Fasting

Hi, Gina L.

I've fasted before, but not lately. At one time I did a Bible study about it. Here are the things I learned:

(1) There is no direct command anywhere to the effect of "Thou shalt fast," so it we are free in the Lord in this matter.

(2) Fasting in the Bible usually occurred when someone had a great burden. However, fasts were occasionally declared by rulers: Jezebel (!), Josiah, etc.

(3) Depending on which Bible version you use, the key passage to me is Matthew 17:21, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." (Some modern versions leave out "fasting," because it is not in some manuscripts.) Also good is Psalm 35:13: "But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom." So fasting and prayer should be connected.

(4) Please don't fast for long if you have medical problems. A good secular book on this, though possibly outdated, is Fasting: the Ultimate Diet, by Allan Cott, MD. It gives good facts from a medical standpoint.

God bless!

 

Remember that fasting is not a diet plan. It is not to lose weight. It is meant for spiritual focus.

 

Matthew 6:16 "When you fast..."

It appears that Jesus assumed that His followers would fast.

 

A fast does nto ahve to mean no food at all of any kind.
Daniel 10:
2In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. 3I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Strong's
pleasant H2530
A primitive root; to delight in:—beauty, greatly beloved, covet, delectable thing, ( X great) delight, desire, goodly, lust, (be) pleasant (thing), precious (thing).

theres an article here about types of fasting,
http://www.new-life.net/fasting.htm

 

In Matthew 6:16, it's subjunctive, not imperative.

 

Earlier in Matthew 6 Jesus says the same thing about giving and praying...did he not assume his followers would do those either?

 

Fasting can be a very special event. The few times I have done it have been very meaningful to me and have helped me to focus more on knowing and experiencing the Father in a deeper way. I thinks we neglect the discipline of it. Good for you, Gina!!

 

Jesus certainly did!

(Mat 4:2) And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward hungry.

Often wondered what this means.

Gina,

I've considered fasting; the thought of deeply focusing on God and praying when the hunger pains in this world strike seems could be very enlightening. Used to do it for wrestling but that didn't count and it would probably be more of a challenge now.

 

I dare you to eat some grasshoppers dipped in honey when you're done.

 

After a 40-day fast, grasshoppers would be mighty tasty!

 

Fasting is a form of worship, like prayer and the giving of alms. My advice is to start small. Begin your fast after your evening meal on Saturday night, and break your fast with break-fast on Monday morning. You're already about the Lord's business on His day, worship Him by denying your self on that day too.

Hint: Carry a pack of Trident with you. Your breath will get rank.

 

I merely pointed out that it was subjunctive. Make of it what you will. (I was not trying to say that fasting is wrong, but that it's not a command.) But, my take on the subject is that he was saying, "If you're doing such and such, then do it like this".

We are commanded to pray. Is there a single place where we are commanded to fast?

I think that it's a personal, spiritual matter, that is not based on command.