Last week, I felt God calling me on a fast. On Thursday, I had an event so i fasted on Wednesday as it was becoming a thing for me to fast every week. I go on a fast on Wednesday to find out that God is extending my fast to a week. I struggled, but came to terms with that and continued. Now God speaks to me about having the right attitude during fasting. I say yes Lord. Now God extends my fast even longer. I don't know. This is hard guys.
Is this God?
- Thread starter DrGuyPhD
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Hello and welcome to CC!
Yes, fasting is hard, I agree. Have you read Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline? It has a chapter on fasting, and in my opinion, is the best treatment of the subject.
As to whether it is God speaking to you, consider how you hear "Him" on other issues. Does God speak to you about anything else? Is the "voice" encouraging and edifying, pointing you to Scripture and Jesus, or is it consistently critical and condemning, pointing at your weaknesses? If you only hear "God" on this issue, it might be your own conscience--or something worse--beating on you.
Yes, fasting is hard, I agree. Have you read Richard Foster's Celebration of Discipline? It has a chapter on fasting, and in my opinion, is the best treatment of the subject.
As to whether it is God speaking to you, consider how you hear "Him" on other issues. Does God speak to you about anything else? Is the "voice" encouraging and edifying, pointing you to Scripture and Jesus, or is it consistently critical and condemning, pointing at your weaknesses? If you only hear "God" on this issue, it might be your own conscience--or something worse--beating on you.
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Jesus explains the correct attitude to have during fasting. So whatever you're experiencing should absolutely conform precisely to what Jesus' instructions are:
Matthew 6:16-18
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Matthew 6:16-18
16Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
17But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face;
18That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
Please understand that the Lord works with us individually. Fasting is deeply spiritual with supernatural results every time. One week is a stretch. I’ve never met you, but if the Lord has called you to test your endurance He will give you the strength to keep going. I’m fasting more than ever. These evil times require all the arsenal we have as Christians and yes fasting is one of our spiritual weapons. Keep going. Let us know what happens ok?
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Thanks for your replies. I previously have heard a lot of voices, this one specifically, that was condemning and painful like this one. I haven't been able to enjoy my fast. I still have 9 days before my 21 day fast ends. To extend it even further is a big risk. And using my track record for hearing the voice of God on this issue, a lot of the times, it's me.
Hello, and welcome to CC.
I was wondering, do you have fellow Christians, pastors, and/or elders whom you can talk to about your fasts and who will pray with you to seek confirmation?
I know we must obey God over men, but there are still some important situations that need to be considered. Have you also talked to your doctor or medical provider about how and how long you are able to fast? For instance, certain medical conditions and medications might limit the type and length of fasts for some people.
I had a friend who was a newer Christian, about 2 years in, who said that God was leading him to fast. Every time he sat down to eat, he said that "God" was telling him not to eat and to keep going. He lost over 30 pounds in a month, and still insisted that "God" was wanting him to go on even longer and stricter fasts. (He really wanted to do a 40-day fast as Jesus had in the Bible.)
I kept pleading with him to talk to one of his church elders or pastors, but he said he didn't want to disobey the Lord. It also turned out that he had a history in his life of authority figures being harsh and demanding, and this is how he saw God. When I asked him what the "voice" sounded like during his fasts, he said he once went to a restaurant, but a "voice" told him, "No, you're not going to eat today," and so he got up and left.
Eventually, he did talk to a church elder, but even then, he was hesitant, and deathly afraid that he would be disobeying God and therefore, punished. It took a long time for him to realize that this was not God and that he had to learn to ignore the voice of his own self-condemnation.
I had a time in my own life in which I went through a fast and, after believing it had brought a great amount of spiritual clarity to my life, started going on almost continuous fasts. We all know that fasting is hard, so I would try to make up rules for myself in order to try to stay on track: "I can't eat until X time of the day, and nothing afterwards;" "I can't eat this, that or the other when I do;" "I can only have this and not that on certain days."
I would simply pile rules on top of other rules, thinking I was getting closer to God the more stringent I became.
One morning I woke up and my stomach was grumbling sharply, but I thought, "I can't eat until X time -- after all, I'm fasting," and a still, small voice said, "Seoul. You. Are. Starving. Yourself."
I truly believe that this was the voice of the Holy Spirit, because I was not wanting to stop, and I have tried to be more careful about what "fasts" I put myself on ever since.
Now of course, I am all for fasting that is led by the Lord.
But I do think that all too often, and especially without anyone else to talk to about it and help keep us prayerfully in check, we wind up listening to voices other than God that will lead us astray, even when we think we are doing something "spiritual" and "of the Lord."
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Dr GuyPhD Perhaps I can shed some light upon this subject. Number 1 Since you believe and I sure do not doubt you in any way the Lord has called you to fast,you need to first know what a fast is for,and how one should proceed in the fast.( Isaiah 58:6-11!!) Fasting is a time of thanksgiving as well!! ( 1 Thess 5:18) not a time to complain. I had to remember this myself!! LOL
The Lord knows your heart,do the best you can! I found out the following from my fasts.1.First ( Psalm 100:1-5) Praise him and Thank him! then 2. And this is the hard part, at least it was for me!! LOL SHUT UP!!!! Informing the Lord of your need is fine, but remember he already knows you and your situation! It is in insult to have to inform him,as if he does not know!! LOL
3. This is not easy either. WAIT UPON him!!! David would wait all day if needed!! ( Psalm 25:4-7),(1 Cor 9:27) and ( 2Cor 10:4-7) And while you wait in your mindset as you body and mind tell you its time to leave,or look to bother you,which the flesh will do!! HOLD FAST!! ( Isaiah 40:28-31) Hey!!! It takes loads of practice!!
But that is ok,for the Lord will help teach you even as he did me! ( 1 John 2:27, John 14:26, 1 Cor 2:12) This worked for me,I am of course still learning,but this really gave me great peace ( Phil 4:7-9) when knowing what a fast is for in the first place,and waiting and recieving!!!!! my answers! Blessing to you. STAY!!! daily!!!! In HIS WORD!!!
The Lord knows your heart,do the best you can! I found out the following from my fasts.1.First ( Psalm 100:1-5) Praise him and Thank him! then 2. And this is the hard part, at least it was for me!! LOL SHUT UP!!!! Informing the Lord of your need is fine, but remember he already knows you and your situation! It is in insult to have to inform him,as if he does not know!! LOL
3. This is not easy either. WAIT UPON him!!! David would wait all day if needed!! ( Psalm 25:4-7),(1 Cor 9:27) and ( 2Cor 10:4-7) And while you wait in your mindset as you body and mind tell you its time to leave,or look to bother you,which the flesh will do!! HOLD FAST!! ( Isaiah 40:28-31) Hey!!! It takes loads of practice!!
But that is ok,for the Lord will help teach you even as he did me! ( 1 John 2:27, John 14:26, 1 Cor 2:12) This worked for me,I am of course still learning,but this really gave me great peace ( Phil 4:7-9) when knowing what a fast is for in the first place,and waiting and recieving!!!!! my answers! Blessing to you. STAY!!! daily!!!! In HIS WORD!!!