Real Peace and Rest

[Cathode]

Fasting and Prayer make a very hostile environment for demons, many pray, but few fast. That is why the world is sinking into a mire of addiction, and self serving obsessions.

Strong demons, the ones that bind to obsessions, addiction and pride are broken by fasting added to prayer.
It pries their claws off souls and fumigates them from them and creates a barrier, it gives a soul peace from their harassment, it liberates a soul to be free to live the spiritual life.

The first thing we must do if we are to follow Christ he tells us “ Deny yourself “.

 

[Cathode]

Everyone must fast unless they are sick and can’t. In that case forgo some other pleasure two days a week. Deny yourself something, Sacrifice something.

Fasting will liberate you from attachments to this world, it will free you from many harassments.

Try carry out a conversation with someone, all whilst you are being constantly poked in the ribs with a sharp stick.

Fasting stops much of the harassment as we converse with God, it allows us peace enough to really benefit spiritually.

 

[Cathode]

Without fasting, there is no spiritual growth, there is no progress.

“For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.” Romans 8:7

“But the widow who lives for pleasure is dead even while she lives.” 1 Timothy 5:6

“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16

We must be in a constant state of self denial to walk by the Spirit.

“But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.” Rom 13:14

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other to prevent you from doing what you would.” Gal 5:17

People wonder why they make no progress, why there are no miracles, why there is no peace.

Fast, practice self denial, Sacrifice, live in the Spirit of Sacrifice.

You can not live the Christian life without fasting, sacrifice and self denial.

The more you deny self the more Christ lives in you.

Sacrifice adds great power to prayer.

Fasting obtains graces from Jesus to save people and deliver people.

Don’t just pray for people, fast for them.

Eat plain food twice a week, bread and water. Humble elements, as opposed to rich steak and seafood or cakes and candy. Then give the worth of that to the poor.
Tell yourself. ‘ You are a sinner, you don’t deserve best quality anything ‘

Choose the lesser for yourself, go without even.

 

[Cathode]

Keep regular hours. Sleep at a set time, rise at a set time immediately, do not sleep on. Start your day by prayer.

Carry out your daily duties without delay, do not procrastinate, this is self indulgence at best and sloth at it’s worst.

Do what you would rather not do, or prefer to do, prefer the will of another over your own.

Give away things, and sacrifice things.

Eat only what is necessary and on fast days eat plain food, bread and water.

Be working not idle.

 

[Walter]

I found the spiritual benefits of fasting by way of a medical need. I found myself obese which finally got my attention after some alarming lab results.

A friend in my prayer snd Bible study group over six months back mentioned to me that she fasts every other day (except feast days) and on non-fasting days eats pretty much whatever she pleases. She was slim and trim so she had my attention.

I have a very ill wife and it was important for me to become healthier in order to better care for her. I began the every other day fast. I began quickly losing weight. In fact I am now 33 lbs down and much more active and better able to serve my wife. My labs have greatly improved but so have my food choices on non-fasting days.

What I became aware of was what my spiritual director suggested I would probably experience; focus and clarity in my prayer life. Contemplative prayer was something that I discovered goes hand in hand with fasting. One of my friends who also fasts and is in recovery for alcohol addiction said: 'you have discovered two-way prayer.' He gave me a book written by one of the original founders of The Oxford Group' (pre-dates Alcoholics Anonymous) entitled 'How To Listen To God'.

The author had obviously discovered the incredible benefits of fasting and 'be still and know I Am God.

My prayer life has and is still being transformed by the great benefits of fasting and it's effectiveness in my prayers life.

I also wanted to share with you I have a copy of a book by Tan Publishers coming in the mail on The Seven Sorrows Devotion. I won't mention the title in this post, however, I appreciate your sharing with me the spiritual benefits you have experienced through this Devotion. I noticed The Brevarium references the Devotion and I have a great love for praying the Psalms.

 

[Cathode]

I found the spiritual benefits of fasting by way of a medical need. I found myself obese which finally got my attention after some alarming lab results.

A friend in my prayer snd Bible study group over six months back mentioned to me that she fasts every other day (except feast days) and on non-fasting days eats pretty much whatever she pleases. She was slim and trim so she had my attention.

I have a very ill wife and it was important for me to become healthier in order to better care for her. I began the every other day fast. I began quickly losing weight. In fact I am now 33 lbs down and much more active and better able to serve my wife. My labs have greatly improved but so have my food choices on non-fasting days.

What I became aware of was what my spiritual director suggested I would probably experience; focus and clarity in my prayer life. Contemplative prayer was something that I discovered goes hand in hand with fasting. One of my friends who also fasts and is in recovery for alcohol addiction said: 'you have discovered two-way prayer.' He gave me a book written by one of the original founders of The Oxford Group' (pre-dates Alcoholics Anonymous) entitled 'How To Listen To God'.

The author had obviously discovered the incredible benefits of fasting and 'be still and know I Am God.

My prayer life has and is still being transformed by the great benefits of fasting and it's effectiveness in my prayers life.

I also wanted to share with you I have a copy of a book by Tan Publishers coming in the mail on The Seven Sorrows Devotion. I won't mention the title in this post, however, I appreciate your sharing with me the spiritual benefits you have experienced through this Devotion. I noticed The Brevarium references the Devotion and I have a great love for praying the Psalms.

I am very happy for you Walter, and I have been praying for you and your wife and family.

Fasting is essential and self denial in general.

Fasting and self denial removes the fetters that hold us to this world, so that we can live good spiritual lives longer slaves to our appetites. Real spiritual freedom.

“For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh; for these are opposed to each other to prevent you from doing what you would.” Gal 5:17

This is key.

When we are in self denial mode, we are in the spiritual mode. We enter the spiritual world by denying the flesh also with meditative prayer. This gives us the disposition to be taken by Grace into contemplation.

We dispose ourselves for real spiritual adventures and to learn self knowledge and the mysteries of God.

Even if we use fasting for health benefits, we can at the same time use it for the great spiritual benefits.

The children of Fatima after being shown Hell, fasted from food and water and did many penances to save souls, praying to Jesus to obtain them mercy.

God is very close to self deniers, He rests peacefully in them and that peace he shares with them.