As I was typing one of the many posts last night I came across a question that I have absolutely no idea about (if you've read any of my posts this will probably shock you lol).
side note: this site rocks and my faith and relationship with God has multiplied and continues to each day I open my web browser! I hope the same is true for you!
I believe and agree that it is pleasing to God to fast before making a decision. My question is: how often should we fast and are there different types of fasts? Also, should we fast only to reach a decision in life? Thanks so much for what I am sure are going to be enlightened posts!
Direct Scripture quoting and personal beliefs welcome :)
I, personally, only fast when I am seeking an answer, or feeling like I need to get closer to God. I know many others who fast more often, up to three times a week.
I think it is a matter of personal preference. I feel that only doing it on special occasions, keeps it special. But that is just an opinion, not scriptural.
Good question. I am looking forward to seeing the answers as well.
Fasting for me is about dying to self. ( my self loves to eat ) LOL When I am not preoccupied with fulfilling the desires of the flesh, I am then able to focus on the things of God.
I will fast and pray when I want to communicate to God that I am really serious about this issue that I am lifting up to Him and I need Him to tell me if this is His will for me or not.
I can do a water only fast for about 3 days and if I am going to fast longer I will only have protein shakes. I have tried the Daniel fast of only vegetables and water also. I prefer no solid food at all.
Thank you for starting this topic, as I was typing this I realized that I need to start a fast of my own tomorrow.
Yes dear. mumble, mumble, murmur, murmur. LOL. Just kidding.
I think the important thing about fasting is to keep your focus on God. In Biblical times, food made up the bulk of their day...finding it, preparing it, serving it, and eating it. If you cut out all the time involved in that, you could spend your day seeking God's face. Meditating on His will, and not your needs. That is where our revelations come from.
I should fast, I haven't done it in a while. It is a sacrifice, and when we sacrifice that which, keeps us alive...He blesses us. He gives us the strength when we are fasting. I fasted on very important decisions in my life. I always got an answer from Him, not always the one that I wanted, but an answer and the honor to spend time in His presence, seeking Him.
I heard once through a preacher, that fasting is like an atomic bomb released into the spiritual world. There is a reason Jesus emphasized that only through prayer and fasting will a certain demon come out of a man. It's that total dependence on Him and his power. It is also interesting that Daniel received his revelation after His fast. Anyway, I'm preaching to the quire ... I believe that devil hates when we fast. First, it brings us closer to God and he doesn't want that. The second one correlates with the first, that we humble our flesh--he (devil) doesn't want that either, for God gives grace to the humble. Lastly, it is that weapon that is released into the spiritual world...and satan hates that...his demons scatter. Almost always expect a temptation after a fast. Those are my thoughts,
Blessings to all of you brothers and sisters. In seeking to get into a closer relationship with God and learning to trust the Lord in all things and through every circumstance I came across the title of a book called "Fasting". I was drawn to it by the Spirit and purchased it. Before reading this book I never had a full understanding of what a fast was. Glory be to Jesus, now I see. When I was not even half way through the book I felt moved to start a fast of forty days. I fasted coffee, sodas, all kinds of sweets and cookies, no red meats and no bread or crackers. Yes, a rather ambitious step for one that never fasted before.
My house was in foreclosure and I had it on the market for a "quick sale". A woman that had come to see the house fell in love with it and my realty estate agent was pressuring me to accept her offer. I had a very difficult decission to make because if I didn't sell the bank was going to take the house, and so forth. And if I sold I had to go to a shelter with my kids (16yr, 15yr and 16yr) because I had no place to go. I couldn't rent because no one wants to rent to people that will have a daycare on their premises. That is my source of income.
I was also concern about my 16 year old grandson. He was attending Sunday church services and the youth services on Wednesdays, but I wanted him to have a closer relationship with God and be more involved in church. As I began my forty days fast and prayers I ask the Lord for guidance over my house problem and to awake within my grandson a desire to serve Him more and increase his faith.
Two weeks into the fast I felt peaceful and certain to where the Spirit was leading me. I called the agent and told him I wasn't selling thank very much. I, then called the bank and spoke to them for what it seemed like forever. Finally they agree to do a review for a loan modification. (I was not succesful on other attempts prior to this time.)
Towards the middle of my fasting my grandson came to me and told me he was enrolled on the youth leadership classes. Aleluya!!!! By the end of my 40 days fast he had received his Youth Leader Certificate, joined a human video team and participated on the Christmas human video performance. (I have it on YouTube...hehe) He was baptized in water on Christmas Eve. Praise the Lord!
Two weeks after my 40 days fast I received a call from the bank saying that they accepted the loan modification. Blessed is the Lord! My home was saved. I should also mentioned that during that fast the Spirit moved me to do a full fast and I was able to go for 38 hours on just water and brooth. It felt great, except that I made the mistake to take the girls to the mall and wasted precious energy walking. I felt dizzy and had to go back to the part fast I was doing.
My brothers and sisters, I truly can not express the joy of this experience in which I felt and saw God working in my life. I have shared this with a group of ladies from church and they too have taken to fasting and are experiencing the power of fast and prayer. Praise Him.
Fasting brings you to a deeper level of intimacy with God, opening up the gates of blessings and becoming more sensible to the Holy Spirit. Since my first one back in late July 2008, I have done another 40 days and a 21 days on the begining of the year. May all the glory be to Jesus.
My grandson is going strong in the Lord and wants to go on this year missions trip to Haiti. We are praying about this to see what the Lord says. It will be difficult because in order to get his passport I need a letter from his father allowing him to leave the country and that is not possible. You see, I have no legal custody of my grandchildren. But it's in God's hands and we shall be still and wait on Him.
I love you all in Christ, be blessed and stay strong in faith!
P.S. The first 4 days of fasting were very painful with the withdrawl headches. But I felt victorious knowing that God was pleased with my actions.
