How long is one supposed to fast for? A day? A weekend? Longer? And can you have water? Someone said you can have liquids. Does that include milkshakes and smoothies?
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Length of fasting time
- Thread starter Lybrah
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My wife, six months before she met me went on a long fast for me. For four weeks for three days / week only fruit juice... no solid food. Then for the fifth week seven days in a row only juice and Jesus woke her up each morning and got her to pray for me.
She was really used to fasting by that time, the year 2000. Somebody who is just beginning to fast is doing good to do a half day with water. Back during the decade of the eighties I fasted regularly, usually for Saturdays, and it really did help me to get closer to God.
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- Aug 8, 2014
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There are variations on fasting depending on the tradition you are in. It may be that your church has some fasting practices and that your pastor or an elder can give you some recommendations.
Before I became Eastern Orthodox and began following my Church’s guidelines, I would do occasional 1-3 day long fasts where I would drink only water or vegetable broth, but eat no food.
If you have not fasted before, I recommend starting slowly, and consulting your health care provider, as well as your pastor/spiritual advisor prior to starting.
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- Aug 30, 2008
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I think medically speaking you can not go without water for very long. You should be drinking something. As for how long the fast should be, who knows, that is between you and God. I work so I don't fast during the week, but I will be fasting this weekend.
Fasting also in my opinion should be used to help the needy, the money we save on food should be given to the poor. This is a biblical concept. I discuss it in a video here.
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dailyprayerwarrior
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Start slowly. Don't push your body beyond it's breaking point. I like the suggestion of just drinking water for half a day. Do your due diligence. Fasting is wonderful!
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Phil W
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I guess I need to ask...why are you wanting to fast?
Are you seeking some sort of information or answer from God?
If that is the case, fast till you get the answer.
If you are just "showing the flesh who is boss", any amount of time will do the job.
You could fast from other things than food too, like TV or social media or news papers/magazines.
Skip one meal...but spend the time in prayer and study of the word.
Fast from food for a whole day, and you will realize that the mind has power over the "skin".
Fast from all desserts till you get what you are seeking. (information wise)
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I have found that giving up food for periods of time, especially when paired with increased prayer and giving, is a way of denying ourselves, which Christ has asked us to do, since we are denying the necessities of physical life. It reminds me of Christ’s time in the wilderness when He fasted and resisted all temptations (and it humbles me when I recall that I have not), and gives us an opportunity to try to follow Him more closely.
It also encourages and increases self discipline, to help prevent the world’s pleasures and cares from overwhelming us. And there can be medical/physical benefits with some fasting practices.
That has been my experience, but I don’t pretend to give a definitive answer. As I often say, “But what do I know?”
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“Necessary” might be a strong word, but there are plenty of examples in Scripture of fasting practices, and Jesus seemed to imply that there was an assumption of fasting when He spoke of it in Matthew 6:16-18...when you fast, not if you fast.
Nothing is necessary, I guess, except what God wills, as He is omnipotent, but I have found fasting to have some benefit in my spiritual growth.
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For one......
after several years of fasting for probably two Saturdays per month I somehow found that I was noticing levels of meaning in scripture and in my meditations that were far beyond where I had been spiritually in years.
When we get to the place where we can go fairly easily without food.... it also helps us to develop discipline in many other areas of our lives and walk with God.
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