Question about fasting

Hi everyone,

I was just wondering what everyone thought about fasting, what they perceive this is, practical tips.
The benefits etc.

There seems to be very little teaching on this. I have heard some people say that they fasted by missing one meal. Others have said they fasted for a whole day, or maybe a few days. But no one seems to say anything about what they felt happened spiritually when they fasted (apart from get hungry!).

I knew a person who fasted for a few days in that they chose not to eat, but they still went to work so in that sense they did not really spend time with God, at least not while they were at work.

I always thought fasting was a way of putting aside routine distractions and spending time with God. But there again you can still do this without fasting by setting a day aside to spend time with God.

Any thoughts anyone?

Hi there Miri, I'm no expert but here is what I believe about fasting. God tells us that we need more than "food" to survive. He is basically telling us we need Him to survive. When fasting it should be done in a way where no one really knows you are doing anything at all. It should not be announced for everyone to say oh wow, that person must be really "religious". And during the time of fasting you should spend that time with God. Studying, praying etc... Because you are replacing the food your body needs for the food your soul needs. There are different types of fasts and you should read a few books on it to see how different it all is. We all may practice it differently, just like Christianity, but the core is that we spend that time of fasting with GOD. That's it in a nutshell. Like I said, I"m not an expert.

Fasting is doing something less of something your body likes, to make more room for God to work in you. Food is the most common, but by no means the only way. Some people are told by God to fast from certain things for certain times, but most fasts are voluntary, thus up to the individual as to time and type. That's why there is so little teaching.

Like Holdingon said, it's not just fasting, but fasting and prayer. Without prayer it is just starving. And it's a means of submission and submitting the flesh to God. You can fast a particular item, or items, or as God leads you to fast. And while it generally involves food, it can be of anything your flesh is dependent on. There's not much teaching because it's not popular and you know how so many churches go with popular these days. The benefit is spending more quality time with God, which leads to cleansing and peace and strength in Him.

I was wondering if there is anyone who has fasted - and if so what you felt the benefits were or what happened from a spiritual perspective.

Maybe Christmas is the wrong time to be asking a question about fasting. lol

I have never been able to trace any benefits directly to fasting.

Here's an example of what I have experienced with God (call it indirect benefits). Say a guy is dating a girl. He likes her, and he wants her to like him back. He wants to take her to the ball game (read cricket match if you're in England), but she wants to see the ballet. He gives in and takes her to the ballet. For him, that's fasting. The benefit is he gets closer to her. He can't trace any direct benefit to him, but the relationship deepens, and maybe he gets other benefits later on.

I have volunteered fasting to draw closer to the Lord and i have also been asked to dedicate a fast for the Lord. Fasting is a feasting on the Lord Jesus, a dying to the body hindering you from the drawing and intimate time with the Lord. The Lord asked me to fast for 10 days. When He asked me my limited mind said i could not do it for i was working hard labor work at the time. Well if the Lord asked you there is no Limit and the importance is no doubt. I told the Lord i could not do it but if He did help and do it through me i could and would. Well i was given the strength to do 91/2 days i was very weak and asked Him if i could break it. He gave me instructions, to go take a bath then go spend an hour in prayer. Well when i fasted my mind was so weak it did not resist or hinder my ability to listen and hear His voice. So i prayed for more than an hour and afterward Jesus was so real He could speak fluently and i could hear Him without distraction my focus I was only yielding. He spoke of How He loved me and some promises that i still hang on today. I have fasted many times some were my initiative other were from His request, it is a time to desensitize your body so you are weak in your strength that the Holy Spirit is your strength, you are more sensitive to the spiritual realm, if you do this fast on your own then you are more vulnerable in the spiritual realm having someone close to pray for you is good but if it is a dedicated fast asked of you by the Lord then keeping silent and secret is best because it is an intimacy with the Lord like marriage intimacy. Come out of the fast slow for your body’s sake, if you took 10 days to fast take 10 days to slowly return to the kind and amount of food you were eating before. If He is asking you to fast do not be swayed by your doubts or others opinions, He helped me do close to a 10 day fast while working construction so others have their opinions but the Lord and what he asks is far beyond any others knowledge and opinion. When it is His fast He is asking you to yield to Him, being intimate with you and in His secret place, so pursue to know whether it is a volunteered fast on your approaching Him or a dedicated fast of Him drawing you to intimacy with him. Also, during fasting I have experienced that I do not ask of Him anything, would you ask your spouse while sharing intimacy for something other than them?
God Bless you in Agape Forever

Franklin Hall has written very indepth books on this subject. His books maybe hard to find but if you wanted to read about it look up his books but if you were told or felt the Lord entreat you just do what he asks He will give you the strength to do it.
blessing my wishful prayer

Again let me say that I'm no expert. Please correct me if I'm wrong folks but in the bible in times when breakthroughs were being prayed for, many times this was done during times of fasting. Therefore the benefits of fasting is that it brings us closer to God and helps us put things in perspective and receive what God has for us. Not that all my prayers have been answered at this time in my life... but only God knows the right timing...

Thanks folks for your comments

I too have been curious about fasting, especially after reading in the Bible when the disciples couldn't call a demon out of someone and Jesus responded that kind only comes out by prayer and fasting. Since God created us, I've wondered about it from a scientific approach. We are animals essentially. As well we are spirit. I believe our carnal side and our spiritual side continually battle for our mind. Our carnal side receives energy from food on a molecular level. Our spirit gains strength through the Holy Spirit, prayer, and reading the Living Word (Bible). By not feeding our physical self we weaken its influence on our mind. As our carnal self is weakened if we feed our spirit it doubly benefits the influence it has over our mind. Mind control is often achieved in cults by nutrition deprivation. So the mind can be swayed quite easily. God knowing this can use its effectiveness to accomplish His will through us. I am definitely not an expert but from what I've studied in and out of the Bible I think I'm on to something.

Romans 12:2. Be transformed by the renewal of your mind. The whole concept is that the mind renews itself to get in touch with what God has done to our spirit. Then, the mind controls the body. Fasting gives the body less external input, so it can get more from that renewed mind.

I believe that fasting gives a charge to your prays , i listened to an audio book about Smith Wigglesworth when he was in his early twenties, him and hie wife fasted all day saturday and sat night and prayed, and every week they had 100 young people come to the Lord, mixed with faith a powerful key

I've fasted several times. Particularily during times of tremendous intercessory prayer. After several years of seeing this sort of a spiritual workout, - one that requires work by me, I have come to re-evaluate my thinking. Is this just another attempt at 'works' to get closer with God? Wrong motivation.....belief is all I need. Was it the time devoted to prayer and connected with God that lifted my spirit and changed the atmosphere? Or was it lack of food? I believe like some of the other posters here - denying the flesh of something to connect with God is the key. spending time with him and seeking his face will be far more beneficial. Therefore prayer/communion with him is better.
I will never fast again (deny myself of food) unless God specifically asks me to. Otherwise, its just works for me. However, I encourage you, Ask God, he's pretty good at giving you the answer himself.