Did I completely negate my fast? (Full Version)

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ChelaW -> Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 11:52:34 AM)

I've been going through a bit of spiritual turmoil lately, so I thought I would try a fast for the first time.

Since it was my very first time, I figured I would go with only liquids from waking up Sunday morning, to about 3:00 Sunday afternoon. During that time I attended a very moving 2.5 hour church service, and also read some of the Word and participated in intense praise and worship.

However, I got out of church at about 11:00, and by 1:00 pm I fell asleep (while I was reading the Word) until 2:20, so I know that time doesn't count. Then at about 2:40, I broke-down and ate. And also before I fell asleep, I sinned.

Of course after all of this I repented because I felt so bad about it.

Did I pretty much negate any possible results from my failed fast? I'm so angry with myself!!



JimboFletch -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 12:00:45 PM)

Why do you call failing at a voluntary act a sin? I'm pretty sure any restrictions you placed on yourself were from yourself or another person but not from the written Word of God.



ChelaW -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 12:07:53 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Why do you call failing at a voluntary act a sin? I'm pretty sure any restrictions you placed on yourself were from yourself or another person but not from the written Word of God.


Well, I'm angry at myself because even though I set-up the restrictions myself, I told God I would do it. I told Him I would fast from food from morning to 3:00 pm. I failed.

But the particular sin I'm referring to is an actual sin (I don't want to say which).

So basically, I fell asleep during my fast, sinned, then didn't even complete it.

Also, my car broke-down yesterday 2 weeks after I already paid $450 to get it fixed for the same problem. Is that God punishing me?



PureLight -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 1:17:29 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Why do you call failing at a voluntary act a sin? I'm pretty sure any restrictions you placed on yourself were from yourself or another person but not from the written Word of God.


Well, I'm angry at myself because even though I set-up the restrictions myself, I told God I would do it. I told Him I would fast from food from morning to 3:00 pm. I failed.

But the particular sin I'm referring to is an actual sin (I don't want to say which).

So basically, I fell asleep during my fast, sinned, then didn't even complete it.

Also, my car broke-down yesterday 2 weeks after I already paid $450 to get it fixed for the same problem. Is that God punishing me?


Could just be shoddy fixing on the car part.

Are you doing your fast just so you can do a fast? I would be more worried about that than 'failing' it.



delete123 -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 1:17:30 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Why do you call failing at a voluntary act a sin? I'm pretty sure any restrictions you placed on yourself were from yourself or another person but not from the written Word of God.


Well, I'm angry at myself because even though I set-up the restrictions myself, I told God I would do it. I told Him I would fast from food from morning to 3:00 pm. I failed.


Is that God punishing me?



God knows our limitations and you did the best you could for you first fast. Stop being so hard on yourself.

Btw: The God we serve is not a punishing God. He is a loving God and will chastise, but not punish. There is a difference.(Chatise is to correct one)

Next time you fast pray for the armour of God (Ephesians 6:12-18), because the enemy likes to attack during this time.

CRH



Focusing -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 1:26:07 PM)

quote:

So basically, I fell asleep during my fast, sinned, then didn't even complete it.

Also, my car broke-down yesterday 2 weeks after I already paid $450 to get it fixed for the same problem. Is that God punishing me?


No. But you can be sure the enemy wants you to believe it. Have you read the book of Job?

None of us are perfect, and when we fall, we need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and continue on.



ChelaW -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 1:58:38 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: PureLight

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Why do you call failing at a voluntary act a sin? I'm pretty sure any restrictions you placed on yourself were from yourself or another person but not from the written Word of God.


Well, I'm angry at myself because even though I set-up the restrictions myself, I told God I would do it. I told Him I would fast from food from morning to 3:00 pm. I failed.

But the particular sin I'm referring to is an actual sin (I don't want to say which).

So basically, I fell asleep during my fast, sinned, then didn't even complete it.

Also, my car broke-down yesterday 2 weeks after I already paid $450 to get it fixed for the same problem. Is that God punishing me?


Could just be shoddy fixing on the car part.

Are you doing your fast just so you can do a fast? I would be more worried about that than 'failing' it.


No, I was fasting because I've been going through spiritual turmoil and I wanted a breakthrough.



WesP -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 2:03:39 PM)

quote:

Well, I'm angry at myself because even though I set-up the restrictions myself, I told God I would do it. I told Him I would fast from food from morning to 3:00 pm. I failed.


IMHO, I believe you should try a different approach to fasting. Don't tell God what you are going to do. Ask God to help you do something. Does that make sense? All is done by the grace of God, so praying for His guidance and strength can only serve to make things easier and more profitable.



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 2:18:00 PM)

Welcome to the threads, ChelaW.




quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW

Well, I'm angry at myself because even though I set-up the restrictions myself, I told God I would do it. I told Him I would fast from food from morning to 3:00 pm. I failed.
Did you ask God if He wanted you to fast? Did you pray about it? Did you seek His Guidance on how to fast? Did you ask Him for His Strength during the fast? Anything done in man's power pales to what can be done under God's power.

Additionally, deciding to do something that may be spiritual is of no real consequence if the decision was made without first praying to and hearing from Our Lord about it.




quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

Why do you call failing at a voluntary act a sin? I'm pretty sure any restrictions you placed on yourself were from yourself or another person but not from the written Word of God.
But the particular sin I'm referring to is an actual sin (I don't want to say which).
Regarding the sin, repent to Our Lord and ask His Forgiveness, and also ask for His Wisdom, Strength and Guidance to avoid committing that sin again.



quote:

ORIGINAL: ChelaW

Also, my car broke-down yesterday 2 weeks after I already paid $450 to get it fixed for the same problem. Is that God punishing me?
We are not puppets and Our Lord does not necessarily provide tangible consequences to sin (and on the other side of the coin neither does our Lord necessarily provide tangible "rewards" for not sinning). The consequences (or rewards) are spiritual. Sin is a spiritual separation from Our Lord. The punishment for sin is also a spiritual separation from Our Lord; that is far worse than anything we could physically encounter. Sincerely repenting and asking forgiveness for our sin is what our Lord desires, it is also how we can then break the separation that the very sin created.


Your car breaking down is just part of living in the world; things happen (although I do have empathy for the situation regarding your car).


Blessings,
Sharon-Marie



WhiteRoseBlessings -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 2:19:28 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: WesP

quote:

Well, I'm angry at myself because even though I set-up the restrictions myself, I told God I would do it. I told Him I would fast from food from morning to 3:00 pm. I failed.


IMHO, I believe you should try a different approach to fasting. Don't tell God what you are going to do. Ask God to help you do something. Does that make sense? All is done by the grace of God, so praying for His guidance and strength can only serve to make things easier and more profitable.
LOL! Wes, we were saying the same thing (I was just being more verbose about it). [:D]



BillBaileyBFAFan -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 5:05:39 PM)

God does not punish people in the dispensation of grace. Things happen. Actions have consequences. God gave us the instructions in His Word.
If I drink all day for a week straight, my chances of a whole lot of bad stuff happening to me, goes up exponentially. Is that God punishing me? No, it's the natural result of sin.
Might I be doing right, and on my way home from church or school or work, and have a car crash and die, yes.
It rains on the just and unjust the same.

As for your car, it broke. It's a machine, and they sometimes break. I have sent my X-Box 360 in twice in the last month for repairs. Was God punishing me for playing video games? No.



bosoxdd -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 5:16:26 PM)

im not not judging you or making fun.. but i couldnt help but to laugh when i read that you ate 20 minutes before your fast was over..i mean you really couldnt wait 20 minutes??



JimboFletch -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 5:28:48 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: BillBaileyBFAFan

God does not punish people in the dispensation of grace. Things happen. Actions have consequences. God gave us the instructions in His Word.
If I drink all day for a week straight, my chances of a whole lot of bad stuff happening to me, goes up exponentially. Is that God punishing me? No, it's the natural result of sin.
Might I be doing right, and on my way home from church or school or work, and have a car crash and die, yes.
It rains on the just and unjust the same.

As for your car, it broke. It's a machine, and they sometimes break. I have sent my X-Box 360 in twice in the last month for repairs. Was God punishing me for playing video games? No.

God does not ignore our willful sin. What DOES happen under the New Covenant is chastisement, discipline when we sin and not repent.

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

...Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
-Hebrews 12:7,8, 11



BillBaileyBFAFan -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/12/2008 7:16:26 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: JimboFletch

quote:

ORIGINAL: BillBaileyBFAFan

God does not punish people in the dispensation of grace. Things happen. Actions have consequences. God gave us the instructions in His Word.
If I drink all day for a week straight, my chances of a whole lot of bad stuff happening to me, goes up exponentially. Is that God punishing me? No, it's the natural result of sin.
Might I be doing right, and on my way home from church or school or work, and have a car crash and die, yes.
It rains on the just and unjust the same.

As for your car, it broke. It's a machine, and they sometimes break. I have sent my X-Box 360 in twice in the last month for repairs. Was God punishing me for playing video games? No.

God does not ignore our willful sin. What DOES happen under the New Covenant is chastisement, discipline when we sin and not repent.

If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

...Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
-Hebrews 12:7,8, 11


That quote was from Hebrews, which is not Body doctrine for the dispensation of grace, but for the Kingdom program of Israel.
Let me clarify my statement, we are chastised, but in this age, chastisement comes from the word of God, not an action by God on us.



JimboFletch -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/13/2008 9:01:10 AM)

quote:

That quote was from Hebrews...

And it contains vast amount of information pertinent to "Gentile" believers today, including that passge I quoted. There is only one class of believer, not two.

quote:

ORIGINAL: BillBaileyBFAFan
Let me clarify my statement, we are chastised, but in this age, chastisement comes from the word of God, not an action by God on us.

That is not chastisement and certainly doesn't sound like it comes from someone with experience as a parent. If you are born again and God can get your attention with scripture or through a nudge by the Holy Spirit, He will. But He will go as far as taking your mortal life early if you persist in sin. Ever hear of a sin unto death? That is talking about believers.



ChelaW -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/13/2008 2:34:01 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: bosoxdd

im not not judging you or making fun.. but i couldnt help but to laugh when i read that you ate 20 minutes before your fast was over..i mean you really couldnt wait 20 minutes??


LOL...no! I was at the grocery store ordering cupcakes for my daughter's birthday (they had to be ordered before 3:00...just my luck), and I couldn't help but get some chewy chocolate cookies. And they weren't even that good!! [:)]



ColoradoLady36 -> RE: Did I completely negate my fast? (8/13/2008 4:39:21 PM)

OP, I agree with what the others are saying. God understands your humanity, he has already been through it. Your falling asleep is a normal human function that HE created. Your body was weak from lack of nourishment, and it reacted accordingly. This rest allowed you to continue on your day. I am proud of how well you did on your first fast. but consider not being so strict the next time around. Try doing only a fruit/vegetable fast. Then you can work your way up that way. The purpose of a fast is to give it up to God. You are willing to sacrifice something that you like, in worship of him. This let's him know that you mean business. Forgive yourself hon, you did a good job. I am sure that God is pleased with the effort that you showed too. S



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