264. I am given a message to give to you: Eat at regular periods. By wrong habits of eating, you are preparing yourself for future suffering. It is not always safe to comply with invitations to meals, even though given by your brethren and friends, who wish to lavish upon you many kinds of food. You know that you can eat two or three kinds of food at a meal without injury to your digestive organs. When you are invited out to a meal, shun the many varieties of food that those who have invited you set before you. This you must do if you would be a faithful sentinel. When food is placed before us, which, if eaten, would cause the digestive organs hours of hard work, we must not, if we eat this food, blame those who set it before us for the result. God expects us to decide for ourselves to eat that food only which will not cause suffering to the digestive organs.—Letter 324, 1905 (CD 169.1) MC VC

[The Body to Be Servant to the Mind—35]
[Early Education of the Appetite—346, 353]
[Appetite to Be Denied with Interest and Zeal—65]
[Prayer for Healing by the Intemperate—29]
[Effects of Indulgence on Influence and Usefulness—72] (CD 169) MC VC

Victory Through Christ VC

265. Christ fought the battle upon the point of appetite, and came off victorious; and we also can conquer through strength derived from Him. Who will enter in through the gates into the city?—Not those who declare that they cannot break the force of appetite. Christ has resisted the power of him who would hold us in bondage; though weakened by His long fast of forty days, He withstood temptation, and proved by this act that our cases are not hopeless. I know that we cannot obtain the victory alone; and how thankful we should be that we have a living Saviour, who is ready and willing to aid us!—Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, 19, 1890 (CD 169.2) MC VC

266. A pure and noble life, a life of victory over appetite and lust, is possible to every one who will unite his weak, wavering human will to the omnipotent, unwavering will of God.—The Ministry of Healing, 176, 1905 (CD 170.1) MC VC

307. All the fasting in the world will not take the place of simple trust in the word of God. “Ask,” He says, “and ye shall receive.” Matthew 7:7, 8; Luke 11:9, 10.... You are not called upon to fast forty days. The Lord bore that fast for you in the wilderness of temptation. There would be no virtue in such a fast; but there is virtue in the blood of Christ.—Letter 206, 1908 (CD 189.1) MC VC

308. The spirit of true fasting and prayer is the spirit which yields mind, heart, and will to God.—Manuscript 28, 1900 (CD 189.2) 1 I MC VC

As a Remedy for Disease VC

309. Intemperate eating is often the cause of sickness, and what nature most needs is to be relieved of the undue burden that has been placed upon her. In many cases of sickness, the very best remedy is for the patient to fast for a meal or two, that the overworked organs of digestion may have an opportunity to rest. A fruit diet for a few days has often brought great relief to brain workers. Many times a short period of entire abstinence from food, followed by simple, moderate eating, has led to recovery through nature’s own recuperative effort. An abstemious diet for a month or two would convince many sufferers that the path of self-denial is the path to health.—The Ministry of Healing, 235, 1905 (CD 189.3) MC VC

310. There are some who would be benefited more by abstinence from food for a day or two every week than by any amount of treatment or medical advice. To fast one day a week would be of incalculable benefit to them.—Testimonies for the Church 7:134, 1902 (CD 189.4) MC VC

311. Indulging in eating too frequently, and in too large quantities, overtaxes the digestive organs, and produces a feverish state of the system. The blood becomes impure, and then diseases of various kinds occur.... (CD 189.5) MC VC