Step : Make Your Commitment
Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast 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
- The type of fast God wants you to undertake .
- What physical or social activities you will restrict.
- How much time each day you will devote to prayer and Gods Word.
Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and lifes pressures tempt you to abandon it.
Determine The Length In Advance Of The Fast Not After You Start
A total fast is without water. This is extremely hard on the body. Do not go beyond three days. A water-only fast is a very challenging but deeply spiritual experience. Many people can endure forty days on water alone, though this is dependent on ones weight and metabolism. A fruit and vegetable juice fast allows you to enter into fasting but still gives enough energy to function. Most people can do a forty-day juice fast. Out of consideration for their health and metabolism, I encourage teenagers to drink juice and protein drinks to sustain them.
The Bible Has Much To Say About Fasting
Often verses we read of men and women in the Bible going into deep war or decision in prayer, it is accompanied by fasting. One of the most famous fasts is the one performed by Daniel in the Book of Daniel.
Daniel 9:3-5 shares, So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled we have turned away from your commands and laws. Daniels heart ached for his country, so he took a vow of a fast from certain foods and remained deeply in prayer. It continues on in the book that an Angel comes to see Daniel, and the Angel shares that he left the exact moment Daniel started praying. Remarkably, it took twenty-one days for the Angel to get past the forces of Darkness to reach Daniel. This is evidence that from the first moment we commit to a fast, the Lord hears us. He is always working in action to come near to us, and to send help.
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A Prayer For God’s Provision In Time Of Need
Dear God, We thank you that no situation is too far out of your control to provide. For you are Jehovah-Jireh, the God who provides. We thank you that you own it all, and hold everything in your hands. We thank you that you know our needs before we even ask, before we even come to you. Youre aware of all that concerns us, and you have a plan. You hold the provision, you have the solution. You alone can move mountains to make a way for your children. We ask for your answer, in your timing, in your plan, to be given for every need that weighs our hearts down.
Forgive us for doubting you, for worrying, and for trying so hard to work everything out on our own. Help us to trust you more, help us in our unbelief. We choose to recognize and to believe that you are able to accomplish far more, to do far greater, than we even thought possible. We thank you in advance for your miracles, for paving out pathways, for your provision for those who love you. Thank you for the abundance of blessing and goodness you have already stored up. We trust you this day, and every day, and are so grateful for your Power and joy that fills our lives. Thank you for teaching us to be content in all circumstances, we love you Lord, were leaning on you, in Jesus name, amen
The Goal Of Fasting Is To Draw Near To God
It hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out.
Fasting enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God. It prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives.
When deciding on a fast, we encourage you to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
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A Fasting Prayer For A Miracle
Lord, Jesus, here I am again, asking You to do what only You can do in my life. Scripture tells me that You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. You are the God who performs miracles! So do a miracle in me! Heal me through and through! Deliver me from my tendency toward anxiety and worry. Show me how You fight for me.
Give me a vision for what a healthy-healed-me looks like, and help me to go after that girl with tenacity and purpose. Take my efforts and multiply them, Lord. My soul waits for You to do what only You can do. I love You, Lord. Amen.
What If I Have Physical Limitations
If you have a medical condition that may prevent you from fasting, consult with your physician first before engaging in a fast.
Id rather be able to pray than to be a great preacher Jesus Christ never taught His disciples how to preach, but only how to pray.D. L. Moody
Fasting is feasting on fellowship with God.David Platt
Fasting in the biblical sense is choosing not to partake of food because your spiritual hunger is so deep, your determination in intercession so intense, or your spiritual warfare so demanding that you have temporarily set aside even fleshly needs to give yourself to prayer and meditation.Wesley Duewel
Fasting cleanses the soul, raises the mind, subjects ones flesh to the spirit, renders the heart contrite and humble, scatters the clouds of concupiscence, quenches the fire of lust, and kindles the true light of chastity. Enter again into yourself.Saint Augustine
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Days Of Prayer & Fastingjuly 2
Purpose of Fasting: Fasting is a discipline of refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Fasting is a normal part of the Christian lifestyle. We fast when faced with temptations, trials, or potentially dangerous situations such as COVID-19. Fasting brings on repentance. Fasting increases our sensitivity to the Spirit. Fasting brings on deeper worship and praise.
How Fasting Is Effective: You must pray during the fast in order for fasting to be effective. Meditate on Gods word.
Day 1: Spiritual Results & Change: Thursday, July 2, 2020Scripture: Esther 4:16
16 Go, gather all the Jews who are present in Shushan, and fast for me neither eat nor drink for three days, night or day. My maids and I will fast likewise. And so I will go to the king, which is against the law and if I perish, I perish!
Reflection: Why are we fasting? Take time to ponder on what we really want God to do in our lives.
I am fasting because I want to experience change in my personal life and in the lives of others. Im fasting to experience the glory of God.
Day 2: Deliverance, Healing, Breakthrough: Friday, July 3, 2020Scriptures to Read & Meditate: 2 Chronicles 7:14 Daniel 9:3-5
2 Chronicles 7:14
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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Daniel 9:3-5
Joel 2:15-17
S For Biblical Fasting
1. Set your heart before the Lord, coming to decide what to omit from your life and for what period of time.2. Be sensitive to the way of the Spirit for what you should give up, and for how long.3. Make preparations for the fast. If a food fast, set a game plan to be prepared and well hydrated for your fast.4. Dedicate time for prayer and quiet time during the fast to not just omit an action or food, but to get the fullness of being before and with God.5. Journal what you feel the Lord doing or saying to you during this time.6. List Bible verses to guard yourself from the Enemys attacks to pray over yourself during this time.7. Follow the fast faithfully in heart position most of all.8. End the fast when the Lord has given you peace for it to end.9. Be mindful to watch for the hand of the Lord in due time for answers, action, or a new perspective.
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A Short Practical Guide For Prayer And Fasting
Richard Pratt
These are tumultuous times that call for prayer and fasting. Deadly disease runs rampant the worlds economies are unstable peace and safety are threatened at every turn. Now, we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose . No matter what trials we face, all of Christs followers are more than conquerors through him who loved us . Still, many of us struggle during these times as never before with hopelessness, loneliness, financial ruin, fear of violence, illness and death. The Scriptures teach that when followers of Christ face difficulties like these, we are to seek Gods help through prayer and fasting. Jesus himself explained that once he left his disciples and ascended into heaven, then they will fast .
Sadly, modern evangelicals have largely lost sight of Gods gracious provision of fasting. We labor under the burden of thinking that the faithful will be satisfied, even delighted with whatever terrible circumstances may come their way. As a result, we deny ourselves the opportunity to express our deep sorrow over sin, our desperate need for Christ, our longing for the renewal of the church and our intense desire to see Christs merciful and just Kingdom spread throughout the world. Yet, as our difficult days bring us to a stark awareness of how much we need Gods mercy, we must once again humble ourselves before the Lord through prayer and fasting.
For example:
Say This 1 Minute Prayer
Lord Jesus, I believe you died for my sins, Forgive me of all my iniquities. I accept you as my Lord and Saviour from today and forevermore. Come and Be the Lord of my life and I am willing to obey your command and live according to your will as you help me, Thank you for accepting me into your fold. AMEN
JOHN 3: 3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God
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How To Fast And Pray For 3 Days
To set yourself to successfully fast and pray for 3 days and to really make the most of your time with the Lord, the following are a few things you should know and do:
1. Let The Lord Inspire Your Fast
The very first step to fast and pray successfully for 3 days is to ensure that the Lord is the one that is calling you to the fast.
Yes, you can respond to a certain need by calling yourselves to fasting and to prayer, but it is a lot more interesting and more rewarding when it is the Lord Himself who is calling you to it.
And when the Lord calls you to it, He gives you grace to stay strong and stay through all the time you will be fasting.
2. Prepare Your Mind
Now that you feel the Lord is calling you to a time of fasting and prayer, it is time to adjust your mind and embrace what the Lord is saying.
You will have to tell yourself firmly that since it is God that is calling for this, then I must and can go for it.
I can do all this through him who gives me strength, should be the attitude.
Plus, God has something install for me, thats why Hes calling me up higher, should be another attitude of your mind.
God will never call you to waste your time. Hes too serious for that.
3. Prepare Your Body
Now, in getting ready to go for the 3 days fast , you must also do well to prepare your physical body.
That means you must be in good health and good shape physically.
You must prior to the day you will commence your fast be eating well and sleeping well.
16. Deal With Anxiety
How To Fast And Pray For A Breakthrough
The following are some practical steps with details on how to fast and pray for a breakthrough:
To be able to fast and pray for a breakthrough, you must first and foremost decide on the type of fast you want to embark on, and the number of days you wish to go.
Now, if it is the Lord that is calling or inspiring you to the fast, He will definitely tell you when to stop fasting or how many days you should fast.
But if youre the one that calls yourself to the fast in response to a need, then you can decide from the start how many days you are going to fast and the kind of fasting you are to do too.
It could be a 3 day Esther fast or even a 7 day of same.
Whatever, just decide on what you want and can do.
Be realistic.
2. Schedule Your Prayer Time
Having decided on the type of fast you are going for, you will then need to schedule your prayer time.
If for instance you are going for a 3 day absolute fast, you can decide that you will be spending at least 2 hours in each of your prayer sessions.
That is, you can decide to pray between the hours of 6am to 9am in the morning for your first prayer session, 12pm to 2pm for the next prayer session, 5pm to 7pm for the next prayer session and then take the time in between your prayer time to rest, read and study the word and to listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit.
You can repeat this process for the whole period or days you will be fasting.
3. Choose A Prayer Place
Please note this.
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Fast And Pray To Humble Yourself And Purify Your Worship
In Fasting we are not trying to get something from God we are seeking to realign our hearts affections with His. We do holy violence to the pleasures which wage war against the soul, opening the way for a greater submission to the Holy Spirit. Lust is a perverse form of devotion. Fasting enables us to cleanse the sanctuary of our hearts from such idols.
Step : Expect Results
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek Gods face if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence . 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.
A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh in-fillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many Christians.
It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honour you for your faithfulness.
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Step : 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 Gods forgiveness .
- Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you .
- 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 .
- Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others .
- Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart .
- Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit .
A Simple Fasting Prayer
Lord, please forgive us for craving food more than you. Forgive us for craving anything more than you. Lord redirect our hunger. Be our God. Open our eyes to the benefits of fasting. Open our hearts to you like never before. Give us the desire to turn to you with all our hearts, with all our souls, with all our strength. May we no longer live by bread alone but by every word that comes from your mouth Oh LORD. Teach us to fast so that we might hold fast to you. In Jesus Name, Amen.
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