Fasting

[InquisitiveSoul]

Is there a suggested length of time one should fast? I work an odd schedule and I've heard people say 2 meals, but that can be longer or shorter depending on my work schedule for that day.

If one starts their fast after dinner, is it really fasting if they are asleep?

[john doe]

Generally, it's accepted to fast for 24 hours. Many people will eat a meal, then skip the next two, and eat again 24 hours from the beginning of the fast. But there are no hard and fast (no pun intended) rules. Some people simply cannot go that long without food for health or other reasons, and their fasts are still acceptable to the Lord.

[Guest mirancs8]

I fast until I feel that I fulfilled what it is that I wanted to get out of that fasting. On the first Sunday fasts I fast all day breaking my fast at dinner. If I am fasting and praying for a specific reason I do it until I feel I've received my answer. I don't have a set time. I've fasted the most for 2 days which was a couple of months ago but that's not normal for me to do that length of time.

[Blackmarch]

Is there a suggested length of time one should fast? I work an odd schedule and I've heard people say 2 meals, but that can be longer or shorter depending on my work schedule for that day.

If one starts their fast after dinner, is it really fasting if they are asleep?

No more than 24 hours... Many do 2 meals

It also depends on ones health, like if one is diabetic, where skipping only 1 meal would probably be ok.. or just taking barely enough to keep themselves from harm.

Fasting is sacrificing the wants of the body to come closer to God... but don't put yourself overly in danger.

you awill also want to do more than just skip eating you also want to combine things that bring you closer to God, such as sincere pray or study.

[Hemidakota]

Is there a suggested length of time one should fast? I work an odd schedule and I've heard people say 2 meals, but that can be longer or shorter depending on my work schedule for that day.

If one starts their fast after dinner, is it really fasting if they are asleep?

Generally, it depends on what is being fasted. There is no need to fast if there is no objective for it.

[Guest Alana]

When I wake up I won't eat until dinner time. I count it as starting that morning. Works for me.

[Hemidakota]

It is the same question, do we home teach the family, given the temporal spiritual and physical responsibility of that family, or just to be counted on a monthly role?

[Justice]

Two weeks ago I was asked to give a talk on the blessings that come through the sacrifice of fasting.

As I studied I found the story in the Old Testament (2 Samuel) where David fasted for his first child when it was taken ill. He fasted for 7 days that the child might live. The child did not live. When David heard that the child was dead he cleaned himself and went to the house of the Lord and worshipped. Then he ate.

I've learned that we may or may not be granted the desire of our heart through fasting. The first and foremost thing we should fast for is to know the will of the Lord. If we pray and fast for something that goes against the will of the Lord it will seem our prayer and fast are not being heard or answered.

At the end of the talk, I closed with this:

Fasting is not a trial of going without food, as we often make it. Fasting is the prescribed method of gaining increased spirituality so we can overcome or endure trials.

So, as Hemi said, if there is no purpose for our fast, then there is no fast. It is not simply a test to see if we can go without food. It is not a trial within itself. It is a sacrifice that brings greater blessings and strength to overcome particularly tough trials.

Jesus taught this in the New Testament when He told His disciples that some spirits can only be cast out with prayer and fasting. This can just as easily be referring to trials. Some trials cannot be overcome or endured without prayer and fasting.

As far as length of time... 24 hours is the given standard in the church. I have heard of people extending their fast a little longer, but I see no need to extend it too far. In my opinion, a better method is to wait a week and fast again, and repeat until you get your answer.

[Hemidakota]

A wonderful talk Justice.

More or less, the 'WILL OF LORD' must come first no matter the outcome. However, there has been past request where the Spirit has told a father in not allowing the child to live and regretted it later when going against the council of the Spirit.