Fasting Words and Food

---

Psalm 69:10     When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach.

Ezra 8:22-23     I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king,  “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.”  So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered our prayers.

Isaiah 58:6     “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?”

Daniel 10:3     I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.

Joel 2:12     “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Matthew 6:16-18     “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their reward in full.  But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. “

Luke 6:45     A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.  For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.

2 Corinthians 10:5     We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.

Ephesians 4:29, 31, 32     Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. . . Get rid of all bitterness, rage, and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you  

Philippians 2:14-16     Do everything without grumbling or arguing.

Philippians 4:8-9     Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.  Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice.  Abd the God of peace will be with you.

 

GodThoughts   “Fasting from Negativity:  July 16, 2017   Matt and Rebekah Johnson

 

A few weeks ago, I decided to learn more about fasting.  I had a couple friends who fasted several years ago and had wonderful things happen—including one meeting her future husband, a minister and married him within a couple of months and is still deliriously happy.

I love food, so did not relate to having to give it up without really recognizing its import.  I truly did not know enough about why either of these gals had gone on a fast and what the goal was.  I assumed it was a weight loss plan.  Certainly, at that point, I did not want any other ‘discomfort’ in my present state.

I was new at studying the Bible and learning who I was in Christ.  Now, years later, as I was studying the various ways one can fast, I also came across fasting negative words and negative thoughts and actions.  And oh, to my great sadness, I found I have a lot to do in that area also.  My mouth and mind need to be cleansed; so that issue  got raised on my priority list.

To rid myself of negative thoughts, and deeds, I started reading and studying on fasting negative thoughts and words.  One can study a Negativity Fast—which is what I am attempting. 

So, I am working on that, fasting negative words and thoughts.  I am overwhelmed with how negative my mind and judgments could be.  YIKES!   When I really confronted—thank You, Holy Spirit—how negative my thoughts can be, I was mortified.  So much for believing I am mostly kind and considerate of others.  NOT.  I am judgmental and do speak negative things and gossip at times—more times than I ever considered.  I have work to do with the Holy Spirit.  I have gotten on my knees and confessed these awful sins.  Who am I to judge another?  Who am I to speak of another?  I don’t know what has occurred in another’s life—and I do not know what my responses would be—I can only guess.  God has given to each of us individuality; we each have our own experiences and interpretations of those—it leads to different responses to what happens and how we make choices.

I am still studying fasting food; just fast certain foods—sugars, starches, and/or once I decide if doing full fast, and if so, for how long; or should I just do intermittent fasting, or if I should just fast certain time periods.  Since this is my first food fast, I want to be successful at whichever one I choose.  And the top goal is increasing my relationship with God.  I love sugar and realize that causes my hesitation.   Can I omit sugar for a period, or will I fail? 

I do know that the Holy Spirit will give me strength, at least mentally I know this.  But do I have confidence?  No, not much confidence; I know how weak willed I am.   But I do have the stronger desire to know God deeper and better.

What if I do not have a closer relationship after I purge sugar from my system.  But in all honesty, I should probably commit to 3 days with NO sugar, spending time thinking and praying to God to bring me in closer.   And trust that it will happen.

My sugar desire is important for me to deal with; and will take more prayer and attempts.  I can remove desserts…but that is only part of the issue.  I like sweetened creamers in my coffee, I have a difficult time if offered ice cream and chocolate is a desire I can only walk away from occasionally

At the same time I need to change my negative thoughts and words, and repent of them, and rely on the Holy Spirit to help me rid myself of these disgusting sins.  They are sins—negative thoughts and criticism, gossip, and so forth.  I am first and foremost working on obliterating my negative thoughts and words.  

I have started capturing my thoughts and am pleased to realize I have a better hold on those and correcting thoughts and words.  Presently, I am working on my negative words and negative thought processes.  And thank you, Holy Spirit, for helping me correct my thoughts and speech.  I am not 100% without negative thoughts, but I am catching them, and not passing judgments, and gossiping, criticizing—although yes, I am still muttering about the winds that kick up in the afternoon.  Thankfully, the Holy Spirit has reminded me, and stopped me before much uttering.  I have become conscious of negative thoughts, and been able to stop them before I speak, and thus I am aware of a criticism, a judgment, the close call to speaking some type of gossip, or complaining.

I have not started this fasting with sugar yet, but it will be in the very near future.   I am hoping the Holy Spirit will assist me with my desire to fast sugar and and all the unhealthy things I put in my mouth.  Lord, You are cleansing me–and although You helped me with my cigarette addiction years ago, I did not believe that this too would be easier than I expected.  Lord, I thank You for helping me fasting my negative thoughts, actions and words.   You are always there for me and ‘mybellaviews.’