A few thoughts on fasting.
I love fasting. I feel closer to God when I fast. Even more so when my fasting is accompanied by prayer.
I have fasted for one meal, two meals, a full 24 hours, 48 hours and even a time or two for 72 hours. Most often I would say between one and two meals.
I remember one of the times I fasted for 72 hours. I was so weak by the end I felt as though I could only lay there. I remember my wife had gone on a trip to Spokane to see her sister. We were trying to have children and could not. Near the end of my fast, we had a stake conference where Elder Eyring came and spoke. I went to it. At the end of his talk he said something interesting. He said he typically prays for a message the people need to hear. Then he said the most odd think came to mind. It wasn’t the type of message he would typically leave. It was 3 Nephi 22. And he read it.
Here are a few snippets:
1 And then shall that which is written come to pass: Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child; for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.
I felt God was telling me through his servant that we would have children. We were desolate, but we would have children.
8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.
I’ve not been perfect. I am a natural man at heart. But God is forgiving. He loves all his children. He loves me and my wife.
11 O thou afflicted, tossed with tempest, and not comforted! Behold, I will lay thy stones with fair colors, and lay thy foundations with sapphires.
12 And I will make thy windows of agates, and thy gates of carbuncles, and all thy borders of pleasant stones.
I felt that God was telling us that we would be blessed and have joy in our posterity.
It’s been almost 20 years and three children since that happened. The kids didn’t come easy. We did InVetro three times, and it only worked the first time. We then adopted two children through Utah state foster care.
What is an appropriate fast?
When we fast on Fast Sunday, we are asked to fast for two meals. I personally think that is a good fast. Ultimately, I think it is between you and the Lord.
Trendy fasting
There is a new trend, intermittent fasting. It’s a weight loss fad. I will start with, if you are fasting and not accompanying it with prayer, it isn’t fasting. It is probably better called intermittent starving.
It feels kind of funny thinking about weight loss and fasting. I’m sure that the combination of fasting and prayer are appropriate for improving personal health, including weight loss.
Personally, if it involves you strengthening your temple, and you take the journey with God as your companion, intermittent fasting could be a journey worth taking. Otherwise, it is good old fashion starting.
Summary
I believe in fasting. I believe it draws our souls closer to God. There is something about it that enlightens the mind, cleanses the body, and awakens the spirit. I believe it might have something to do with sacrificing ones will. More or less, laying ones will upon the alter of sacrifice.
If you have never felt the power of fasting, accompany it with prayer. Kneel down before God, poor out your heart before him. Then clear your mind. Investigate each thought that passes through your mind. If the thought is evil, cast it out. Take hold of every good thought and good feeling and ask if it is truth.