How does our fasting provide the healing?

[Lamb]

Our culture has turned away from fasting so much that we aren't disciplined enough to do it properly. As I stated before, when I fast, I think more about food. If we were a country where fasting was a regular thing, I have a feeling that my thoughts would be more toward the reason for the fast and not the end of the fast where I get to pig out.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Our culture has turned away from fasting so much that we aren't disciplined enough to do it properly. As I stated before, when I fast, I think more about food. If we were a country where fasting was a regular thing, I have a feeling that my thoughts would be more toward the reason for the fast and not the end of the fast where I get to pig out.

In the USA it doesn't help that there is Halloween then Thanks Giving Day then Christmas day then New Year's eve and day ... that a bit over two months of feasting

 

[tango]

Because you are totally focused on Him, not on everything else

Aren't there other ways to focus on God that don't involve not eating?

Personally I find that when I go for a long walk in the woods I'm more focussed on God than I am anywhere else.

 

[MoreCoffee]

Aren't there other ways to focus on God that don't involve not eating?

Personally I find that when I go for a long walk in the woods I'm more focussed on God than I am anywhere else.

For me sitting on my porch as the sun rises on a sunny day in spring or summer is when prayers and the environment conspire to make me feel more focused on God yet when I give the matter more careful consideration I think that maybe I am most focused on God when things are going poorly and I remember God as I try to resist whatever is causing the bad things that make it seem like things are going poorly. God, I think, is more acutely present to me when he seems far away and I need him most.

 

[tango]

For me sitting on my porch as the sun rises on a sunny day in spring or summer is when prayers and the environment conspire to make me feel more focused on God yet when I give the matter more careful consideration I think that maybe I am most focused on God when things are going poorly and I remember God as I try to resist whatever is causing the bad things that make it seem like things are going poorly. God, I think, is more acutely present to me when he seems far away and I need him most.

That's an interesting perspective, although for me personally I find that when things aren't going so well my natural instinct is to try and fix them myself. If things are going catastrophically badly, or going badly in ways I can't fix, then I'm more likely to do the whole "cry out to God" thing.

It's certainly true that we need to be careful to differentiate the whole thing of feeling good in general with feeling close to God. It's easy to let our life experiences conspire to build a theology that gives us the nice warm fuzzies but ultimately focuses on how we feel rather than what God says is true.

 

[MoreCoffee]

That's an interesting perspective, although for me personally I find that when things aren't going so well my natural instinct is to try and fix them myself. If things are going catastrophically badly, or going badly in ways I can't fix, then I'm more likely to do the whole "cry out to God" thing.

It's certainly true that we need to be careful to differentiate the whole thing of feeling good in general with feeling close to God. It's easy to let our life experiences conspire to build a theology that gives us the nice warm fuzzies but ultimately focuses on how we feel rather than what God says is true.

I question the value (except as an emotional comfort) of feeling close to God when being close to God is not [necessarily] the same thing as feeling close.

 

[tango]

I question the value (except as an emotional comfort) feeling close to God when being close to God is not [necessarily] the same thing as feeling close.

That's a key thing, it's easy to gauge how well something is working based on whether we feel close to God when, as you say, it's not always the same as being close to God.

It's particularly noticeable in church services that consist of little more than an hour of typically upbeat and repetitive music (because we have to begin with a "time of worship", after all) that gets people feeling good and assuming it must be God's presence they are feeling. Then when it fades after a few hours (as music-induced euphoria typically does), or the following day (in the case of evening rallies) they figure that they've lost something and start an endless cycle of chasing emotional highs under the misguided belief they are doing something spiritually useful.

 

[Wilhemena]

I question the value (except as an emotional comfort) of feeling close to God when being close to God is not [necessarily] the same thing as feeling close.

I agree wholeheartedly with what you have written and we have biblical proof as seen especially in the books of the Old Testament as God was the one initiating closeness to him rather than the other way around. I believe the Jews would agree with you as well that emotions did not necessarily indicate having a close relationship with God.

 

[MoreCoffee]

I agree wholeheartedly with what you have written and we have biblical proof as seen especially in the books of the Old Testament as God was the one initiating closeness to him rather than the other way around. I believe the Jews would agree with you as well that emotions did not necessarily indicate having a close relationship with God.

The prophet wrote to obey is better than sacrifice thus making the case that feeling very close to God and praying, singing, and all the other things that can make one feel close to God is less important than obeying God. One is to be a doer of God's word/works and not one who hears without doing.

 

[Lamb]

I don't feel my actions bring me closer to God. Faith brings me closer and we build our faith through Word and sacraments (baptism & Lord's Supper).

 

[MoreCoffee]

I don't feel my actions bring me closer to God. Faith brings me closer and we build our faith through Word and sacraments (baptism & Lord's Supper).

You've said what you feel but the question remains what truly brings one closer to God? The holy scriptures have a lot to say about that - see 1 Samuel 15:22; James 1:22; John 14:15; John 14:21; John 15:10.

 

[tango]

I don't feel my actions bring me closer to God. Faith brings me closer and we build our faith through Word and sacraments (baptism & Lord's Supper).

Isn't that faith demonstrated by actions?

 

[Lamb]

Isn't that faith demonstrated by actions?

My actions are the product of faith but it's faith that brings me closer to God and He gives that as a gift to me freely.

 

[psalms 91]

He gives a measure of faith and once given it is then up to us to grow it

 

[Lamb]

He gives a measure of faith and once given it is then up to us to grow it

The Holy Spirit's job is to grow it. He lives in us you know.

 

[psalms 91]

The Holy Spirit's job is to grow it. He lives in us you know.

Yes, He does. An example: You are facing afinancial crisis, you completely trust God and He is faithful or you mummer and complain and do not utilize your faith, in this case you will continue to go through things until it does grow. It is called free will and we choose whether to go through something or else pass through

 

[Lamb]

Yes, He does. An example: You are facing afinancial crisis, you completely trust God and He is faithful or you mummer and complain and do not utilize your faith, in this case you will continue to go through things until it does grow. It is called free will and we choose whether to go through something or else pass through

Stephen was faithful and yet got stoned to death. Our actions don't dictate what God will do in our lives.

 

[psalms 91]

Stephen was faithful and yet got stoned to death. Our actions don't dictate what God will do in our lives.

You dont think so? Have you ever known someone who was called to be a pastor or missionary and they ignored that calling? Notice what theywent through and how miserable they were? If not ask and you will find out things

 

[Lamb]

You dont think so? Have you ever known someone who was called to be a pastor or missionary and they ignored that calling? Notice what theywent through and how miserable they were? If not ask and you will find out things

Haven't you read about the missionaries being beheaded?

 

[psalms 91]

Haven't you read about the missionaries being beheaded?

Maytered is a different topic, we are talking walking without murmuring and complaining and the benefits of such