Fasting

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lifebyfire88

Guest
#1
If God has called you into a fast and with the leading of the Holy Spirit you have confessed before God what you are fasting, can He change your fast? For instance, you are fasting everything but fruits and vegetables, but you feel the leading to change it to just no meat.

I have looked this up in the bible to no avail. Help and scripture reference would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.
 

JosephsDreams

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2015
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#2
From a health standpoint, I would not recommend anyone fasting on fruits and vegetables suddenly switch to meat, using a example you made. But no, I don't recall reading anything about this in the bible.
 
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Depleted

Guest
#3
If God has called you into a fast and with the leading of the Holy Spirit you have confessed before God what you are fasting, can He change your fast? For instance, you are fasting everything but fruits and vegetables, but you feel the leading to change it to just no meat.

I have looked this up in the bible to no avail. Help and scripture reference would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.
Yeah, probably because the Bible doesn't talk partial fasts and call them "fasts."

I recommend going a bit more toward God's word and a lot less of feeling like you're being lead to cover your own desires.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
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#4
I was not aware that the Word said anything about "how" to fast, other than to do it privately, not to draw attention to your "piety".

I was under the assumption that the "faster" decided what to give up, and for how long, and for what REASON.

Mostly, I think it was to allow yourself to spend more time in reflection, devotion, and prayer.

There was a fasting from sexual relations mentioned, but it specified to not do it for too long a period of time, so as to not push your spouse to temptation out of sexual frustration.
 
Dec 19, 2009
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#5
If God has called you into a fast and with the leading of the Holy Spirit you have confessed before God what you are fasting, can He change your fast? For instance, you are fasting everything but fruits and vegetables, but you feel the leading to change it to just no meat.

I have looked this up in the bible to no avail. Help and scripture reference would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.
Some people can’t fast because it lowers their blood sugar to a dangerous level. I am one of those people. Some people think fasting is very important.

The Lord isn’t going to call you into a fast that is dangerous to you. I would think it rare he would ask anyone to fast for more than one day, and even that seems like a long time to me.
 

hornetguy

Senior Member
Jan 18, 2016
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#6
And, personally, I've never been "called" to fast. It's always been a conscious decision I've made, for various reasons. (guided by the Spirit, I imagine)

As a humorous aside, when I hear someone say they were "called" to the ministry, I always go back to the old Bill Cosby routine about Noah...circa 1964 or so... very funny stuff. Clean humor...

Yes, I'm THAT old...
 
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Breanna

Guest
#7
[h=3]Matthew 6:16-18[/h]“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
 
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Breanna

Guest
#8
So it is ok to fast , my understanding was you did not eat at ALL . And how do you know God will lead you to fast ??
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#9
I did a ten day fast once, many years ago. I ate no food at all, just drank water with lemon juice, a bit of maple syrup, and as much cayenne as I could stand. :) It was amazing how much time it freed up for me not having to shop, prepare, eat, and clean up after food. Sitting in a restaurant with friends while they chowed down on their food did not bother me in the least. I was quite detached from food for those ten days, but when it was over, I could hardly wait to get back to the table. I have tried to fast again since then and not been able to :( I experienced no ill side effects from fasting. Some people get quite sick when their organs start detoxing and purging what is stored up.
 
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JesusIsAll

Guest
#10
I did a ten day fast once, many years ago. I ate no food at all, just drank water with lemon juice, a bit of maple syrup, and as much cayenne as I could stand. :) It was amazing how much time it freed up for me not having to shop, prepare, eat, and clean up after food. Sitting in a restaurant with friends while they chowed down on their food did not bother me in the least. I was quite detached from food for those ten days, but when it was over, I could hardly wait to get back to the table. I have tried to fast again since then and not been able to :( I experienced no ill side effects from fasting. Some people get quite sick when their organs start detoxing and purging what is stored up.
Lemon juice, maple syrup and cayenne? Organs purging? I'm suddenly feeling less spiritual, gross!

Is there such a thing as a selective foods fast, in the first place? I've never heard of this, in Biblical terms, but, if so, I'd do an ice cream fast, if I were you. There's no chance you'll go around looking gloomy.

The way some women cook, a lot married men could find much joy in a fast. You probably can't imagine the gloom that can set in, "What's for dinner?", and hear, "Oven surprise!", or those deadliest of words, "I found this new recipe..." As Colonel Kurtz said, "The horror! The horror!"
 
Dec 9, 2011
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#11
Hello lifebyfire88
Welcome to Christian Chat aka cc

Remember that fasting Is not a thing a person does like a religious formula that will get results, but It should be done with strengthening your faith In mind.

Withholding food from the body lets the flesh know that the Spirit Is In charge and not the desires of the flesh.

Its the Spirit that gives life.

And then renew your mind and fasting would definitely be helpful.
+++
Romans 12:1-2
King James Version(KJV)

1.)I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2.)And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
 

blue_ladybug

Senior Member
Feb 21, 2014
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#12
Should somebody with a seizure disorder/meds do a food fast?
 
E

ember

Guest
#13
If God has called you into a fast and with the leading of the Holy Spirit you have confessed before God what you are fasting, can He change your fast? For instance, you are fasting everything but fruits and vegetables, but you feel the leading to change it to just no meat.

I have looked this up in the bible to no avail. Help and scripture reference would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.
yeah sure

if you read the book of Daniel for example, you will find that Daniel and at least 3 others abstained or FASTED from the kings delicacies and God honored that decision

we can fast because we so badly desire an answer from God we go all out...such as in the book of Esther when she fasted 3 days before seeking the king...and captive Israel with her...there are indications that it was a fast from dawn to dusk though and not a complete 24 hr fast...but whatever...the point is, a fast can be done in different ways and can be called by God or a person's will (desire)

David also fasted when the prophet told him his son would die...he may not have been able to eat...when he learned his son with Bathsheeba was dead, he called for food again

I do not think we should get hung up on things like fasting...they can become a religious exercise instead of something between you and God

Jesus also mentioned fasting..He said this:

Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. Matthew 6:16

we can also see from the above reference, that Jesus expected people would indeed fast as He said when you fast and not if you fast

you should be free before God as fasting is between you and Him

the exception would be a church fasting ... or a group fasting...but otherwise, I do not see where we need to make fasting into a rule or religious observance

hope that helps
 
Mar 28, 2016
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#14
A fast as to its foundation it involves not eating the manna. The food that represents “what is it” the meaning of the word mana , as something foreign to us as the word of God that works in us.

The Sabbath, a day set aside that we do not have to work to supply us with food necessary for the bodies like bread made from wheat. it is designed as a day to go out with the gospel according to the true fast revealed in Isaiah 58.that loosens the bond of sin, by grace .

It is not just a day for humbling one’s own soul by not eating something. It is the kind of fast that the disciples knew not of and therefore could not cast out the lying demons. But rather a day set aside for setting those captive free from doing the will of the father of lies. As we offer the gospel as our bread it can work in the heart of other as the fruit of God’s Spirit.

The apostate Jews though an oral tradition of men would change the requirement and made it into a self righteous work they could do , even going as far in pride saying they fast twice on the Sabbath . Seeing by that time eating three times was the magic number that they accredited to their own self, as a sign and wonder..as if it was after Christ.

The word week coming from the word sabbaton (singular)is clearly misinterpreted for some reason or other. It was a comparison with the other non self righteous person.

Luk 18:12 I fast twice in the week(on the sabbbath) , I give tithes of all that I possess.
Luk 18:13 And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner.

The first day of the week is called the Sabbath, not the week made up of the days.I don’t think they have a word for week they would call it seven days. The only time you will find the English word week is in respect to the wrong paraphrase.
 

JosephsDreams

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2015
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467
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#15
Should somebody with a seizure disorder/meds do a food fast?
I would not fast if I was you LB. If it was me in the same situation you are in, what I would do, would be a Daniel type fast. And even with that, I would do it in stages. I would do it for 2 days, and then stop. I would wait about 10 days, and try it now for 3 days, then stop. If that seems to be okay, I would repeat the cycle for up to 6 days, but I wouldn't go more then six days, regardless.
Definitely I would not do a water or juice fast. Absolutely not. Way to many risks, imho.
And ask your doctor, although some doctors don't know enough about it to really give a specific answer.
 

JosephsDreams

Senior Member
Dec 31, 2015
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467
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#16
I am of the mind that just about every Christian, health permitting, should do a water or juice fast of at least 3 or 4 days at least once in their life.
The physical and spiritual benefits are to profound not to.
 
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PurerInHeart

Guest
#17
If God has called you into a fast and with the leading of the Holy Spirit you have confessed before God what you are fasting, can He change your fast? For instance, you are fasting everything but fruits and vegetables, but you feel the leading to change it to just no meat.

I have looked this up in the bible to no avail. Help and scripture reference would be wonderful. Thank you in advance.
I know mankind has named many kinds of fasts, but I think the only fast is drinking only pure water and eating no food.
 
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PurerInHeart

Guest
#18
Juice is sugar water- that's not a healthy choice.
 
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HappyGuy

Guest
#19
when the Lord tells you to fast do not tell anyone your fasting like the scripture says.

[h=1]Matthew 6:16-18King James Version (KJV)[/h]16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.


there U go have a great evening and God Bless my brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ