Fasting- from my journal

So My heart has been wondering what fasting truly is and how it serves the Lord . So I decided to do some research on it to see what the Bible says. I definitely think it is a decision that you should know what you are getting into before you do it. A definition of it I found was to abstain from satisfying hunger or thirst for a period of time.root word which is used for "fasting." The Greek word for fasting is nesteia -- a compound of NE (a negative prefix) and esthio which means "to eat." So the basic root meaning of the word simply means "not to eat." Lev 16:29 This shall be a permanent statute for you: in the seventh month, on the tenth day of the month, you shall humble your souls and not do any work, whether the native, or the alien who sojourns among you. Fasting is more than just "afflicting one's body". It is "afflicting one's soul." In other words, fasting in the Hebrew mind is something my soul participates in. Fasting is denying my self. It is denying not only my own body, but also my own wants. It is a way of saying that food and my desires are secondary to something else. Fasting is "afflicting one's soul" -- an act of self-denial. But it is not only an act of self-denial and here is where the monks and hermits went wrong.There were three types of fasting in the bible, normal (one day) , partial(fast from certain things), and radical( fast from all things sometimes even water) The Bible says when you fast not if you fast, mentioned later in this post Some Biblical accounts of fasting Moses fasted for forty days and forty nights while he was on the mountain with God. (Exodus 34:28) King David fasted when the son of his adulterous union with Bathsheba's was struck sick by God, in punishment for the adultery and for David's murder of Bathsheba's husband, Uriah the Hittite. Nevertheless, the son died, upon which David broke his fast (2 Samuel 12:15-25). King Jehoshaphat proclaimed a fast throughout Judah for victory over the Moabites and Ammonites who were attacking them (2 Chronicles 20:3). The prophet Isaiah chastised the Israelites in Isaiah 58 for the unrighteous methods and motives of their fasting. He clarified some of the best reasons for fasting and listed both physical and spiritual benefits that would result. The prophet Joel called for a fast to avert the judgement of God. The people of Nineveh in response to Jonah's prophecy, fasted to avert the judgement of God (Jonah 3:7). The Jews of Persia, following Mordechai's example, fasted due to the genocidal decree of Haman. Queen Esther declared a three-day fast for all the Jews prior to risking her life in visiting King Ahasuerus uninvited (Esther 4). The Pharisees in Jesus' time fasted regularly, and asked Jesus why his disciples did not. Jesus answered them using a parable (Luke 5:33-39, Matthew 9:14-15, Mark 2:18-20, see also Mark 2). Jesus also warned against fasting to gain favor from men. He warned his followers that they should fast in private, not letting others know they were fasting (Matthew 6:16–18). Jesus fasted for forty days and forty nights while in the desert, prior to the three temptations (Matthew 4:2, Luke 4:2). Jesus said : But this kind (of demon) does not go out except by prayer and fasting. (Matthew 17:21) And he (Jesus) said unto them (disciples), This kind (of demon) can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting. (Mark 9:29) The prophetess Anna, who proclaimed the birth of Jesus in the Temple, fasted regularly (Luke 2:37). OK so that's pretty common sense that fasting is in the Bible, especially if you have been around church a while but why is it so important?Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast. Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ. Fasting is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting." Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life. The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you! Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience. Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others. Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14: "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." If you fast, you will find yourself being humbled as I did. You will discover more time to pray and seek God's face. And as He leads you to recognize and repent of unconfessed sin, you will experience special blessings from God. This is above from Campus Crusades So fasting is a heart condition not the number of days you do it.Fasting is not just denying yourself food. It is exchanging the needs of the physical body for those of the spiritual. Your motive in fasting must be to glorify God, not to have an emotional experience, and not to attain personal happiness. When your motives are right, God will honor your seeking heart and bless your time with Him in a very special way. I wonder if that is why a majority of people are missing out on becoming more in love with Christ, is the lack of doing something that is more of a command than a request keeping us from having all that Christ wants to give us, and I am talking to myself too on this one.!.