Sunday, 11 January 2009
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To Fast or Not to Fast...
by miss sunflower 
Right now, my mother (and my church in my home town) is doing a corporate fast as a part of the fasting movement that Jentezen Franklin has started. I'm not sure when the movement started exactly, but this is at least the second or third year that my mom has participated in such a fast. As I was flipping the channels this evening to find some mindless entertainment, I came across Pastor Franklin's broadcast and stopped to learn more about the movement and I was inspired. After the show, I jumped on the website to learn more and was pleased to see how organized everything was; he outlines the types of fasts, why you should do it, health concerns, etc..
I wholeheartedly believe that fasting under the right conditions can change lives and bring you closer to God. I've seen it happen for others, but my previous attempts at fasting have been for more superficial reasons.
If you remember, I posted awhile back about the thinking fast that I participated in that was sponsored by Pastor Gregory Dickow. I'm wired to be very cynical, so when I was diligently participating, I felt myself change; unfortunately I wasn't as disciplined as I should have been, so I'm doing this again for sure. However I must admit that my personal experience with traditional fasting has been very flawed.
The first time I really fasted was back in 1999 when I graduated from high school. My two good friends were planning a trip to Disney World to celebrate our graduation and just to have one last hurrah before we started college and went our separate ways. The problem was that my mom couldn't afford to send me--she was a single parent and had four kids, so money was always an issue for us. Any extra money was being put aside to make sure that I had all the necessities that I needed for school in a few months, so that I could stay afloat while I was looking for a job.
I wanted to go on this trip so badly, that I put it in my head to fast so that God would help me; I didn't eat anything until after 5pm and I didn't watch anything but Christian programming. So when the money came for me to go on the trip, I was thrilled. The second time I attempted fasting was a year and a half ago when I was applying for law school. I didn't listen to any type of secular music for 3 months, so I thought I was doing something super special! I was very disappointed when I got rejected, but I'm working on my Master's now, so it all worked out.
In retrospect, I realize how silly it was for me to fast for a trip (I was just 17 then, so cut me some slack on that one) and to get accepted into law school. I truly believe that God cares about everything that concerns me, including my little superficial wants and my desires to excel, but my heart was not in the right place when I fasted before. God didn't give me these instructions, I made up my own rules to my little game, expecting for God to swoop down like a genie and give me what I wanted--never mind the fact that I had made little to no effort back then to have any type of real relationship with Him. I liken my former self to a kid that is only nice to his/her parents when they want something and treats them like crap when life is running smoothly.
I'm still not sure if I'm going to participate in the 21 day fast now, but I know that my heart and mind are open to fasting for more substantial reasons; for consecration and a deeper commitment to God rather than some form of "spiritual wish making".
Have you ever fasted before? What did you fast and how was your experience?
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About the Author
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- From: misssunflower
- Name: Miss
- About Me: I have been a Texas girl all of my life, although I have not always lived in the same city. I am currently working on my master's degree and upon completion will move on to law school. I have wanted to be an attorney since I was fourteen years old; this could be blamed on my involvement with the debate team, Ally McBeal or my fascination with being right.
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Comments (31)
I don't get it. Not eating or not thinking or listening to secular music are going to make people closer to your god...because they'll be too ill and might hallucinate seeing Jesus, or won't be thinking anything against this god, or bombarded by only praise music...?
Just sounds like a load of brainwashing to me, but I'm sure I'm missing something.
Not being Christian, I don't know much about the purpose behind fasting. However, I do understand that in Christianity, there is a saying - "God helps those who help themselves." To me, fasting seems like denying oneself some comforts and therefore in a way denying onself help from oneself. Personally, I think in order to truly appreciate what your god has given you and to become closer to him is not to deny yourself something, but to really pay attention to it. For example, I think something better than a fast would be to go about your daily routine, and whenever you happen to touch or take up anything material, send a quick prayer of thanks to your god. You wake up and throw off your covers? "Thank you, dear lord, for giving me these covers to keep me warm at night." You go to the bathroom to brush your teeth? "Thank you, dear lord, for giving me clean, running water and for giving me the ability to keep my teeth healthy to continue being able to eat." You go to breakfast? "Thank you, dear lord, for giving me sustenance to keep me alive, and the money with which to buy it." And so on.
There are people in the world who have so little. They must fast not because they think their god would be displeased if they didn't, but because they don't have the means to eat. I don't think you can become closer to your god by denying yourself. I think you can become closer to your god by sending aid to these people - maybe by going to such parts of the world and helping them personally - maybe even just going to a poor neighborhood in your area and giving food to some children. This will bring you closer to god as you realize how much he has given you and how much you owe him for it. Not doing something - not eating, not listening to music, not watching tv - that's easy. Action is far more difficult.
@SerenaDante@xanga - That's what I was thinking. Why would any god want to give you lavish things and then see you not use them? It just seems completely ridiculous. If I give you food, I want to see you eat it verdammt!
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - Lol yay agreement!
As I matured in my Christian walk, I came to see that fasting was just a form of letting God change ME. It is also a way to discipline our bodies and allow it to "rest".
I have participated in partial fasts (also called Daniel fasts, where you choose to limit what you eat or drink - watch or listen to), as well as the Jewish type fasts: where you eat or drink nothing during daylight hours, but then drink liquids or broths after sundown.
The longest fast I have participated in was for 21 days of the Jewish type, and 10 days of no solids or liquids other than water. Each fast was a great experience in learning my limits and enjoying the change of routine for better intimacy with God and His Word.
I worked normally during all of the fasts (I am an Administrative Assistant when I'm working), though I wasnt' foolish about stressing my body with hiking exertions.
The thing is to make sure that you have a decent time of life to set aside for that kind of focus, so that your body is not injured in any way, and the effort doesn't become an act of "pride". We can honestly let people know that we are fasting in discreet ways, so that we can be monitored for safety, too. A prayer warrior for support is always a good thing =).
@SerenaDante@xanga - Prayer, charity and fasting are holy activities and nurture spiritual growth.
Making a sacrifice of praise and gratitude often, like you recommended is very powerful and pleasing to God.
Fasting aids greatly with contemplation. Contemplation is an outpouring from God to the disciple. This is different than what we normally understand as spiritual in that the disciple isn't making effort. As a matter of fact, in contemplative prayer, the disciple is still and quiet.
Fasting brings order to the soul's intense appetite for satisfaction. Normally, we spend our days satisfying our appetites or at least thinking and planning how we can satisfy them in a worldly fashion.
Leading a life of prayer, fasting and charity directs the soul to the true satisfaction of its seemingly insatiable appetite: God.
@LoBornlite@xanga - Maybe fasting aids contemplation (or maybe when you haven't eaten in 5 days you're hallucinating and think you can speak to Jesus). But you know what REALLY helps contemplation? Helping other people. And you know what helps bring order to one's soul? Helping other people who are in desperate need.
As I said, it is very easy to sit around and do nothing. It is very easy to not eat and to not drink and to simply sit and "contemplate." Action, however, is difficult. It is difficult to actually DO something to help the world, rather than only yourself, which is what fasting is about - your own personal connection to your god, no one elses. Yet it is action that seems to have always been your god's prevalent choice. So instead of sitting on your skinny, lazy butt and not doing anything except thinking, why don't you go do some volunteer work? You can "contemplate" at the same time as dishing out soup to those who don't have the luxury of being able to fast.
@SerenaDante@xanga - Fasting need not be as extreme as you describe. The life of the lay person is filled with all kinds of obligations like family and earning a living.
So when engaging in prayer, fasting and charity, good judgement is essential. Also, fasting doesn't have to pertain to food. If one suffers from gluttony then of course fasting from food would be recommended. But what if your thing is power or sex or envy? One may construct a fast that aims at one's particular weakness.
You are most definitely of a charitable nature. But remember that the life of holiness has 3 aspects: prayer, fasting and charity. Managing one's worldly appetites can be done daily.
@LoBornlite@xanga - So I think you'll agree with me when I say that an extreme fast such as the one described in this post is both unnecessary and probably unhealthy. And that the writer's own fasts have also been rather frivolous.
@SerenaDante@xanga - How one chooses to fast is not up for approval by others generally. So even though I do agree with you 100% about the strangeness of the fasting methods in question, I simply make a note of the strangeness and chalk it up to personal preference.
Part of wisdom is the ability to understand the difference between what is required morally and what is subject to personal preference.
Jesus prayed, fasted and committed countless acts of charity. So my doing these things we are modeling our life after Christ. Quibbling over methods that are a matter of personal preference seems needlessly judgemental.
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - @SerenaDante@xanga - I imagine that different Christians fast for different reasons, but when I fast, one of the reasons is to remind me that I'm a slave to God before I'm a slave to my own wants/desires. In the Bible it says that we are not to live on bread alone, but by every word that comes from God. So I think that fasting can be a reminder that it's more important to fee ourselves spiritually than to simply feed out pie hole
I always fast for different things: For clarity of my racy mind, confirmation, To hear his instructions clearer, for people, direction, even just to get closer to God when I feel far off. The longest I ever did was 30 days, and that was when I was transitioning jobs, and church-I did this because even though I had numerous dreams, and heard God in prayer I still wanted clarity and CLEAR instructions on what God wanted me to do, but there were times I did fast for my own desires, but God still, AND WILL ALWAYS have his way-period (lol). Fasting is very therapeutic when you don't know what to do or if you feel you might be going the wrong directions. As long as your heart is right by why you are fasting (especially if God is specifically telling you to do it), but make sure it IS from a good place with good intentions (Ultimately God will be the judge of that) it is a wonderful thing, and I love the super closeness I feel when I do put myself, and desires aside, and reach after his presence. ;)
If Its Done For The Right Reasons Then I Agree 100% Fasting Is Beneficial.
There Are Many Types Of Fasting Though.
One Can Just Obstain From Secular Tv And Music For A Period Of A Few Days ( Or On The Sabbath As We Should) And Thats Considered Fasting As Well.
Usually Fasting That Includes No Food Is Done Because The Mind Will Become More Vulnerable And At This Point God Can Give Us Visions. ( Consider Jesus In The Wilderness)
Absence Of Food For Me Will Never Honor God. Its Always For Selfish Reasons. I've Had An Eating Disorder For 6 Years So In My Case It Becomes More Of A Losing Game, So Having The Proper Goal In Mind When Fasting Is Def Important.
Anyways All The Best To You :)
"God helps those who help themselves" is NOT Biblical and is NOT a Christian thought. I have no idea where that came from, but if you're going to bash Christianity, you might do a little research.
@SerenaDante@xanga - actually, i admitted that my reason for fasting before was frivolous. the fasts that i referenced in the post itself were merely examples. how and why a person chooses to fast is between themselves and god, if they choose to fast at all. anyway, thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.
@thats_prettyxscene@xanga - Fine. That's not in the Bible. This is still no excuse for inactivity and no reason to remprimand anyone who would insist that the world would be a better place if we, as humans, actually took charge of it rather than letting our gods deal with every problem that arises. If you're going to bash an intelligent thought like this one, well... I don't see any point in talking to you.
@misssunflower - Lol I didn't mean to insult you in any way. But you asked if you should do the fast - and my answer is no. There are better things out there that you can do to become closer to your god.
@SerenaDante@xanga - oh, no offense taken at all
@misssunflower - I'm glad to hear it =)
I'm very bad at fasting, but some good came from my experience. I went for a day without food and read and prayed during the meal times instead. I found that I was more thankful and mindful of my blessings when I received meals in the following days.
"I beseech you therefore; brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1).
"[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?" (ISAIAH 58:6)
I am participating in the Daniel Fast currently (based on the book by Jentezen Franklin). However, in the bible- the book of Daniel (1:8-16) it describes why this is done!
8-But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way.
9 Now God had caused the official to show favor and sympathy to Daniel,
10 but the official told Daniel, “I am afraid of my lord the king, who has assigned your food and drink. Why should he see you looking worse than the other young men your age? The king would then have my head because of you.”
11 Daniel then said to the guard whom the chief official had appointed over Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah,
12 “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.
13 Then compare our appearance with that of the young men who eat the royal food, and treat your servants in accordance with what you see.”
14 So he agreed to this and tested them for ten days.
15 At the end of the ten days they looked healthier and better nourished than any of the young men who ate the royal food.
16 So the guard took away their choice food and the wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead.
Here is a link based on what the fast is about and WHY people participate: http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/fasting/fastingbasics.php
Each person has their own reason for fasting, but the bottom line is this: Mathew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Mathew 6:16-18
“When you fast, do not
look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to
show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received
their reward in full.But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash
your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting,
but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - the idea of fasting is pretty similar to giving up something for Lent that Catholics practice. there are different types of fasting, some you simply skip a meal & study the Word of God/Pray during the time you would usually be eating the meal. it's basically giving up something for God. putting him at the foremost in your life. if you don't have a relationship with God i can see it being a hard concept to grasp & it seeming silly, so i hope this gave some insight. although i'm sure wikipedia would be more informational than me :)
@hubbaduh@xanga - i'm glad that i read your comment. beautifully said :o)
@robynnator@xanga - Mm, okay I get why they do it on some level, but my confusion is why would you give up something your god gave you? It would be kind of insulting, actually, if someone did that in real life.
"Here's some cake, I made it just for you!"
"Ohhh goody, I'm going to thank you by not eating it and praying to you because you're amazing and...stuff..."
It just doesn't make sense to me, you know? Why not take the cake, give thanks, share it, and savour every last bite?
PS: I love your ID. :D
@HeartOfPandora@xanga - hmm. yeah i get your point. i guess they see it not as rejecting what he gave them, but rising above their fleshly desires to eat that cake & spending the time with God instead. i guess it just really comes down to a personal choice. some people are wayyy more serious about it than others. & some religions just do it because they feel like they have to, etc. it's really hard to understand people sometimes!
thank you :o)