Fasting

[DrumNFeather]

I don't know if this is an appropriate question to ask, but I thought I'd throw it out there anyway.

What kinds of things have you fasted for in your life?

And I guess I'm not looking for a list of what you've fasted for, but more of what is appropriate and not appropriate to fast for.

TIA.

[FN Phat]

That BSU would come out the gates strong and continue the quest for an undefeated season and a BCS bowl.

So far, so good.

[Pheidippides]

Usually big-ticket things. Getting into law school. Very sick family members. Things of special importance.

[Fiyero]

FWIW I've never found a personal fast to be effective, ever ever ever not once. But group fasts often are. If something's on your mind, get people involved.

[LA Ute]

Almost always guidance, understanding, peace of mind. Works for me.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Almost always guidance, understanding, peace of mind. Works for me.

Ditto for me. Internal changes, yes; external outcomes, not so much. I don't mean to make light of a serious subject, but I've always been bothered by my erstwhile, Jr. Sunday School view that the Almighty could be on the fence about sparing someone's life, but if enough people go without a couple of meals, He'll give a thumbs up to the patient.

I've mentioned this before, but tough... Years ago, when my 45 year-old sister was dying, the stake urged each ward to dedicate the fast that first Sunday in August to her and her family. Just before F&T meeting that morning, the doctors told my family that she would likely die that afternoon (she did). Knowing this, I was about to bear my testimony, thanking others for joining in the fast and urging them to keep her family in their thoughts and prayers, but a woman beat me to the microphone and bore witness of the power of fasting and prayer: she had hosted a picnic the day before and, even though it was really windy and blowing cups and plates around, she had fasted for good weather and then said a prayer the wind would stop, AND IT DID!

I quietly seethed about this woman, but then calmed down and gave thanks that prayer and fasting help people in different ways. I don't think it does much to change externalities (although I believe it can, on occasion), but I know it does much to affect one's insight and inner peace.

[Surfah]

The youth in our stake had a special prayer meeting to open up a fast for a kid who had been skitchin' on the back of another kids car. I guess he was going like 35 mph, his skateboard got the speed wobbles and he ended up face planting into the back of a parked car.

It was a pretty cool experience. He was messed up pretty bad. He lost a lot of his memory. We weren't in the same ward but I knew him fairly well but he didn't remember who I was. He ended up getting back most of his physical abilities and memory and was cleared to serve a mission. We were in the MTC together and he certainly recognized me. I don't know how much the faith and the fasting of those few hundred youth helped, but I liked to think it did. Even if it just served to bolster the faith of those who participated, I think it was worthwhile.

I fasted for employment recently.

[Fiyero]

I agree with PAC. Inner peace yes, external circumstances, not so much. But aren't 99% of most fasts asking for something external- a special favor from above?

[LA Ute]

I agree with PAC. Inner peace yes, external circumstances, not so much. But aren't 99% of most fasts asking for something external- a special favor from above?

In support of PAC's comment, I'll note my own bias. My MP taught me, and I believe, that the most important purpose of fasting is to bring us closer to the Lord and understand his will better. Put another way, by fasting we elevate or separate ourselves somewhat (and very temporarily) from our normal "fleshy" desires and draw closer to the Spirit.

In that more spiritual condition we can handle adversity better -- for example, we might gain some insights that help us with our trials intellectually, or even if we don't gaijn insight we might feel "bucked up" a little, and can be more patient, feel reassured of the Lord's love for us, and so forth. If a loved one is ill, we might be inspired as to how to care for him/her, or be more at peace with the idea that he/she is in the Lord's hands.

I struggle when we have organized fasts that seem to be supplications to the Lord for a favorable outcome. Maybe those are a way to show him humility and earnestness on our part. I don't know. My personal approach is to see such a fast as a plea for guidance - as to how I should approach the problem at hand, if that's applicable, or what I should learn from it or understand about it. The nearer we are to God, the easier everything -- even a trial -- is.

Kinda Zen-like, huh? But it makes sense to me.

[OhioBlue]

I'm probably the last person that should jump in with an opinion about fasting, since I do it so infrequently...

...but one of the more meaningful fasts I've had recently was undertaken not to ask for anything, but with a mind toward saying 'thank-you.' A gratitude fast, as some have called it.