About fasting
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It used to be a common practice for Lenten fasts.
There are different kinds of fasts. Extreme ones can be fatal.
We "break the fast" every day with breakfast. Intermittent fasting is a term that usually refers to just increasing the usual interval. Some fasts can completely abstain from food for weeks at a time (while maintaining salt and water). Other kinds of fasts are simply the act of fasting from a particular thing. Whether it is satiety, or meat, or something completely unrelated to food, what kind of fasting do you mean?
The intention of fasting mentioned in the Bible is usually about humility, and it's usually encouraged to be done privately instead of on open display for others.
"They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom." - Psalms 35:12-13 KJV
"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. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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." - Matthew 6:16-18 KJV
There are different kinds of fasts. Extreme ones can be fatal.
We "break the fast" every day with breakfast. Intermittent fasting is a term that usually refers to just increasing the usual interval. Some fasts can completely abstain from food for weeks at a time (while maintaining salt and water). Other kinds of fasts are simply the act of fasting from a particular thing. Whether it is satiety, or meat, or something completely unrelated to food, what kind of fasting do you mean?
The intention of fasting mentioned in the Bible is usually about humility, and it's usually encouraged to be done privately instead of on open display for others.
"They rewarded me evil for good to the spoiling of my soul. But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom." - Psalms 35:12-13 KJV
"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. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 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." - Matthew 6:16-18 KJV
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In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about acceptable fasting, saying that one should not look gloomy (ESV) or disfigure their face so that their piety may be observed by others. That passage says nothing about having a grudge. I suspect you are conflating the passage on fasting (6:16-18) with the passage on anger (5:21-26).
Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline contains a very informative chapter on fasting.
In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about acceptable fasting, saying that one should not look gloomy (ESV) or disfigure their face so that their piety may be observed by others. That passage says nothing about having a grudge. I suspect you are conflating the passage on fasting (6:16-18) with the passage on anger (5:21-26).
Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline contains a very informative chapter on fasting.
Isaiah gives a bit of a definition of fasting that is different from what has been mentioned so far. In it, we read: "Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?"
It seems the kind of fast that God is looking for is simply to free persons from oppression. This is what God does in the very next verse: "And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. "
So I would think that a Biblical definition of fasting is not to deny oneself of food, but rather to help free up persons from oppression and to set them free through Christ
It seems the kind of fast that God is looking for is simply to free persons from oppression. This is what God does in the very next verse: "And now, behold, I loose thee this day from the chains which were upon thine hand. If it seem good unto thee to come with me into Babylon, come; and I will look well unto thee: but if it seem ill unto thee to come with me into Babylon, forbear: behold, all the land is before thee: whither it seemeth good and convenient for thee to go, thither go. "
So I would think that a Biblical definition of fasting is not to deny oneself of food, but rather to help free up persons from oppression and to set them free through Christ
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“For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.”
Matthew 6:14-15
the solution is to accept that as truth and do this in response
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 11:25-26 KJV
even if you can’t approach the person and forgive yet , forgive them between you and God in prayer , ask God to forgive them and hold nothing against them for thier transgression against you
it’s amazing how prayer and hearing what Jesus said for his people to actually do , can change our heart. And cause us to act right .
forgiveness isnt always what we feel like doing or want to do , but often it’s something we need to take initiative on and press forward into even if we don’t feel like it yet
it will always be a blessing to let go of grudges and offenses
Matthew 6:14-15
the solution is to accept that as truth and do this in response
“And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
Mark 11:25-26 KJV
even if you can’t approach the person and forgive yet , forgive them between you and God in prayer , ask God to forgive them and hold nothing against them for thier transgression against you
it’s amazing how prayer and hearing what Jesus said for his people to actually do , can change our heart. And cause us to act right .
forgiveness isnt always what we feel like doing or want to do , but often it’s something we need to take initiative on and press forward into even if we don’t feel like it yet
it will always be a blessing to let go of grudges and offenses
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