Bassmasa

I thought long and hard about that before my post, but then thought that if no one shares their experiences, how can the benefits of fasting be learned by others? I shared my experience so that others could see the concrete effects of the fast, not self-promotion. Within the context of this thread, where individuals are seeking information about a topic, why should I withhold information that could be a blessing on their lives about a specific event during a specific point in time that has passed? I see your point, but like a fast itself, the intent is what matters.

I learned about fasting from Godly men in my church and their shared experiences greatly contributed to mine...how else could this knowledge be passed along? If I was insincere, then my reward has been received in full already...

I agree with most of your other comments, but sacrificing food is just different, for me anyway. You may be absolutely 100% correct that fasting from food as compared to something else is the exact same thing, but having experienced both, lack of food is a constant awareness that can't be experienced with anything else, save for lack of water or air (wow, that would be interesting). For me, giving up other things could be negated by distraction of many kinds, but hunger does not go away. It was a constant reminder to rely on God for his provision and to pray for the specific purpose I was fasting. Everyone else's mileage may certainly vary.

Anyway, those are my experiences, I hope others take something from them.

epistemaniac

amen... thanks for sharing your heart in this matter.... you are right that we must share our personal experiences even about such things as fasting.... I guess my only concern was for others (not you necessarily at all) to make their personal subjective experience normative for others when the word of God itself does not say we can't "fast" any number of things besides food, including sex, for the sake of devoting ourselves to the Lord....

limiting a fast to food only when we are to live our entire lives, doing whatever we do for the glory of the Lord, as Luther said Corum Deo... "before the face of God"... just seems unnecessary when there is so much we have and do that can be "fasted" to and for God's greater glory....

but most of all I appreciate your heart in this matter and for not misunderstanding my own posts as being a personal attack on you.... it was never meant to be any such thing and I want you to know that I admire your passion for God and that you actually are trying to live out your beliefs beyond the mere profession of words.... you are "walking the talk"....

may you ever grow closer to the Lord our God....

blessings,
Ken

Boanerges

Whatever you do do it with the "do all things as unto the Lord" attitude and God will be pleased- fast in private as unto Him- He will be pleased, share you expierience to edify the brethren as unto Him- He will be pleased- God wieghs our hearts motivation in all we doing and understanding this will make it easier to know when and were to step out and when to be silent- PERSONALLY I THINK YOU GUYS BOTH ROCK!

epistemaniac

hey... same to ya .... but more of it ehhh...?



love ya brother!!!!

James

To hear of personal accounts of fasting does go a long way in helping to understand what fasting is, how it is done, what for, what happened, etc.

And I appreciate it very much, as well as all of the takes on the whole deal.

Thus, so, please rock on.

Bassmasa

Nothing beats a statement that has the word "thus" and the phrase "rock on" so close together! Great discussion and certainly a worthy one to have.

epistemaniac

perhaps the only truly profound life changing statements that comes close to: "thus, rock on" are words from culturally changing and epoch making films like "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure", "Fast Times at Ridgemont High", "Cheech and Chong's Up In Smoke" and.... the immortal words of James Brown....

Get on with ya bad self!!!


truer words were never spoken.... well ok... that may be a bit of an overstatement....

mustardseed

Thank you all for the very enlightening discussion. I've got no ideas to offer, but I really think your points are great!

__________________
God grades on the cross, not the curve.

Associate Chaplain

To me, FASTING is a commitment between Myself and GOD. What FASTING showed me is how humble man actually is when a basic action is stoped for a pre-determined period of time.