I'm thinking of fasting. Need advice.

[JNathanK]

For over a week, I've abstained from any type of sexual activity whatsoever. The trick is to not ignore libido but re-divert it I've found. Sexual and hunger impulses are something we associate with our minds for the fact they take up so much of our time. However, for us to really experience our own souls and God more clearly, I think we neet to set such drives aside from time to time.

I'm thinking of maybe going without eating for a week sometime when I have the chance. I was inspired by reading the non-canonical writings of Hermas, in which he encountered the spirit of the church in a feminine form in several dreams and visions that he experienced while fasting. Of course, I'm also very much inspired by the 40 days of fasting in the wilderness that Jesus himself underwent that brought him face to face with his own carnal temptations.

So, what are some pointers on fasting? I saw some crazy woman on youtube, who fasted for 4 months or something, but I want to go for a week or less since I'm a novice at this. What kind of vitamins should I take? If anyone on here has direct experience concerning this, your input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Hitch]

I suggest you start small. A day, two days and so on.

What is the goal of your fast?

 

[JNathanK]

My point is to encounter the trinity in a more direct way by setting aside my stronger impulses aside, along with whatever mental baggage might be attached to it. I think that would require a longer fast, which I may do in the future, but I'll try a day or two as a test run I suppose.

 

[Hitch]

My point is to encounter the trinity in a more direct way by setting aside my stronger impulses aside, along with whatever mental baggage might be attached to it. I think that would require a longer fast, which I may do in the future, but I'll try a day or two as a test run I suppose.

Kinda like a tune up fight, get a win or two under your belt.

Im a little concerned with what you mean by to encounter the trinity in a more direct way but getting closer to God is always a proper goal. You'll be in good company.

 

[JNathanK]

Well, what I mean about encountering the trinity in a more direct way is that I see the trinity as the union between the Son and the Father by way of the holy spirit. By accepting the Son into your heart, followed by the Spirit, you, yourself can connect to the Father as well. That's my take of it anyway.

By fasting, I hope to encounter my temptations and reject them, as Christ did, so that I can strengthen my relationship to the trinity, since only through that dynamic can I have the strength to do it. Its easier said than done, I know.

I understand the son as the sinless nature of Christ as divinity in the flesh that I, myself, don't possess as a spiritual being caught up in the flesh. In order to reject temptations, I need to accept him and his perfect nature into my heart to receive the father by way of the holy spirit. I don't want to get into some heavy theological argument over it, but that's my understanding.

 

[modernnihilst]

from a health perspective, a week long fast is not a good idea. however if this is something that you wish to do check GNC(or a likeminded store) and look for something similar to the vitapak program as they have a large array of vitamins as well as most of your amino's(protein) to prevent much in the way of muscle loss/damage(your heart is a muscle too rember). for a week prior to the fast id bulk up on calories(empty ones ie loose the diet and nummy it up) try to build up a fat storage. also when you come off the fast watch your caloric intake for a few days so as to reacclimate your body to food(yes even after a week your body may be shocked by caloric intake and just turn it into fat for storage). other than that good luck.
*edited* cauz eye kant spel

 

[reba]

I think the idea of fasting as unto the Lord is not the same as fasting for any other reason... When we fast unto the Lord we are looking to Him for our sustenance.

 

[JNathanK]

for a week prior to the fast id bulk up on calories(empty ones ie loose the diet and nummy it up) try to build up a fat storage.

So that's what Mardi Gras and fat tuesday is about or supposed to be about, to get enough of a caloric intake to prep for Lent.

 

[JNathanK]

I think the idea of fasting as unto the Lord is not the same as fasting for any other reason... When we fast unto the Lord we are looking to Him for our sustenance.

...and your point being? I think my pursuit of fasting to be filled with the holy spirit is one and the same as looking to Him for sustenance.

 

[modernnihilst]

So that's what Mardi Gras and fat tuesday is about or supposed to be about, to get enough of a caloric intake to prep for Lent.

is Lent where you can eat at night or is it not at all?

 

[reba]

What kind of vitamins should I take? If anyone on here has direct experience concerning this, your input would be greatly appreciated.

I think the idea of fasting as unto the Lord is not the same as fasting for any other reason... When we fast unto the Lord we are looking to Him for our sustenance.

 

[Kellig]

I was always confused about fasting. I wasn’t entirely clear of its purpose. Whenever I tried to fast I’d put lots of cream and sugar in my coffee. I would try to trick my stomach into thinking I wasn’t hungry by drinking a lot of water. When I prayed and asked God to show me why, He opened my eyes through studying His Word. The Bible gives us several reasons for fasting. It keeps you focused. I realized that’s the whole point of fasting. Every time you feel hunger, it reminds you to pray. It makes you so close to God, as your flesh submits to the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 34:8 Oh taste and see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!

There are two parts that at war within us. The flesh part of us and the spirit part of us. Our spirit part of us always wants to follow God and His ways. Our flesh part of us always wants to please the flesh. The flesh always wants to take the easy way. There is always a battle for control. The more you feed the flesh, the stronger it gets. By starving the flesh part of you, you make the flesh weak. Fasting and prayer brings the flesh part of you under submission to the spirit part of you.

By fasting, you tear your affection away from earthly desires and instead you seek Gods desire for you. When you fast and pray, you feast on the Spirit. You feel close to God. It humbles you, and makes you acknowledge your dependence on God. Every time your soul is afflicted, it brings your focus back to God. Your hunger pangs are like a spiritual alarm clock, reminding you to pray. When I fast and pray, it brings my sins into focus, I can see them for what they are. I get a greater clarity of God’s will for me. My spirit man is in control of my flesh man. I understand truths in the Bible that I hadn’t seen before.

Fasting and prayer always go together. When I was trying to assuage my hunger by adding cream and sugar to my coffee, it wasn’t really fasting, because instead of praying when I got hungry, I tried to fix my discomfort. Fasting without prayer isn’t fasting; it’s just missing meals. Cutting away the flesh man, takes prayer and fasting. You are in the flesh when you’re not trusting God, and If you don’t pray while you are fasting, it can sometimes lead to incorrect fasting.



Love, Kelli

 

[JNathanK]

@ Kelli I got really wordy in the previous posts, but this is exactly what abstinence from all sexual activity has done for me for the past 2 weeks. It forces me to pray to God and to meditate on the holy spirit for strength. It also shows me a lot of sins that I need to confess. Basically when I have a provocative thought that throws me off course, that's a sinful lust i need to confront and ask for forgiveness for, which I'd otherwise overlook if I gave into that lust. I actually lost some sleep over it, but I think it was important to do. I hope to take the same principal to another level with abstaining from food.

 

[Kellig]

Believe it or not, God led me to fast makeup for 40 days once, LOL. I know that probably sounds so frivolous to most people, but for me it was very difficult. I felt so ugly and like I was lower in status... I guess you can guess why God had me fast makeup. I believe I probably had body dysmorphic disorder, but thank God, through fasting and prayer, He has pulled me out of the miry clay of thinking so much about myself and how I appear to others.

I will pray that you draw closer to God through your fasting.

Your comment on the trinity has me a tad confused...

We are created in God's image, and we are also triune beings. We have a body, a spirit and a soul (I think the soul is like our brain or personality)

The Holy Spirit is Jesus' Spirit.

[FONT=&quot]John 14: 15-30[/FONT][FONT=&quot] "If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever-- 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be [/FONT][FONT=&quot]IN[/FONT][FONT=&quot] you. [/FONT][FONT=&quot]18[/FONT][FONT=&quot] I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.

[/FONT]And

[FONT=&quot]John 16:7,8 [/FONT][FONT=&quot]Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

[/FONT]God and Jesus, that's a little harder to explain... Just for illustration let's say that you live in a fairly small town, and your dad is the judge. Your dad, the judge, always make righteous judgments... ALWAYS. It's because of this that some people in your town love your dad, and some people hate him.

Let's say that you make a mistake and break the law. You know that you are guilty of the offense, but heck, you are a good person, and you know your dad loves you, Therefore you are confident that even though the prosecutor has proven that you are guilty of the crime, your Dad will fix it. Imagine your surprise when your Dad slams the gavel down and says "GUILTY", and pronounces that you will pay 2 million dollars restitution or spend 20 years in prison.

Yes, you are guilty, but... but...

Then your dad does something strange... He stands up from the bench, neatly folds his robe and sets it on the chair. He comes down from the judgement seat and stands next to you. He lays 2 million dollars on the table and says, "Yes I am the judge, and I must judge righteously, but I am also your father, and I have sold everything I have to pay your debt".

That is what God did, he put on flesh and came to us 100% man and 100% God.


[FONT=&quot]
[/FONT]

 

[Feldew]

For over a week, I've abstained from any type of sexual activity whatsoever. The trick is to not ignore libido but re-divert it I've found. Sexual and hunger impulses are something we associate with our minds for the fact they take up so much of our time. However, for us to really experience our own souls and God more clearly, I think we neet to set such drives aside from time to time.

I'm thinking of maybe going without eating for a week sometime when I have the chance. I was inspired by reading the non-canonical writings of Hermas, in which he encountered the spirit of the church in a feminine form in several dreams and visions that he experienced while fasting. Of course, I'm also very much inspired by the 40 days of fasting in the wilderness that Jesus himself underwent that brought him face to face with his own carnal temptations.

So, what are some pointers on fasting? I saw some crazy woman on youtube, who fasted for 4 months or something, but I want to go for a week or less since I'm a novice at this. What kind of vitamins should I take? If anyone on here has direct experience concerning this, your input would be greatly appreciated.

I would just like to say that, if you're married, I hope you discussed this with your wife before deciding to cut off all sexual activity.

is Lent where you can eat at night or is it not at all?

Ramadan is the time where you can eat only at night. Lent, at least in its contemporary nature, is giving up something that you enjoy for those forty days and nights. You know, pornography, sweets, cigarettes, things like that. Also during lent, you are supposed to abstain from eating red meat (and they push fish) on Fridays. However at the base of its 'life', Lent was a time where you fasted for forty days--as Jesus did in the wilderness.

 

[Damascus]

I have a little advice for you, if I may.

First off, very simply, just remember that fasting without prayer is dieting. I have every belief that you will fast prayerfully, but it's advice that was given to me that always stuck with me, and advice I always share if someone asks.

Next, I wouldn't dive directly into a one week strict fast. There are definite health complications that can arise from that. I'd start with a 24 hour fast, and slowly work towards your goal.

Lust of the flesh begins with lust of the belly. He who conquers the belly conquers his lusts, through the grace of Jesus Christ. Wish you the best.

 

[lightbearer]

from a health perspective, a week long fast is not a good idea. however if this is something that you wish to do check GNC(or a likeminded store) and look for something similar to the vitapak program as they have a large array of vitamins as well as most of your amino's(protein) to prevent much in the way of muscle loss/damage(your heart is a muscle too rember). for a week prior to the fast id bulk up on calories(empty ones ie loose the diet and nummy it up) try to build up a fat storage. also when you come off the fast watch your caloric intake for a few days so as to reacclimate your body to food(yes even after a week your body may be shocked by caloric intake and just turn it into fat for storage). other than that good luck.
*edited* cauz eye kant spel

Don't recall anyone in the Holy Writ taking suppliments during their fasts. The Spirit of the Lord was their substance. It is a time set apart Wholly devoted to Him, with no care or thought of this life and the burdens that come with it.

 

[modernnihilst]

Don't recall anyone in the Holy Writ taking suppliments during their fasts. The Spirit of the Lord was their substance. It is a time set apart Wholly devoted to Him, with no care or thought of this life and the burdens that come with it.

That was only from a health perspective as I do not share your beliefs I can not offer advice on spiritual matters(at least without violating ToS).