Does fasting work for the non-religious?

[TheRiver]

I am not really a religious person, I don’t pray or go to church, though I do hold on to some beliefs of Catholicism. I just have a friend in need and have requested prayers for her before, I don’t pray, but I know I can fast for her, would this still work?

I don’t really know if God exists, or pray or anything, but I’m desperate to help her.

 

[theotikos]

I suggest under Catholic Living— Prayer Intentions that you write another thread. There you should write what your friend is going through. And more people will respond to pray for your intention. If you haven’t prayed to God before, I suggest you do so Just talk to Him like as you would to a father who will take care of your needs. That’s why we call Him our Heavenly Father. So yeah, just visit the other thread… as far as fasting is concerned:

Fasting

In the Old Testament and in the New Testament, there are many examples of fasting. Jesus fasted frequently. According to Tradition, fasting is encouraged especially in times of great temptation or severe trials. Certain devils, “can be cast out in no other way except by prayer and fasting”, said Jesus. (Mark 9:29)

Fasting is essential in order to achieve spiritual freedom. Through fasting, one is better able to listen to God and man and to perceive them more clearly. If, through fasting, we achieve that freedom, we will be more aware of many things. Once we are aware that we can enjoy the necessities of life without struggle, then many fears and worries fade away. We become more open to our families and to the people with whom we live and work. Our Lady recommends fasting twice a week: “Fast strictly on Wednesdays and Fridays.” (August 14, 1984)

She asks us to accept this difficult message “…with a firm will.” She asks us to “Persevere in … fasting.” (June 25, 1982)

“The best fast is on bread and water. Through fasting and prayer one can stop wars, one can suspend the natural laws of nature. Works of charity cannot replace fasting… Everyone except the sick, has to fast.” (July 21, 1982)

We have to realize the power of fasting. Fasting means to make a sacrifice to God, to offer not only our prayers, but also to make our whole being participate in sacrifice. We should fast with love, for a special intention, and to purify ourselves and the world. We should fast because we love God and want to be soldiers that offer our bodies in the battle against evil.

medjugorje.org/ol5step.htm#fasting

I encourage you to visit the prayer forum. To answer your question the religious and non-religious can fast, we are all God’s children! I’m positive He will hear your intention through fasting and prayer- He pervades our entire world… don’t lose heart for your friend.
Hope this helps!

 

[TheRiver]

Mate I thank you for your response, however this is not the kind of stuff I really understand, and I don’t really get what 1982 and 1984 and other dates really have to do with anything.

I am not trying to get closer to God…I am trying to help this girl out.

So it can’t be just fasting, it has to be fasting and prayer? My intention is not to be a soldier for Medjugorje or be some kind of spiritual legionnaire, I just want to help this girl I love.

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

My dear friend

Prayer helps. But the more faith you have the more effective your prayer will be. Fasting is a form of prayer as all communication and sacrifice offered to God is prayer. If you want to help her you must have faith and strong faith so your prayer will be more efficacious. Pray for faith too.

I’ll pray for you.

God bless you dear friend. And may Holy Mother Mary and our father and Lord St Joseph, along with all the Holy Angels and Saints watch over you always:thumbsup:

John

 

[TheRiver]

I don’t mind praying if it’s to help her out, I don’t want to pray for myself however, or pray with the intention to get closer to God, would this still work?

If I just prayed for her? I used to go to church, and I have prayed before, so it’s not new to me, I really want her to be ok, so I will go to church to pray for her and fast for her, would this work if my intent was just that and not to feel holy or become more spiritual or something?

 

[PhilotheaZ]

I would suggest that you DO pray for her (and fast if you wish, in a prudent way, not to the point that it would jeopardize your health). It is the best thing you can do for your friend.

Don’t be surprised if God is using this opportunity to draw you closer to Himself. Don’t be afraid; God is love and mercy, there is nothing to fear in developing a relationship with God (that is what prayer is). God loves you more than you can imagine.

You say you don’t really know if God exists. Along with a simple prayer for your friend, try this “Prayer of the Skeptic,” by Peter Kreeft:

God, I don’t know whether you exist or not. Maybe I’m praying to nobody, but maybe I’m praying to you. So if you are really there, please let me know somehow, because I do want to know. I want only the Truth, whatever it is. If you are the Truth, here I am, ready and willing to follow you wherever you lead.

 

[theotikos]

I didn’t mean to sound theological or something, I just pasted the info on fasting so you can see what its about, I had no intention of this connecting with Medjugorje, just the info on fasting. You already know the answer just fast and pray. When I need help in a certain area of life, I pray to a saint who knows about that. So for instance St. Dymphna helps the cause of the mentally ill since her father killed her as he was mentally ill.

 

[crazzeto]

I am not really a religious person, I don’t pray or go to church, though I do hold on to some beliefs of Catholicism. I just have a friend in need and have requested prayers for her before, I don’t pray, but I know I can fast for her, would this still work?

I don’t really know if God exists, or pray or anything, but I’m desperate to help her.

Well I would say this is a terrific time to put that cafateria tray back and start truely learning about the faith. Dive in, start learning. As the bible says, “the prayers of a richeous man avails much”, the closer you get to this, the more your prayers avail.

 

[TheRiver]

Some people here just don’t get it, I don’t want to know the terrific time to start praying, I don’t want to pray, I don’t want to start reading the Bible, I don’t want suggestions on how to pray. I simply asked is it possible to simply fast alone for it to be effective, that’s all.

I gave it a thought earlier, but I really am only interested in fasting at the moment.

 

[John_Russell_Jr]

Some people here just don’t get it, I don’t want to know the terrific time to start praying, I don’t want to pray, I don’t want to start reading the Bible, I don’t want suggestions on how to pray. I simply asked is it possible to simply fast alone for it to be effective, that’s all.

I gave it a thought earlier, but I really am only interested in fasting at the moment.

You can fast dear friend and it will help a little. Without much faith it may not help that much. That is why you are being given advice. Where do you think this question in your head has come from ? Its God moving you, so go with it. But know without God you can do no good and all your works are dead. Thats why prayer and faith are important.

God bless you dear friend:thumbsup:

John

 

[Catholic1954]

Some people here just don’t get it, I don’t want to know the terrific time to start praying, I don’t want to pray, I don’t want to start reading the Bible, I don’t want suggestions on how to pray. I simply asked is it possible to simply fast alone for it to be effective, that’s all.

I gave it a thought earlier, but I really am only interested in fasting at the moment.

Actually, we DO get. You want to go through the motions of “fast and prayer” in hopes of obtaining a favor from a God you would hardly give the time of day to otherwise. Well, fast away, but don’t be surprise if the results are not what you wanted. Without a healthy dose of humility in your actions, God isn’t fooled.

 

[TheRiver]

Actually, we DO get. You want to go through the motions of “fast and prayer” in hopes of obtaining a favor from a God you would hardly give the time of day to otherwise. Well, fast away, but don’t be surprise if the results are not what you wanted. Without a healthy dose of humility in your actions, God isn’t fooled.

I don’t know if I believe in God, so why the hell should I pray, go away man, you and your ridiculous pushes to convert people. I was considering going to church and praying, but this kind of reminds me why I once left in the first place, because of arrogant people like you. Oh ok, I don’t know if God exists and I want a favour, and I’m being criticized, I’m sorry, Mr.Ultra Catholic, what are you, the pope? Noob. No, you don’t get it.

Perhaps when you get a healthy dose of humility, then come back and preach to others about it.

 

[TheRiver]

You can fast dear friend and it will help a little. Without much faith it may not help that much. That is why you are being given advice. Where do you think this question in your head has come from ? Its God moving you, so go with it. But know without God you can do no good and all your works are dead. Thats why prayer and faith are important.

God bless you dear friend:thumbsup:

John

John, thanks for your kind words and advice, I will take them all into consideration, this has helped a lot.