The topic of fasting has come up in the bible study I have been attending. This is a spiritual discipline that I have not attempted before. Do any of you have experience with fasting? Do you know of any good books on different types of fasts? I feel that this may be something that God is asking me to do.
Try Don Whitney's "Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life" (I think is the title).
He has a section on fasting.
This rest is well worth the read as well.
Or try his website:
I have fasted before and practice fasting as part of the spiritual disciplines. We have lost a lot of the disciplines in our walks. It is an important, and deeply private, practice in my life. :)
I'm pretty careful when talking to people about fasting. It is an important practice but one that can be abused or even hurt someone. For instance I knew several students at my undergrad alma mater who did 40 day fasts and it caused some injury. I don't do certain kinds of fasts due to potential injury and because I've never been called to do some of them.
There is great power in appropriate fasting and praying. I recommed it to only mature Chrisitans.
I was going to suggest Dr. Towns.
I've met him (he's a good friend of our pastors, so he's preached at our church numerous times) and I think he's got some great insight.
You'll find that as you study through the fasts of the Bible. There is no hard fast 'fast rule.' I compiled a list of fasts with some simple questions. Email me at roger(at)ireland(dot)com if would like those.
With all due respect TCG, why would we read a book by a known false teacher?
I'm not trying to derail this thread, but I can't let this go by.
As a Baptist pastor, I'm amazed that you would encourage this.
False teachers should be avoided.
It's a pastors job to protect the sheep from the wolves, not feed the sheep to the wolves.
Step 5: Fast as a Statement of Faith to Others Daniel was making a statement of faith when he asked for only vegetables to eat and water to drink, then dared the overseer to compare the appearance of the four sons of Israel with the young men who ate the king's food.
This is a direct contradiction of Jesus commands.
Mat 6:16
Moreover 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.
Mat 6:18
That 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.
J.F. also says that Daniel fasted (or rather ate a different diet) as a statement of faith to the king.
But actually he ate differently in obedience to God and refused to live the pagan ways of the king.
In other words, he kept himself separated from the pagan nations as God had commanded the nation of Israel to do.
Daniel wasn't "fasting", but rather was being obedient to God.
This is common among word/faith teachers.
They twist scripture to suit their desires and they also use a lot of OT teachings in their heresies.
Priscilla, I am not discouraging you from fasting.
That is between you and God.
But please do not follow a false teacher to learn about fasting.
Go to your bible.
I agree.
Unfortunately, discernment is not something that many believers have nowadays and I've seen so many read one book that was OK by an author then buy everything from this author hook, line and sinker.
There are a huge number of books out there on any given topic and wouldn't it be better to read from an author who's foundation is solid and Biblical rather than possibly having to weed through what might not be healthy for us?