41:26 PM   
Covaan_Meshuga


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quote:

ORIGINAL: christsstar
My pastor, along with several others in the area, did a 6-week sun-up to sun-down fast a few years ago. The fast was for the murder rate in Oakland (the highest in the country several of the last 10 years or so). During that 6 weeks there were no murders. When the fast was completed, they started up again.

I think they should move to my little city, then stop eating.

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 7:57:03 PM   
daughteroftheking718

 

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Yes I have fasted before in my young life as a believer. My longest fast was 5 days. It was a total fast for about 3 days and then I had to add liquid. I fasted because i needed direction for then my boyfriend. Whether to get engaged or just for him to come back to the Lord. The Lord brought him back for a season and then on his own volition he fled again
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/4/2008 10:23:22 PM   
buckifn

 

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Yes, for various spiritual reasons and twice for health reasons.

I also have fasted from things and not just from liquids and food.
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 2:42:38 AM   
FurGodWurLivin


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Yes I have fasted.

I did a forty day fast on fruit juice specifically to get closer to God. It was directly after that that I preached my first sermon... layed out on the floor at the front of church. Gotta admit, it was pretty powerful.

I've also done several smaller fasts for different theological reasons. I know that during this next semester I want to fast at least 7 days a month... but we will see how that goes in the middle of school and work.

Adam

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 4:16:12 AM   
Little_1


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Yes. I prayed for the chains of justice to be loosed and they were. Also on another occasion, for direction and guidance was given. Both one day fasts.

See link:

Various types of fasts

< Message edited by Little_1 -- 8/5/2008 5:21:01 AM >


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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 4:56:05 AM   
jmjphe

 

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I'm not a medical or diet expert, but i remember learning some things about fasting. If done right it can actually be very healthy for you physically and mentally. It allows your body to clean itself and at first it seems miserable, I've done it myself and in the first day or first part of a day (like 12 hours), you start developing a headache, but after a while that goes away.

Ultimaley it can boost focus and mental clarity. I remember learning about prayer and fasting. In the capacity that it can clear your thoughts and be rejuvinating, I beleive it does help with prayer, and can produce almost a sublte and natrual euphoria. THe point being is that it can be a great tool for spritual growth.

I remember doing it before I made a conscious decision to eat better. Take a look at how we eat and whats in the foods, and also how they affect the biochemistry of our brains. Basically i knew what changes needed to be made to my diet. I fasted for a little bit and gradually introduced my new diet into my system.

As a side note I've always seen the bible make great mention of prayer and fasting. Might seem silly but its as though God knew it would be benefical to our brains and would allow for clearer and longer talks with him.

Lastly, anyone who may be considering fasting should research there options, and talk with thier doctor.
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 6:39:05 AM   
RJR_fan

 

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One of my shortest fasts (36 hours) gave me clarity about the girl I was dating, and have now been married to for 30 years.

My longest fast -- somewhat longer -- water only after the first day -- ended with the assurance that some day I'd complete the cross-country bicycle trip interrupted by my conversion.

There seems to be a mismatch between inputs and outputs, but God has His own reasons for doing things his own way!

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 8:06:44 AM   
SonInMe1

 

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Eating is a carnality...serving the flesh. Fasting is completely or partially giving up carnalities to focus on the spiritual.

I have fasted some..and agree with earthless on telling others. I have had to turn down things like birthday cake because I was fasting and I think I offended people because I was lothe to tell them why.

Mostly I fasted when I was part of the interccesary prayer group. Sometimes it was corporate fasting.

I've never been able to do the total fast. Usually I can do two meals a day and the third has no meat.

The results? I leave that up to God.

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 8:32:20 AM   
haggismuncher

 

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yes - i now try 2 fast on wed and fri every week - most weeks i manage it but sometimes i don't

the people in the area of Medjugorje have been fasting for generations - they fast for the full 40 days of lent every year

it is a small sacrifice that u r making to God in keeping with the great sacrifice that Jesus gave with His life - when we do this it helps us to atone for our sins

i fast on bread and water on these days - not that difficult really
Post #: 18
RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 12:16:15 PM   
earthless


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quote:

ORIGINAL: haggismuncher
when we do this it helps us to atone for our sins



We cannot atone for any sin - only Jesus Christ did on the cross. We can't pay for or blot out any sin.

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 12:51:08 PM   
DaveW


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quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

The Bible tells me not to tell you.


I always took that as applicable only DURING the fast itself.

Back in college our congregation called several 3 day fasts and one 10 day fast for various reasons. I have since had a few in the 3 day range for personal reasons. My current congregation has a 24 hour dry fast every year on Yom Kippur.

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 1:45:32 PM   
ChelaW

 

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quote:

ORIGINAL: DaveW

quote:

ORIGINAL: earthless

The Bible tells me not to tell you.


I always took that as applicable only DURING the fast itself.



Me, too. Surely it can't be wrong to counsel someone based on your own personal experience.

*shrugs*
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 2:05:31 PM   
rcjames


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quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW
Me, too. Surely it can't be wrong to counsel someone based on your own personal experience.

*shrugs*


Not as long as your "Experience" is Biblical.

Thanks
RC

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 5:05:08 PM   
RJR_fan

 

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quote:

Eating is a carnality...serving the flesh.


Actually, eating is God's way of renewing His covenant with us -- at the Eucharist, and at every family meal where we give God thanks and rejoice in fellowship with Him and one another. Time after time, Jesus described the Kingdom of Heaven as a raucous feast, a wild party, rather than as a sober and austere session of grim omphaloskepsis.[1]

To despise physical reality is to despise the work of the Creator -- who made it beautiful, and tasty, to be enjoyed with thanksgiving. That way lieth gnosticism and platonism, not biblical Christianity.

One benefit of fasting is -- you don't take your meals for granted, but enjoy them all the more, with thankful hearts.



[1] Staring into one's navel, in order to find "enlightenment within."

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The future has never been shaped by majorities but rather by dedicated minorities. And free men do not wait for the future; they create it. RJR
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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 11:22:19 PM   
sunshine4God


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Yeah,I've fasted but only a couple times.The longest I ever fasted was 30 hrs when the youth group did the 30 hr famine.

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RE: Have you ever fasted? - 8/5/2008 11:56:00 PM   
Focusing


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I have fasted two different times in my life. Once was for health reasons, under the care of a nutritionist. The other time was a partial fast, specifically for the purpose of the hunger triggering a reminder to pray ... the purpose of that fast was to improve my prayer life. It worked very well.

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There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven
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