How does fasting help others?

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nelka

New member
When I fast I understand that it teaches me to be temperant but how does my fasting help somebody else, how does it transfer to someone else?

Thanks.
 
It is not that hard to follow the logic.What is it that you are doing when you fast?
You sacrifice something good (eating) and offer that up to GOD.

GOD can then apply your sacrifice toward helping that person you are imploring GOD to be helped.

Hope this helps.

God Bless
 
This is interesting, and I feel I’ve been struggling with the hows and whys.

I’ve been interested in fasting.

I considered the ‘Daniel Fast’ mostly just veggies. But, am more interested in a true spiritual fast. How long? 3 days? What of? I’d like to know what most of you do. Just H20? One simple meal a day?
 
Nelka said:
When I fast I understand that it teaches me to be temperant but how does my fasting help somebody else, how does it transfer to someone else?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
Hi Nelka,

What usually comes to my mind when I think of things like fasting, is that we are all members of the “Body of Christ.”

Here is a reference to it, from St. Paul to the Romans, Chapter 12:5 from New Advent:

5 just so we, though many in number, form one body in Christ, and each acts as the counterpart of another.
 
I have a book titled “The sacred art of fasting” authored by Fr. Thomas Ryan csp. In the book it is mentioned that fasting and almsgiving are the wings of prayer. I believe he was quoting someone else.
 
meltzerboy said:
On Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement), we are warned of the “idle fast.” Fasting without sincere repentance and good deeds is regarded as not merely useless but an affront to G-d.
Click to expand...
And of course Jesus would know these books so well and refers to them often. He speaks often of empty gestures
 
egretps said:
This is interesting, and I feel I’ve been struggling with the hows and whys.

I’ve been interested in fasting.

I considered the ‘Daniel Fast’ mostly just veggies. But, am more interested in a true spiritual fast. How long? 3 days? What of? I’d like to know what most of you do. Just H20? One simple meal a day?
Click to expand...
Depends on lots of different things.

Do you have any health concerns such as diabetes that may be impacted by a change in diet?

Do you do heavy manual labour or very strenuous exercise?

Are you in a profession which is extremely taxing mentally (believe me, your mood, memory and mental functioning can be very impacted by a radical change in diet)?

If so, you may want to proceed with caution. You may, depending on the circumstance, even need to seek medical clearance before fasting.
 
I’m perfectly healthy (finally!).

I was thinking of starting out just for Fridays and maybe adding Wednesdays in the future.
 
egretps said:
This is interesting, and I feel I’ve been struggling with the hows and whys.

I’ve been interested in fasting.

I considered the ‘Daniel Fast’ mostly just veggies. But, am more interested in a true spiritual fast. How long? 3 days? What of? I’d like to know what most of you do. Just H20? One simple meal a day?
Click to expand...
Why?

Motivation matters. What makes it “spiritual”? In isolation?

I am actually not allowed to fast ; age and illness. When I first talked about this with a friend, she quickly realised that in fact I eat less in a normal day than is considered a fast by the Church.

My income is small and limited and I eat and live simply so I can give for those who would starve unless we give to them; my extended family and colleagues work at the coal face of hunger in India and Nepal.

If you consider that fasting? I do not. I lack for nothing i need and in fact it makes my life richer as i value things more.

Please,think this through? What is the purpose? Why do it?

We also know now that extreme fasting makes the body create ketones to protect itself and this can create strange phenomena eg visions. Water only is dangerous.

Respect your body and its needs? You need it healthy to serve and pray…
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top