I did a little study about fasting. I don't believe God or Jesus ever asked us to fast. I think this was a pratice developed by men. But, I am not saying we shouldn't fast. The shows a devotion to God. But, there are certain people with certain medical issues who shouldn't fast (like diabetics) There are other ways to show God your devotion.

Following, you will find scripture, which is credited to Jesus, about fasting.

Matthew 6:16-18 (HCSB)

How to Fast
16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be sad-faced like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive[a] so their fasting is obvious to people. I assure you: They’ve got their reward! 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head, and wash your face, 18 so that you don’t show your fasting to people but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

For me, this is a recommendation not to show you are fasting. The "religious" leaders of Jesus' day made sure everyone knew they were fasting, or pretending to fast. They made a big show of being without food, gaunt, fairing from lack of food. Jesus does not say this is needed. He says if you are going to so it, don't make an outward show of it. Clean yourself up. Be presentable. Don't show others you are fasting.

I am unsure this is what you are really asking. Fasting is something done for many reasons. Mostly to show your dedication to God. But, all of Matthew 6 talks about making sure you are truly dedicated to God. Don't make an outward show of anything.

My suggestion, (although, being a extreme diabetic, I don't fast.), is to drink water during fast. This fills you up, and keeps you hydrated.

I'm a diabetic too, and diabetes runs in my family on my mother's side. I remember my Mom adored divinity fudge, even though she was probably borderline diabetic (her mother died at 52 of complications from diabetes). Yesterday I tried fasting just one meal, and it was like my brain shut down, I couldn't do the simplest things. Even after I ate, I felt queasy. I'd been reading a book about prayer by Marilyn Hickey in which she wrote that "fasting and prayer are twins". Some people have said "Jesus said WHEN you fast, not IF you fast." I think this was just something else the enemy tried to use to bring me under condemnation. Yesterday scared me, I was sicker than a dog after skipping just one meal. I can't imagine how people fast for days and days. Thank you, Mary, you've helped a lot. God bless you {HUG} :)

Diabetic......seriously.....diabetics shouldn't go without eating for more than 5 hours. There is something in eating that helps us keep our "sugar" levels good. I know I have major highs and lows. I have often thought about fasting. It is something people do to show there devotion to God. But, I can find no where that He said it was a requirement.

I fasted once when I was in my 20's for the Easter weekend. I was blessed in that although it wasn't easy, the first and third day were terrible, at least I was well. Now I'm much older I may miss a meal like breakfast although I have tea as I do my daily scripture reading and praying - so for me in that instance the fasting and prayer do go well together. I think its a decision between you and God and if God wants you to fast then He will show you how He wants you to do it. I'm a great believer in God's word not only telling us what to do but how to do it. If fasting makes you ill then how about giving up a favourite food for a period and for me Romans 12: 1-2 shows I can do that as a sacrifice/offering to God: "So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering" (The Message). Don't let anyone tell you that you should and must fast and how you should do it, take it to God and He will show you the scripture you need to know His will for you, after all the bible we call the bible God's Word and the word means somebody is speaking. Maybe that sounds awkward but don't know how to put it better than that.

Loddy, thank you for this great post.

Larain, thank you for that inciteful comment.

Romans 12:1-2 (HCSB)
12 Therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, I urge you to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God; this is your spiritual worship.[a] 2 Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God


I had not heard that scripture interpreted that way. This is why I believe in comparing different interpretations. A phrase can be interpreted many different ways. This is one great example.

And, being able to offer God a small part of our every day life...well, it's just a wonderful way of thanking him.

I hadn't heard Romans 12:1-2 interpreted like that either Mary and haven't really taken to The Message bible until recently but that version struck a chord in my heart as our everyday lives may sometimes seem boring but doing it all for the Lord is a sacrifice just as good as fasting. Especially when I do stuff Ihate, somehow doing it for the Lord makes a huge difference to my attitude.

1 Peter 5:9-11New King James Version (NKJV)

9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But may[a] the God of all grace, who called us[b] to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.


1 Peter 5:9-11The Message (MSG)

8-11 Keep a cool head. Stay alert. The Devil is poised to pounce, and would like nothing better than to catch you napping. Keep your guard up. You’re not the only ones plunged into these hard times. It’s the same with Christians all over the world. So keep a firm grip on the faith. The suffering won’t last forever. It won’t be long before this generous God who has great plans for us in Christ—eternal and glorious plans they are!—will have you put together and on your feet for good. He gets the last word; yes, he does

For me, this version is an excellent study Bible. See the "Version Information" below; (s quoted from biblegateway.com)

Version Information


Why was The Message written? The best answer to that question comes from Eugene Peterson himself: ""While I was teaching a class on Galatians, I began to realize that the adults in my class weren't feeling the vitality and directness that I sensed as I read and studied the New Testament in its original Greek. Writing straight from the original text, I began to attempt to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original language. I knew that the early readers of the New Testament were captured and engaged by these writings and I wanted my congregation to be impacted in the same way. I hoped to bring the New Testament to life for two different types of people: those who hadn't read the Bible because it seemed too distant and irrelevant and those who had read the Bible so much that it had become 'old hat.'""

Peterson's parishioners simply weren't connecting with the real meaning of the words and the relevance of the New Testament for their own lives. So he began to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original ancient Greek—writing straight out of the Greek text without looking at other English translations. As he shared his version of Galatians with them, they quit stirring their coffee and started catching Paul's passion and excitement as he wrote to a group of Christians whom he was guiding in the ways of Jesus Christ. For more than two years, Peterson devoted all his efforts to The Message New Testament. His primary goal was to capture the tone of the text and the original conversational feel of the Greek, in contemporary English.

Language changes. New words are formed. Old words take on new meaning. There is a need in every generation to keep the language of the gospel message current, fresh, and understandable—the way it was for its very first readers. That is what The Message seeks to accomplish for contemporary readers. It is a version for our time—designed to be read by contemporary people in the same way as the original koin Greek and Hebrew manuscripts were savored by people thousands of years ago.

That's why NavPress felt the time was right for a new version. When we hear something over and over again in the same way, we can become so familiar with it that the text loses its impact. The Message strives to help readers hear the living Word of God—the Bible—in a way that engages and intrigues us right where we are.

Some people like to read the Bible in Elizabethan English. Others want to read a version that gives a close word-for-word correspondence between the original languages and English. Eugene Peterson recognized that the original sentence structure is very different from that of contemporary English. He decided to strive for the spirit of the original manuscripts—to express the rhythm of the voices, the flavor of the idiomatic expressions, the subtle connotations of meaning that are often lost in English translations.

The goal of The Message is to engage people in the reading process and help them understand what they read. This is not a study Bible, but rather ""a reading Bible."" The verse numbers, which are not in the original documents, have been left out of the print version to facilitate easy and enjoyable reading. The original books of the Bible were not written in formal language. The Message tries to recapture the Word in the words we use today.

Once again, I want to emphasize....

"Writing straight from the original text, I began to attempt to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original language."
"I hoped to bring the New Testament to life for two different types of people: those who hadn't read the Bible because it seemed too distant and irrelevant and those who had read the Bible so much that it had become 'old hat.'"

"So he began to bring into English the rhythms and idioms of the original ancient Greek—writing straight out of the Greek text without looking at other English translations."
"There is a need in every generation to keep the language of the gospel message current, fresh, and understandable."

He changed the words...."new words were formed"....but, the original meaning is there!!!!

Thanks for finding that out about The Message bible. "Vitality and Directness" is exactly what I find in The Message bible, its just given me a different perspective on the words Ive read over and over again - I read The Message bible online until I go home next year and able to buy it from a Christian shop as at the moment I live in a muslim country where bibles cannot be distributed however Christians here have churches and able to bring in a bible for their own use. My Amplified bible is what I'm using for study purposes right now and I love it as for me it gives a richer meaning to the Word. I think its so important to find a bible that one can understand and enjoy reading and through which God speaks to one enabling one to mature as a Christian.

I do pray for you, living in a Muslim country. Not because of muslims, or the religion. But, Becase of the few radicals that use the Muslim religion for their own work. As I'm sure you know, any group of people can twist a religion to get it to say what they want it to say. Even Christians (JungWan knows this well)

I have learned being able to access things on-line is wonderful.

Here is a scripture I think is very important, from The Message:

Romans 12:2The Message (MSG)

Place Your Life Before God
12 1-2 So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

For me, this scripture says use the things of this world in glory of God. Change your outlook of worldly things. See God wherever you go,

Mary

That is the same quote I made in the beginning of this post, isn't it beautiful how The Message puts it - when I doing housework I hate like ironing, this verse always reminds me that even doing humble work glorifies God. Thanks Mary.

Loddy, I didn't read all that was written here, but I think if you really feel you want to fast, give up something you love to eat for a day, but don't go without eating healthily.

hey, ladies. I posted a song by Steven Curtis Chapman. Do everything.

Please see it. It talks about everything you do, do it for God!

Some people fast something like watching tv and use that time to be with God

That's a great idea feelinghelpless, especially if one cannot fast for physical reasons especially as some medications need to be taken with food, either before or after.

thanks, Loddy, for being this up. It has started some great ideas.

BYW, that's a great idea, feeling.