Should I stop fasting?

[UtterlyLost]

Here's the deal: If you're not familiar with the record label Come&Live!, they do a thing called Fast Friday where people send in prayer requests, and anyone who signs up for the e-mail list fasts and prays on Fridays. When I first heard about Fast Friday, I immediately felt called to participate. I was lacking self discipline in other areas of my life, and I had never tried fasting, so I starting fasting every Friday with an eagerness to grow my spirituality and relationship with God. Soon, however, I began to eat larger and larger meals to break my fast. It got to the point where it was simply gluttonous. I was still fasting, but the fast became merely a justification for the overeating. Some Fridays I wouldn't even pray (which is the whole point!), and I'd maybe think about God for a total of a minute throughout the day. And to top it off, I became proud that I was able to demonstrate so much discipline. I ultimately realized that there really was no discipline in it at all. I was denying myself food, but only because there was a massive reward waiting for me at the end (that had nothing to do with God). So I'm wondering whether I should stop fasting or not. I'm fasting for all the wrong reasons, so half of me thinks I should stop because I'm not doing myself any good. The other half thinks that stopping would just be quitting. And I'm not sure what there is anything to gain from stopping my fasts. If I keep fasting, I will try to tone down the overeating, but I doubt that will be enough to get my heart in the right place. What do you think?

 

[Water1944]

Hi! God's blessings to you. Here's what I think,stop the fasting.This feels to me like a perfect example of how we start to serve the Lord with an open heart, and the devil steps in and turns it around so it's no longer good. It takes just as much self discipline to stop something as it does to start. I would keep the strong commitment to prayer on fridays, that pleases God and that is why you started. I would be careful not to beat yourself up if you stop,the devil likes that as well. i admire your prayers for people in need,how wonderful! Please-if you want to-let me know how it works out.Praying for you

 

[Ugly]

Fasting isn't a gimmick to boost record sales. It should be a personal choice, not a sign up sheet. Don't do it unless you really feel the need.

 

[UtterlyLost]

Fasting isn't a gimmick to boost record sales. It should be a personal choice, not a sign up sheet. Don't do it unless you really feel the need.

Oh no, I think you misunderstood. Come&Live! is not for profit. They actually give away their music for free. They view their artists as "musicianaries". Their hearts are in the right place. I'm the one who needs some adjustment. Fast Friday gives me specific things to pray for, which I appreciate.

 

[Donkeyfish07]

If your not fasting for God, or as a way to try to build a stronger connection with him.......you might as well eat, because you just missed the whole point if your doing it for other reasons.

 

[Powemm]

Do as God leads you

 

[SeatBelt]

... I began to eat larger and larger meals to break my fast. It got to the point where it was simply gluttonous....the fast became merely a justification for the overeating. Some Fridays I wouldn't even pray (which is the whole point!), and I'd maybe think about God for a total of a minute throughout the day. And to top it off, I became proud that I was able to demonstrate so much discipline. I ultimately realized that there really was no discipline in it at all. I was denying myself food, but only because there was a massive reward waiting for me at the end (that had nothing to do with God). .... I'm fasting for all the wrong reasons, so half of me thinks I should stop because I'm not doing myself any good....I doubt that will be enough to get my heart in the right place.

You have your answer, now just admit it to yourself. You clearly spent more of the post on the Quit side of the fence, and for good reason, too, it seems.

The other half thinks that stopping would just be quitting. ...

LOL, there's someone at my 12-step that has a shirt that says "Quitting is for quitters."

Remember, often it's less what you quit, and more what you began when you quit.

 

[Ariel82]

God doesn't listen to people who "fast" out of pride and for no true reason than to tell themselves how "self controlled" they are. He requires a different type of fast. one where you give your time and energy to helping others and not afflicting your body and soul.

Isaiah 58


[SUP]3 [/SUP]‘Why have we fasted,’ they say, ‘and You have not seen?
Why have we afflicted our souls, and You take no notice?’ “In fact, in the day of your fast you find pleasure,
And exploit all your laborers.
[SUP]4 [/SUP]Indeed you fast for strife and debate,
And to strike with the fist of wickedness.
You will not fast as you do this day,
To make your voice heard on high.
[SUP]5 [/SUP]Is it a fast that I have chosen,
A day for a man to afflict his soul?
Is it to bow down his head like a bulrush,
And to spread out sackcloth and ashes?
Would you call this a fast,
And an acceptable day to the Lord?

[SUP]6 [/SUP]“Is this not the fast that I have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the heavy burdens,
To let the oppressed go free,
And that you break every yoke?

[SUP]7 [/SUP]Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out;
When you see the naked, that you cover him,
And not hide yourself from your own flesh?
[SUP]8 [/SUP]Then your light shall break forth like the morning,
Your healing shall spring forth speedily,
And your righteousness shall go before you;
The glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard.
[SUP]9 [/SUP]Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer;
You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am.’

 

[Ugly]

Oh no, I think you misunderstood. Come&Live! is not for profit. They actually give away their music for free. They view their artists as "musicianaries". Their hearts are in the right place. I'm the one who needs some adjustment. Fast Friday gives me specific things to pray for, which I appreciate.

Still doesn't change the rest of what i said. Fasting is not a sign up sheet and if you don't feel the need, or lead by God, then you shouldn't be doing it. Just because someone has good intentions doesn't mean they have good actions. Many people do bad things with good intentions.

 

[UtterlyLost]

Still doesn't change the rest of what i said. Fasting is not a sign up sheet and if you don't feel the need, or lead by God, then you shouldn't be doing it. Just because someone has good intentions doesn't mean they have good actions. Many people do bad things with good intentions.

Well, as I said, I did feel that God wanted me to begin fasting. Is it possible that I was wrong from the start? I feel unsure about quitting because I don't want that to be a form of disobedience. Obviously, fasting for the wrong reasons is also a form of disobedience. So I guess maybe I should stop fasting, work on my prayer life, and then see if God leads me back to the fast. How does that sound?

 

[SeatBelt]

... Obviously, fasting for the wrong reasons is also a form of disobedience. So I guess maybe I should stop fasting, work on my prayer life, and then see if God leads me back to the fast. How does that sound?

sounds like you're talking some sense, but then I'm no guru.
that's the thing with Christianity... if you want an expert on it, you best be opening the Bible instead of seeking the opinions of others. all the same, I'd say you seem to be on the right track.

 

[CatHerder]

I hate typing from my phone, but here goes- If and when yiu decide to fast again, you might want to consider planning/packing the meal you have when you come out of the fast. That way, you have portion sizes controlled in advance. Also, there are different ways of fasting; a juice fast wont make you want to binge the way a regular fast will when you break fast. Either way, drink water, and when you feel hungry during the fast, use that as a reminder to pray.