Her: That's bad for you.
Me: No, that's good for you.
Her: No, it's bad.
Me: No, it's good.
[I'm not sure how long this phase went on.]
Her: Your body needs vitamins.
Me: Your body stores vitamins.
[I might have spoken out of turn here.]
Me: It talks about fasting in the Bible.
Her: That means eating a small breakfast and lunch and regular supper and no snacks.
I think at this point I didn't know what to say. I wondered where she came up with this definition. Is that in the Bible, I wondered. Maybe I should study more before I have to eat my words. I suppose that's what her church taught. I decided I needed some education about the subject. So that night I went to the library and checked out some books on fasting.
One book was quite informative. It told how people anciently would fast as a way of healing themselves of various illnesses and diseases. When the body is not occupied with digesting food, it can rest and recuperate. Toxins are released. Some of these fasts were for an extended period of time, but I'm only concerned in doing a 24 hour fast.
I also wanted to read any scriptures I could find on the subject. In Matthew chapter 15, we read where Jesus didn't want to send the multitudes away fasting, lest they should faint in the way. I seriously think I could walk home if I was allowed a light breakfast and lunch and regular dinner.
In Matthew chapter 17, there's an interesting story. The disciples tried to cure a child and failed. Jesus came and cast out the devil. He spoke to the disciples about faith and then said, "Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting." So, combining prayer and fasting gives a certain spiritual power. Something that couldn't be accomplished by prayer alone, could be accomplished by adding fasting to the formula. If a person were trying hard to overcome something, say dishonesty, fasting might give him the extra help he needs.
I like these lines of a poem by Carol Lynn Pearson. "...good rest for my body, good exercise for my soul."
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