Motivation for fasting

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Lucy68

Senior Member
#1
Jan 21, 2011
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#1
I know the Bible encourages fasting yet I find it VERY VERY difficult to do. Our culture is so focused on food and I have an inner thought that if I don't eat regularly, I will die. This is irrational but it is so ingrained in me that I'm having a hard time overcoming it....definitely a stronghold against the Holy Spirit.

Does anyone have suggestions on what has worked for them on how to begin to fast?
 
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Bryancampbell

Guest
#2
#2
Well my answer might be useless, but this is my experience (fasting when no food, not religious reasons) but you can try this if it helps!!!!!! If you want to take it slow with a drink and no food. Try green tea, it helps your body regulate without food, many great health benefits. spend a couple days like this. Then eat normally again. Exercise yourself. Then after along process of preparing and excericising, try it completely with no food intake since you will be enhanced in endurance. My answer is odd but I tried!!!!!!
 
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Lucy68

Senior Member
#3
Jan 21, 2011
2,538
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#3
Thanks Bryan...you have been helpful :)
 
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Jordache

Guest
#4
#4
I have a difficult time with fasting also. First, I shouldn't do it because of a medical condition. Secondly, I find myself losing track of its purpose easily because of my history with eating disorders. Fasting doesn't have to be food. I have fasted Facebook, make-up, technology, sweets, soda, etc. its just as effective.
 
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OddOne

Guest
#5
#5
The first time I started fasting, it was the 3day one with no food and only water. MAN, that was brutal. It was during the week so I had to go to school and carry on with normal stuff. I broke down on the first day but I didn't give up. Its meant to be hard because we use food to comfort us. Instead of leaning on God for strength, we rely on food. I know that our bodies can not function without food but fasting helps us to let go of some of the power we have given to food.
Trust me, you won't die. Like Bryan said, its better to train your body first.
But if its on your heart to fast, just go for it!! God's power is more than sufficient to keep you going! At the end of the fast, food becomes less desirable because your hunger increased spiritually, not physically.
I'm not even sure if that helped:)
 
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presidente

Senior Member
#6
May 29, 2013
9,082
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#6
Lucy68 said:
I know the Bible encourages fasting yet I find it VERY VERY difficult to do. Our culture is so focused on food and I have an inner thought that if I don't eat regularly, I will die. This is irrational but it is so ingrained in me that I'm having a hard time overcoming it....definitely a stronghold against the Holy Spirit.

Does anyone have suggestions on what has worked for them on how to begin to fast?
Click to expand...
You could start with a light sun up to sun set fast. Eat breakfast before the sun comes up, and fast until sundown. Spend your lunch time in prayer. It's basically skipping lunch, but I believe that kind of fast with no water may be in the Old Testament.
 
RickyZ

RickyZ

Senior Member
#7
Sep 20, 2012
9,635
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#7
And remember that it's fasting and prayer. Without the prayer part you're just starving yourself. The prayer will help you thru the fast.
 
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Lucy68

Senior Member
#8
Jan 21, 2011
2,538
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#8
Thanks so much for the suggestions :)

Self-control is never easy to learn and it seems especially hard for me concerning food. I'm also trying to lose weight (25 lbs) so it's hard for me to separate the physical reason from the spiritual reason for fasting.

Yes, I agree, that spiritual fasting has to be accompanied with prayer...biblical fasting was for a specific purpose. Even if I can't get the right motivation to begin with, I'm going to get started with small steps in controlling my will. For example, yesterday I just ate fruits and vegetables and drank water (though it had lemon and artificial sweetner). When I went to bed I was proud of myself and felt good that I had accomplished that small step.

Eventually, I will go to an all day fast....I liked that idea about sundown to sundown fast. Hopefully, I can soon begin to fast for the right reasons :).
 
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