Fasting

[ZiSunka]

When was the last time you fasted?

How often do you fast?

What foods do you give up when you fast?

How long do you fast?

[DiscipleOfIAm]

Can't say that I ever have fasted. I don't know that much about the Biblical principle behind either. Are we supposed to fast? Am I not doing something I should be doing?

[newlite]

i heard a sermon about that a month or so before...i got this sheet thing. ill see if i can post the site of it...

[pressingon]

Here's a good link regarding fasting: http://www.new-life.net/fasting.htm.

I've done several one day fasts (no food, just water), generally as a method of spiritual self-discipline and a tangible method of repentance after realizing the depth of my sin in the area of gluttony (although I've done it for other reasons too). I've considered longer fasts, but just the one day fast can be quite difficult. There's something quite cleansing about the experience, regardless.

You've definitely got to do it with the right motivation, though. If you're doing it for superficial reasons (such as losing weight), "arm-twisting" God, etc.... you're off-base.

[Monica02]

[QUOTE=pressingon]Here's a good link regarding fasting: http://www.new-life.net/fasting.htm.

I've done several one day fasts (no food, just water),... I've considered longer fasts, but just the one day fast can be quite difficult. QUOTE]

Perhaps you would like to try the Catholic (Latin rite) fasting. It consists of two very small meals, no snacking and one regular meal. Abstinence is when you give up a particular food or food group (or any activity) for many days or weeks.

[C.I. Scofield]

For Medical reasons, I cannot fast. I have low blood sugar.

-CIS

[pressingon]

Perhaps you would like to try the Catholic (Latin rite) fasting. It consists of two very small meals, no snacking and one regular meal. Abstinence is when you give up a particular food or food group (or any activity) for many days or weeks.Although I'm aware that God is pleased with a variety of types of fasting, He's never really laid that type of a fast on my heart. It goes back to fasting being quite individualized... that just wouldn't seem like a sufficient sacrificial offering for me.

One thing that I'd definitely suggest, regarding fasting (especially full fasts)... PLANNING! Without such, you'll end up with more temptations to break your fast. Let me tell you, there's nothing that breaks a fast quicker than starting one and coming home to a four-course meal already prepared, simply because you didn't talk with your family about it!

[DiscipleOfIAm]

[/QUOTE]I've done several one day fasts (no food, just water), generally as a method of spiritual self-discipline and a tangible method of repentance after realizing the depth of my sin in the area of gluttony (although I've done it for other reasons too). [/QUOTE]

I wasn't aware there was anything in the Bible about "gluttony" being a sin. I understood that to be a part of the 7 deadly sins "created or thought up" by the catholic popes in the 1200's or around that time.

[pressingon]

I wasn't aware there was anything in the Bible about "gluttony" being a sin. I understood that to be a part of the 7 deadly sins "created or thought up" by the catholic popes in the 1200's or around that time.To be honest, I've never really looked into it.

A quick search gives these verses from Proverbs 23:

"20Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags."

Aside from that, it's quite Biblical to take care of the bodies God has created for us. There may not be a specific verse that says, "Thou shalt not be gluttonous", but part of taking care of ourselves is to eat in moderation.

Anyway, gluttony is not the issue at hand... we're discussing fasting. In my fasting experiences, each has been triggered by conviction (again, the specific conviction has varied from time to time), and I believe that they have indeed been pleasing to God.

[DiscipleOfIAm]

To be honest, I've never really looked into it.

A quick search gives these verses from Proverbs 23:

"20Do not join those who drink too much wine
or gorge themselves on meat,
21for drunkards and gluttons become poor,
and drowsiness clothes them in rags."

Aside from that, it's quite Biblical to take care of the bodies God has created for us. There may not be a specific verse that says, "Thou shalt not be gluttonous", but part of taking care of ourselves is to eat in moderation.

Anyway, gluttony is not the issue at hand... we're discussing fasting. In my fasting experiences, each has been triggered by conviction (again, the specific conviction has varied from time to time), and I believe that they have indeed been pleasing to God.
I was just pointing out that you had stated you were fasting as a form of repentance for the sin of gluttony. And I was trying to clear up if that was actually a sin. For catholics, it is a deadly sin, but for us Baptists/Protestants, I wasn't sure if it was actually listed in the Bible as a sin. And not being familiar with fasting or the Biblical principle behind it, I was just inquiring about that as well!

I agree 100% about taking care of the temple of the HS, which is your body.

God Bless

[pressingon]

On a related note, there is a fasting forum here at CF... You all might check out a few posts there to get some other experiences and viewpoints.

[ZiSunka]

I was just pointing out that you had stated you were fasting as a form of repentance for the sin of gluttony. And I was trying to clear up if that was actually a sin. I think gluttony can be a sin, especially for us here in the US who gorge ourselves on expensive, fattening meals daily while other people go hungry. I do know people who fast once a week and give the money they saved to a homeless mission or public kitchen or free restaurant. :)

[DiscipleOfIAm]

I think gluttony can be a sin, especially for us here in the US who gorge ourselves on expensive, fattening meals daily while other people go hungry. I do know people who fast once a week and give the money they saved to a homeless mission or public kitchen or free restaurant. :)
That reminds me. A church I attended once upon a time, did that for Easter. Everyone in the congregation was to fast one meal and give the money to the church to send to the local mission. I didn't think much about it because it was the first I had heard of fasting in the church and I was younger.

[Tulip]

For Medical reasons, I cannot fast. I have low blood sugar.

-CIS
You can fast from other things than food. You can give up something else like coffee, your favorite soda, TV, internet :eek: . I have diabetes type 2 and I can't have full fasts either. If I want to fast I can follow the Catholic fast with one meal or two small meals, only for one day though. Other than that I can abstain from something else than food.

[Gwenyfur]

For Medical reasons, I cannot fast. I have low blood sugar.
I too have hypoglycemia. During a fast from food I will drink nutritional drinks like ensure or those premade protien shakes. A lot of times I will fast from soda, or TV or even from reading...(except the Bible)...meaning instead of a book, I read the Good Book :) Fasting doesn't have to be food, it can be anything in your life that you give up for your faith. Never fear, God loves us too much for us to kill ourselves fasting

God Bless...