So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our
prayer.
Ezra 8: 23
“When
you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their
faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received
their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your
face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only
to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in
secret, will reward you.
Jesus – Matthew 6: 16 –
18
Fasting
Fasting
is a powerful spiritual discipline.
Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform lives and bring
revival.
When we fast and pray we humble ourselves
before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches, and
heal our land according
Fasting
is the voluntary abstinence from an otherwise normal function – most often
eating – for the sake of intense spiritual activity.
Fasting is choosing not to feed
ourselves so that we might be fed by God.
Sometimes
people fast when they need to strengthen their prayers.
Fasting
is also a way to express our grief and repentance.
Sometimes
fasting is practiced as an act of worship.
Sometimes
people fasting to seek God’s guidance.
Fasting
can help us become more humble, self-controlled and balanced.
Fasting
reveals and then releases us from the things that control us.
*Fasting
is not dieting and should be practice with care with anyone with dietary
restrictions of eating disorders.
Make
A Commitment
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual
renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of problems, for special
grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His
leading and objectives for your prayer fast. This will enable you to pray more
specifically and strategically.
Pray about the kind of fast you should
undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew
6:16-18; 9:14,15) For Him it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if
they would do it. Before you fast, decide the following up front:
How long you will fast - one meal, one day,
a week, several weeks, forty days (Beginners should start slowly, building up
to longer fasts.)
The type of fast God wants you to undertake
(such as water only, or water and juices; what kinds of juices you will drink
and how often)
What physical or social activities you will
restrict
How much time each day you will devote to
prayer and God's Word
Making these commitments ahead of time will
help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life's pressures tempt
you to abandon it.
Prepare
Yourself Spiritually
The very foundation of fasting and prayer is
repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things
you can do to prepare your heart:
Ask God to help you make a comprehensive
list of your sins.
Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls
to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Seek forgiveness from all whom you have
offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).
Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads
you.
Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit
according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.
Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as
your Lord and Master; refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).
Meditate on the attributes of God, His love,
sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others (Psalm
48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13).
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with
an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition.
Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit
(Galatians 5:16,17).
Prepare
Yourself Physically
Fasting requires reasonable precautions.
Consult your physician first, especially if you take prescription medication or
have a chronic ailment. Some persons should never fast without professional
supervision.
Physical preparation makes the drastic
change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full
attention to the Lord in prayer.
Do not rush into your fast.
Prepare your body. Eat smaller meals before
starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods.
Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days
before starting a fast.
Put
Yourself on a Schedule
Your time of fasting and prayer has come.
You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here
are some helpful suggestions to consider:
Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and
homeopathic remedies. Medication should be withdrawn only with your physician's
supervision.
Limit your activity.
Exercise only moderately. Walk one to three
miles each day if convenient and comfortable.
Rest as much as your schedule will permit.
Prepare yourself for temporary mental
discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.
Expect some physical discomforts, especially
on the second day. You may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the
"blahs." Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches.
Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.
The first two or three days are usually the
hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of
well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger
pains, increase your liquid intake.
For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside
ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you
spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.
Morning
Begin your day in praise and worship.
Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably
on your knees.
Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to
will and to do His good pleasure according to Philippians 2:13.
Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you
how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your
country, and beyond.
Pray for His vision for your life and
empowerment to do His will.
Noon
Return to prayer and God's Word.
Take a short prayer walk.
Spend time in intercessory prayer for your
community's and nation's leaders, for the world's unreached millions, for your
family or special needs.
Evening
Get alone for an unhurried time of "seeking
His face."
If others are fasting with you, meet
together for prayer.
Avoid television or any other distraction
that may dampen your spiritual focus.
When possible, begin and end each day on
your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God.
Longer periods of time with our Lord in prayer and study of His Word are often
better spent alone.
A Sample Fasting “Diet”
5 a.m. - 8 a.m.
Fruit juices, preferably freshly squeezed or
blended and diluted in 50 percent distilled water if the fruit is acid. Apple,
pear, grapefruit, papaya, watermelon, or other fruit juices are generally
preferred. If you cannot do your own juicing, buy juices without sugar or
additives.
10:30 a.m. - noon
Fresh vegetable juice made from lettuce,
celery, and carrots in three equal parts.
2:30 p.m. - 4
p.m.
Herb tea with a drop of honey. Avoid black
tea or any tea with caffeine.
6 p.m. - 8:30
p.m.
Broth made from boiling potatoes, celery,
and carrots with no salt. After boiling about half an hour, pour the water into
a container and drink it.
Before
Bed
1
cup of herbal tea, perhaps a sleep-inducing one.
Tips on Juice Fasting
Drinking fruit juice will decrease your
hunger pains and give you some natural sugar energy. The taste and lift will
motivate and strengthen you to continue.
The best juices are made from fresh
watermelon, lemons, grapes, apples, cabbage, beets, carrots, celery, or leafy
green vegetables. In cold weather, you may enjoy a warm vegetable broth.
Mix acidic juices (orange and tomato) with
water for your stomach's sake.
Avoid caffeinated drinks. And avoid chewing
gum or mints, even if your breath is bad. They stimulate digestive action in
your stomach.
End
Your Fast Gradually
Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid
foods immediately after your fast. Suddenly reintroducing solid food to your
stomach and digestive tract will likely have negative, even dangerous,
consequences. Try several smaller meals or snacks each day. If you end your
fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued
good health.
Here are some suggestions to help you end
your fast properly:
Break an extended water fast with fruit such
as watermelon.
While continuing to drink fruit or vegetable
juices, add the following:
First day:
Add a raw salad.
Second day: Add
baked or boiled potato, no butter or seasoning.
Third day: Add a steamed vegetable.
Thereafter: Begin to reintroduce your normal diet.
Gradually return to regular eating with
several small snacks during the first few days. Start with a little soup and fresh
fruit such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Advance to a few tablespoons of solid
foods such as raw fruits and vegetables or a raw salad and baked potato.
Expect
Results
If you sincerely humble yourself before the
Lord, repent, pray, and seek God's face; if you consistently meditate on His
Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21).
The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith
in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and
physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.
