In most cases, a spiritual fast involves abstaining from food while focusing on prayer. Who were the three people who fasted for 40 days each? God made food for fellowship. Fasting is an expression of wholeheartedness. He is generous (James 1:5) and eager to give us 'good things' (Matthew 7:11). ." None! In fact, Jesus specifically instructed us to let our fasting be done privately and in humility, else we forfeit the benefits. God knows and understands their medical condition and does not expect them to harm their "temple" (1 Corinthians 6:19) in order to be spiritual. In fact, Paul says that every bit of food "should be received with thanksgiving" (1 Timothy 4:3). God never encourages fasting for solely discipline or self-denial reasons. Because Biblical fasting always occurs together with prayer in the Bible - ALWAYS. While I hesitate to state the obvious, your decision to fast should be guided by the Holy Spirit. Section 7. The Biblical Christian       >        Biblical Fasting, BIBLICAL FASTING WHAT IT IS AND HOW TO DO IT. In fact, in my childhood home, the dining table was one of the few times that we were all together as a family. Jesus himself affirmed in Luke 5:35 that after his death, fasting would be appropriate for his followers: "The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days" (ESV). Perhaps overly important would be a better way of saying it. Also, I highly recommend, especially if you've never fasted, that you seek both medical and spiritual counsel before embarking on any type of prolonged fast. But God said. But here is a principle: In God's word we always find fasting connected with a very troubled spirit or a very anxious heart before the Lord. He will not be until His second coming. The fast of Esther continued 3 days, both day and night. Additionally, many Christians testify to possessing a greater amount of discipline in their lives once they began fasting on a regular basis. Now you probably knew that Moses was the first recorded faster in the Bible. Biblical fasting is not hypocrisy. A radical fast can be harmful to your health and in most cases should not exceed three days. Daniel fasted on behalf of Judah's sin while reading Jeremiah’s prophecy: Daniel 9:1-19. In the case of bulimia, fasting was never meant as a preparation (or a penance) for gluttony. 3. But it is not only an act of self-denial and here is where the monks and hermits went wrong. On the contrary, genuine fasting will always cause us to examine our hearts to make sure everything is right with Him. Fasting didn't move God one iota. When I first undertook an extended fast, I had a difficult time finding information on the nature of a biblical fast, how to start, what to expect physically and spiritually, and how to end a fast. Our Lord assumes that Christians will fast. But basically we can say a Christian may decide to fast whenever there is a spiritual concern or struggle in his or her life. There are many times in the Bible where you see people fasting when they want to get an answer to their prayers. The Bible sets no specific time length for fasting. So the basic root meaning of the word simply means "not to eat.". By its very nature, fasting seems to suggest that something is wrong. So I grew up with the idea that fasting was something done by cloistered monks in prayer cells, hermits in caves, and very spiritual people on sacred retreats. I'm not saying that dieting is wrong -- only that this is not found in the Bible. "Then the followers of John came to Jesus and said, 'Why do we and the Pharisees often fast for a certain time, but your followers don't?' Darius fasted in concern for Daniel: Daniel 6:18-24. dieting for the purpose of making the body beautiful or for some other physical benefit. 2 Chronicles 20:1-4. It is denying not only my own body, but also my own wants. Keep checking your motives concerning your fasts. The Law required the people of Israel to “afflict” themselves (ענה – תענו) as they sought a clean slate for a new year (Leviticus 16:29). Matthew 6:16-18 demonstrates this, since Jesus pictures a situation in which Christians are among other people going about their normal duties and activities. Tastes found in creation is not an end in itself a different Page of this and... ; 10:10 of this biblical fasting length and intensely concentrated on God ( important:! Esther continued 3 days, both day and night food also is a bit different from the of. To larger periods of time of the returning remnant: Ezra 10:6-17 was for 80 days ( Ezra 10:6-9 Acts. 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