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NASB | Nehemiah 1:4 ¶ When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Nehemiah 1:4 ¶ Now it came about when I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days; and I was fasting and praying [constantly] before the God of heaven. |
Subject: Role of fasting in a Christian's walk? |
Bible Note: Greetings Mommapbs! Thank you for responding! :-) You have provided me with some very good insight as far as what happens during fasting- like grief or mourning for loss, and the reasons for fasting in the first place.. Fasting is different from prayer, which is direct communication with God. But at the same time, fasting is not a "complete prohibition" from something.. So, on the outward, could it be described as a "limited prohibition"? When one fasts, I come to the reasoning that: 1) A person is beginning to fast for a reason.. 2) Concentration upon God intensifies through prayer and/or studying Scripture.. 3) There is a "resolution" or "coming to terms" during fasting.. 4) Fasting is concluded with a "new resolve".. If this is so, then how does one come to a 'resolution' during fasting? I have never fasted for more than 15 hours straight.. And I must admit that I haven't learned much about the 'actual experience' of fasting. Here are some examples that I found that helped me to construct the '4 level fast' above: fasting for freedom from addiction (Matt. 17:20,21), fasting to solve problems (Ezra 8:21-23), fasting to bring people to the Lord (1 Sam. 7:1-8), fasting to break crippling fears and other mental problems (1 Kings 19:2-18), fasting to provide for the needy (1 Kings 17:12), fasting for insight and decision making (Acts 9:9-19), fasting for health and physical healing (Dan. 1:12-20), fasting for an influential testimony (Matt. 3:4; Luke 1:15), and fasting for protection from Satan (Esther 4:16). In each of these examples, it seems that there was a specific reason for a fast that in turn led to a deeper devotion, which led to a resolution, and then to a new resolve.. Does anyone else have any thoughts on fasting? Thank you! |