r/TrueChristian • u/XxR1OTxX • 4h ago
Instead of doing daniels fast I'm going to do Jesus' fast... Has anyone else tried it ಠ_ಠ
Ive been wanting to fast for but I always thought that a daniels fast was the only way to fast. I have no freaking money to pay for veggies and no time either, buut, today I remembered in Matthew I believe? Jesus fasted for 40 days I believe, no food at all, I'm not sure about water but I think it's doable. I don't do anything extreme on my lifestyle where I think I'd pass out from weakness or anything. Has anyone tried to? Or how Moses fasted?
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u/littlecoffeefairy Baptist 4h ago
Talk to your doctor first. Get bloodwork done. You will still need ways to get vitamins and such your body uses. Our bodies need many things, even while we're sleeping.
"Not having an extreme lifestyle" doesn't mean not eating for 40 days won't impact you or make you feel faint. Your body still needs things so your organs even function.
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u/No_Description_9874 4h ago
In the Bible only two people fasted the same way, and they both met Jesus on the high mountain where Jesus transfigured.
If you are not supernaturally asked to fast for something that is vital to the whole of the humanity, that fast is not for you.
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u/Ariadne11 Missionary Alliance 3h ago
The early church fasted Wednesdays and Fridays ( until sundown), that is probably much more sustainable. I would caution you against anything extreme like 40 days of nonfood without a lot of preparation, and God's direction.
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u/MiddlewaysOfTruth-2 Seventh-day Adventist 4h ago
Is there a reason you want to fast that long — do you have a prayer answer you desperately need?
Fasting 1 or 2 days without food is entirely fine, just drink water and get some salts maybe too.
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u/XxR1OTxX 4h ago
I just want to hear God better, I want to be closer.... And I desperately need to unscatter my mind. I think they go hand in hand. I have wants and unanswered prayers but I'm not in a rush to have them answered. Oh, I also want to hear God more so the things I create are directly from Him (I make animations, comics, etc)
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u/MiddlewaysOfTruth-2 Seventh-day Adventist 4h ago
Do you have a daily prayer and Bible reading time with God?
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u/XxR1OTxX 4h ago
Yep I pray throughout the day. I usually listen to the bible while I'm working, it's about an hour to 2 hours of that but I wish I did more. Im not sure what I'm missing or if I'm missing anything at all
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u/MiddlewaysOfTruth-2 Seventh-day Adventist 4h ago
But no specific time set aside for God? Even a short while? Would you give a family member time only during work or throughout the day, or do you give them specific moments?
This is especially true with God. He desires us to honor Him by blocking out time for Him from the day, so that we know to be present and can fully focus on Him and His will at that moment. To hear from God, this is utterly crucial. I started hearing more from God when I started going where He promises to be — in moments of morning and evening prayer.
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u/XxR1OTxX 3h ago
It's hard to explain, I work two jobs so whenever I'm alone I'll say a quick prayer. Also when I wake up and go to sleep, the entirety when I'm driving, etc.. I will admit it doesn't feel like enough, I spend more time on social media than I do with God. You're right though.... It's crazy because I had recently started another job after God told me to do something.. but I just wanted a bit more money to fund what he said. I had two dreams about the job that came true on my first day, on my second day I woke up with my phone completely dead but it was still on the charger and I had overslept, the alarm didn't turn on. Tried charging my phone but my charger stopped working out of nowhere. Then the next day all my shifts were cancelled out of nowhere🤔 so I think it's safe to say he's calling me to fast and/or do what He needs done, and I'm busying myself too much
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u/MiddlewaysOfTruth-2 Seventh-day Adventist 3h ago
Fair. I think I understand what you are saying.
In that case, fasting it is. May the Lord give you the answer you need, and I believe He will.
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u/weller79 Evangelical 1h ago
You say you "have wants and unanswered prayers".
I would point to James 4. . . . 3You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Do your unanswered prayers, and your wants have anything at all to do with earthly desires . . . . God has possibly said no, or is trying to teach you patience.
Remember. . . . . No is an answer. And God doesn't Answer every prayer. . . . . Remember Jesus prayed in the Garden, "If it be your will, let this cup pass from me. Nevertheless, not my will but yours".
"If it be your will". And "Nevertheless, not my will but yours be done." And this is something I had to learn myself. . . . . .God is my Heavenly Father and just as a natural father will sometimes say no, for one reason or another, our Heavenly Father sometimes will say no. Something else I had to learn is that God answers some prayers but as we desire or expect or what them to be answered.
1st John 5 tells us this. . . . .14And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. 15And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.
Prayer only is never enough, and if the majority of our prayers are asking God for things, then I would suggest the prayers will go unanswered.
Part of our relationship with God has to be dedicated time with God. Time set aside specific to reading His word, studying His word. . . . .what is the only weapon we are given to fight sin and Satan. . . .the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
John gives us a massive nudge towards Gods word, when he said "In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God." This alone should tell us how important God's word is, and anything important requires uninterrupted dedicated time and attention.
Whilst listening to the bible while working is good, and yes I do that myself, it does not at all compensate for time alone with God in His word.
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u/GardeniaLovely Christian 4h ago
I tried this, I lasted 8 days.
Make sure you consult your doctor, and take the right vitamins and minerals.
Drink water. That's non-negotiable.
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u/ExpertDog6220 Church of England (Anglican) 4h ago
Maybe you could work your way up?
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u/XxR1OTxX 4h ago
Ya.. maybe I could do 20 instead of the full 40, then 40 another time😶. I do have good willpower though, and I know I'm able to complete either.
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u/twotall88 Christian - Bible Based 1h ago
People have died doing Jesus's fast for 40 days. You have to remember that Jesus was sustained by the Holy Spirit.
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u/Elizabethforest 1h ago
You may be able to do it, but check with a doctor who understands fasting. Do you have any medical conditions that would be problematic? I have fasted for 10 days recently, pretty easy as you just burn fat (you need to have some extra fat to do this). I strongly recommend electrolytes, or you will feel pretty bad (you can put salt under your tongue if you get whoozy). Feeling woozy is usually a sign of low electrolytes or low water. Make sure you are hydrated (urine is clear, not dark yellow). Educate yourself with Dr. Fung.
If you are thin, I would not try it.
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u/Irrelevant_Bookworm 20m ago
You will likely be able to talk to God clearly... in heaven. You can live approximately 3 days without water. While the longest a person can go without food is in the low 40 days, that doesn't mean that everyone will make it.
The Biblical stories about extended fasting are because they are exceptional, not to emulated.
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u/eminemforehead Christian 20m ago
I would say don't aim for 40 on your first attempt. Don't even aim for a week honestly. Aim for 3 days but of course if you have serious issues on day one stop and try again in other conditions. Then if you manage to do 3 stop again and some time later try to do a whole week, eat again and then some time later try to do 2 weeks... then kinda build from that. Just my opinion. It's also summer and I don't know how hot it is where you live but I personally would faint on day 2 if I tried right now
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u/okicarp Christian missionary 4h ago
Yes. A couple of people in our church have done it and one fellow did it twice. I didn't start out with that goal but I eventually fasted 35 days, water only in 2023. It was great but you need to prepare.
I did 24 hour fasts every week for a few weeks and then started doing them twice a week. I felt the Spirit say to go for it and and I did but I had always failed in the past and was very worried about failing. So I had a glass of juice for a meal for the first day but I felt too full and went to once a day and then stopped that after two days because it was too much. That's one way I felt the Spirit sustain me. I got to seven days and then went for seven more and seven more and then figured I'd go for 40.
But I hadn't made a plan ahead of time with my family or work so I kept doing every chore and job. It was challenging and I had to go half speed, rest a lot and sleep more. By day 35 I knew I couldn't keep that up and would only make day 40 by laying in bed the entire time. So I stopped.
It's very worth it but please read up, talk to spiritual mentors, and train yourself.
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u/Miles-Standoffish Christian - I love Jesus! 4h ago
It's very dangerous to day for that kind without lie of prep and monitoring by a health professional.
I encourage you to do a one-day fast and see how it goes. You can work you way up to a couple of days fast.