Fasting

I've been wondering about fasting for quite some time now. I've fasted a few times for a day or two and once for a week. I had no expectations so experiencing it was interesting. I had a headache for a day or so. Since I was fasting as a spiritual practice, I found it relatively easy to do. (You know. I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Phil 4:13) There were a few discomforts. Strange taste in my mouth. A deep chill. (I had to wear sweaters when under normal circumstances I wouldn't have to.) No one ever asked me why I was grouchy - which is my usual symptom when I'm hungry. My husband didn't even notice and he always knows when I'm grouchy and needing to eat. He was not aware I was fasting. It was a private thing between me and God.

There were perks. The biggest was that I was constantly thinking of God. I was working at the time so thinking of God frequently at work was a real plus. I don't remember why I had decided to fast for a week. I can remember times since then though that I recalled the experience to ease the worry of friends when people they knew were taken off feeding tubes - about not being in pain from hunger. My experience made them feel better about their loved ones who were at the end of this life.

Anyway, I still wonder about fasting. I have tried to find books/articles/etc that help me understand it better. Unfortunately, the books I've found seem to place the emphasis on the wrong thing. Many, if not all I've seen, equate fasting with unlocking God's power. - like I have some control over that! Now, fasting may very well please God to the point that He blesses people even more abundantly but I do not believe that fasting should be me-focused like these books seem to be. I believe that I should fast with my focus on God and NOT on any benefits I might experience from it. I'm reading a book now that has several fascinating points, many of them very good points but I still get the idea that the author wants me to fast so I will get some supernatural power unlocked for my personal gain.

So, here are my wonderings: 1) When should I fast? What should be the prompting? 2) How should I fast? Do I read up on how to come off a fast or what to do before fasting? That sort of thing. 3) How often should I fast? 4) What kind of fast should I do? 5) How do I decide? If you have any ideas about these questions, or a book that addresses this without implying I can unlock God's blessings upon myself, let me know please. I'll continue to ponder this. I'm contemplating doing something during Lent. You won't know if if I do though. Don't expect a day to day update. It will be between me and God.

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