Fasting for over 24 hours?

[martybess]

In the scriptures it states that they fasted for many days. Here's one I just read today.
Mosiah 27:23

And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:

Question, what was the process of a fast back then? Was it continuous or did they eat something at night or something?

- Marty

[martybess]

Another question, how long are we suppose to fast? 24 hours or 2 meals?

If we don't fast for 24 hours are we just starving ourselves and not taking advantage of the power and blessings with the fast?

- Marty

[Vort]

Originally Posted by martybess

Another question, how long are we suppose to fast? 24 hours or 2 meals?

If you live in a culture where meals are taken three times a day, and if the time it takes you to eat is negligible, then a two-meal fast IS a 24-hour fast. And yes, fasting suggestions have always been for 24 hours.

Originally Posted by martybess

If we don't fast for 24 hours are we just starving ourselves and not taking advantage of the power and blessings with the fast?

IMO, fasting for less than 24 hours may certainly bring benefit and be more than just going without food, but the full fast brings more personal growth.

[lost87]

fasting isn't about how many hours you go, or what you do or don't eat. i don't think the Lord is any less accepting as long as your heart and desires are in the right place. i personally cannot go more than 3 hours without eating or I pass out and my heart rate exponentially increases and my Blood pressure plummits...btw, that causes heart failure eventually. For a while I thought that if I had enough faith I would just deal with those consequences and continue to fast...the Lord would take care of me even if i was killing my body (literally). well, I don't think the Lord is in the business of rewarding or supporting stupidity, and i was being stupid. My bishop explained that its our heart and desire to make the sacrifice, not our actual ability to do so, and all but forbid me from the traditional 24 hour fast (perhaps he was tired of me losing conciousness at church? idk) because that isn't as important as our desire and commitment to the Lord.

[Vort]

Originally Posted by lost87

fasting isn't about how many hours you go, or what you do or don't eat. i don't think the Lord is any less accepting as long as your heart and desires are in the right place. i personally cannot go more than 3 hours without eating or I pass out and my heart rate exponentially increases and my Blood pressure plummits...btw, that causes heart failure eventually. For a while I thought that if I had enough faith I would just deal with those consequences and continue to fast...the Lord would take care of me even if i was killing my body (literally). well, I don't think the Lord is in the business of rewarding or supporting stupidity, and i was being stupid. My bishop explained that its our heart and desire to make the sacrifice, not our actual ability to do so, and all but forbid me from the traditional 24 hour fast (perhaps he was tired of me losing conciousness at church? idk) because that isn't as important as our desire and commitment to the Lord.

lost, surely you realize that you are in a very tiny minority. The overwhelming majority of people can go 24 hours without food or drink and suffer nothing worse than irritability and a headache. While your counsel may be true in a literal sense, it can easily be misconstrued. Better in my opinion to reaffirm that a full fast is a 24-hour fast than to start building in excuses for why it is not necessary. Most people have a hard enough time disciplining themselves to learn how to fast for 24 hours; they don't need to get the (false) impression that simply wishing to fast for 24 hours is sufficient.

This is not about impressing God enough that he decides to send you some blessings. This is about getting the great spiritual (and physical) benefits of fasting by disciplining oneself to actually go without food or drink for 24 hours. Admittedly, some (like yourself) are unable to do so. But just because some are physically unable to exercise without exposing themselves to grave danger, does that mean the rest of us should sit on our fat rear ends the talk about how wonderfully beneficial exercising is, but you know, my heart is in the right place and that's what really matters with all this exercise business anyway?

[Misshalfway]

I don't really know how people fast for more than 24 hours. My only real exposure to it was from the movie about Ghandi. Perhaps extended fasting is more about restriction and discipline than it is about starving. Just a guess.

But its not necessary to run faster than we have strength or fast for more than 24 hours. The monthly fast is enough to produce the necessary spiritual objectives.

[belledame2]

I can't fast for health reasons, but I do give a fast offering and I'm sure that's acceptable to the lord.

[lost87]

Originally Posted by Vort

lost, surely you realize that you are in a very tiny minority. The overwhelming majority of people can go 24 hours without food or drink and suffer nothing worse than irritability and a headache. While your counsel may be true in a literal sense, it can easily be misconstrued. Better in my opinion to reaffirm that a full fast is a 24-hour fast than to start building in excuses for why it is not necessary. Most people have a hard enough time disciplining themselves to learn how to fast for 24 hours; they don't need to get the (false) impression that simply wishing to fast for 24 hours is sufficient.

This is not about impressing God enough that he decides to send you some blessings. This is about getting the great spiritual (and physical) benefits of fasting by disciplining oneself to actually go without food or drink for 24 hours. Admittedly, some (like yourself) are unable to do so. But just because some are physically unable to exercise without exposing themselves to grave danger, does that mean the rest of us should sit on our fat rear ends the talk about how wonderfully beneficial exercising is, but you know, my heart is in the right place and that's what really matters with all this exercise business anyway?

while I may be in the minority, i wouldn't say its the "very tiny minority"....I mean, come one, we are mormon, at any given time half the ward is pregnant...and they can't fast for 24 hours either

[Danite]

The brethren have asked us not to fast more than 24 hours. so 24 hours is the limit. I suppose some folks went on Marathon fasts and got sick. There's a world of difference between fasting and going hungry.The Book of Mormon describes fasting with joy and happiness or joy(Alma 45:1)(Hel 3:35). If use this principle for selfish reasons or without real intent you will harden to it, and then you will doubt it and stop fasting. Remember spiritual things must be treated with care

[Vort]

Originally Posted by lost87

while I may be in the minority, i wouldn't say its the "very tiny minority"....I mean, come one, we are mormon, at any given time half the ward is pregnant...and they can't fast for 24 hours either

Actually, pregnant women CAN fast for 24 hours without deleterious effect...but I grant that most do not. And I can't argue about the "half the ward" thing...guess I'll have to give you half a victory.