Okay Pirate, this is my two in the morning kind-of-beginning-to-write-my-messages explaination. okay?
HERE is a great, basic website about fasting for your reading pleasure.
THIS website offers some more in depth scriptural analysis of why to fast and what God promises those who seek him in fasting.
There are several "points" to fasting. my point is direction and a cure for apathy. other acceptable reasons for fasting are sickness, mourning, and threatening situations.
Quote:
Direction: Fasting helps us find God's will. If we expect God to reveal his direction for our lives, we must put Him first. Often this means putting aside the fulfillment of our physical appetites, so that we can focus our attention on Him.
We find an example of fasting for direction in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. Three nations were coming against Judah to destroy them. King Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, proclaimed a fast for the whole nation and they asked the Lord what they should do. God heard their prayer and their fast and gave the people prophetic direction through one of the choir members! God told them what to do.
Acts 13:2 is another example of direction being given by God during a fast. Here we find the leaders of the church of Antioch worshipping and fasting. The Holy Spirit used this occasion to tell the church leaders to choose Paul and Barnabas from among their group and send them out to spread the gospel among the Gentiles. So fasting is one of the ways we seek God's guidance and direction in our lives.
One of the things I have learned time and time again about fasting is that it can make a profound difference. By fasting, I lay aside a desire (for food) and instead appeal to God for direction. He loves to direct, and fasting shows a level of dedication. It can also be a time of great spiritual renewal--a friend of mine once fasted food for two weeks (nothing but water and some juice), and he maintains to this day that it was one of the best experiences of his life, even though he got sick of seeing his roommate eating sandwiches at all hours of the day. Though I've never done a two week long fast, I have fasted for two or three days at a time...and really, it is an experience...not always a plesant one, but one that normally offers some meaning.
The 30 hour famine attaches another purpose of fasting: empathy. It is important that people realize they are not the only one on the planet. There are more than six BILLION other people out there, and many of them could use a hand. the 30 hour famine can be intense, but it gives people who live very comfortable lifes a tiny little taste of hunger and what it's like.
ok....well, I'm going to bed. I hope that clears something up, feel free to keep asking questions. It really is good practice.
wink 
Reply
