Drink Plenty Of Water
This fast is from food only you still want to drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. For some, this may take some getting used to since most people dont drink nearly as much water on a daily basis as they should.
It is important to keep in mind that though you may not usually consume much water in general, without getting water from food and other sources, drinking water is crucial.
Though hydration is extremely important, dont stress out about trying to find out exactly how much water your body needs. An easy way to stay hydrated is just to drink a large glass of water every time you would typically have a meal or whenever you feel hungry.
The best part about water intake is it is actually fairly hard to drink too much, so just go off of how your body feels and you shouldnt have any issues.
Prayers For A Powerful Fasting Breakthrough
If youve considered fasting but are not sure about its purpose, looking to the Bible reveals some surprising stories concerning fasting and its remarkable results. Scripture gives us examples of individuals like Daniel, Moses, and Jesus, who turned to fasting for powerful breakthroughs in their lives. Jesus urges us as well to set times aside to fast .
Through practice and study of Gods word, we discover fasting is more than just abstaining from food, but also involves humbling ones self before God. Biblical examples help us understand why and how we should fast.
Below are 4 prayers for powerful breakthroughs focusing on fasting for preparation, understanding, facing temptation, and Gods mercy.
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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What Is The Daniel Fast
Daniel abstained from meat, bread, wine, and oils for his skin for 21 days .
These would have been things that satisfied Daniel, good food, and relief from dried skin. He abstained after being captured and brought to Babylon. It was likely the royal food was not kosher according to Daniels customs. When Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, Azariah, and other young Israelite men were taken into Nebuchadnezzars service, they were to be given food and wine from the kings table while undergoing a three-year training program. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the royal food and wine, and he asked the chief official for permission not to defile himself this way .
What Is Fasting Understanding Fasting
Fasting is choosing to do without something for a period of time.
The most common type of fasting is fasting from food, which can be done for many reasons and in various ways, including:
Fasting from items other than food is not as common but is practiced as well, including:
- Fasting for spiritual reasons, such as during Lent, commonly practiced in the Catholic church and by other Christians. These fasts can be from food, certain types of food, or non-food items.
- Fasting for a time of prayer and spiritual breakthrough. When you are in need of Gods help with a specific problem, fasting for a time of prayer can provide direction.
Click here for Christian quotes on fasting to read more about what spiritual leaders and prachers teach about fasting.
Read Also: Jesus Fasting For 40 Days
Will You Learn How To Fast And Pray Today
Do you feel that deep need for breakthrough and spiritual food?
Do you need God to answer or act quickly in your life?
Join me on this journey to draw nearer to our Savior. Learning how to fast and pray is more simple than most Christians realize. There is power in this lost spiritual discipline.
To harness that power, you need only decide to begin.
- Choose what you will give up while in your fast.
- Pick a day to begin.
- Select a topic or verse to meditate in prayer over.
- Dont get discouraged if the first fast isnt perfect.
- Keep practicing until you find the right rhythm and God moves.
In Him
Proper Position For Praying
When we read scriptures we see the common potions that prayer took place from was on the knees, with hands stretched out to heaven:
Psalm 28:2
2 Hear the voice of my supplications, when I cry unto thee, when I lift up my hands toward thy holy oracle.
Solomon prayed with his hands in the air on his knees:
1 Kings 8:54
54 And it was so, that when Solomon had made an end of praying all this prayer and supplication unto the Lord, he arose from before the altar of the Lord, from kneeling on his knees with his hands spread up to heaven.
As you can see Solomon had his hands spread to heaven when he prayed on his knees as you can see in the image below:
Here some more scriptures which show how Solomon, Daniel, Paul & Peter prayed on their knees also, 2 Chronicles 6:13, Daniel 6:10, Acts 9:40
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How To Start Fasting
Fasting is hard. It sounds much easier in concept than it proves to be in practice. It can be surprising how on-edge we feel when we miss a meal. Many an idealistic new fast-er has decided to miss a meal and only found our belly drove us to make up for it long before the next mealtime came.
Fasting sounds so simple, and yet the world, our flesh, and the devil conspire to introduce all sorts of complications that keep it from happening. In view of helping you start down the slow path to good fasting, here are six simple pieces of advice. These suggestions might seem pedantic, but the hope is that such basic counsel can serve those who are new at fasting or have never seriously tried it.
Why Should We Fast What Are The Benefits
- Jesus said His disciples would fast. Matthew 9:14-15
- Jesus said that demonic problems which defy human logic and scientific solution will not yield without fasting. Matthew 17:21 NKJV
- Jesus said, When you fast not if you fast, clearly suggesting an expectation. Matthew
- Fasting has been proven to be helpful for the overall health of the human body.
- Fasting regularly helps to kill sinful appetites.
- Fasting trains us in self-discipline
- Fasting opens the human spirit to receive from an indelible experience and revelation from God
- Many moves from God have arisen from individual or collective times of fasting with prayer
- Fasting humbles our soul
- Read more about why to add fasting to prayer here.
Recommended Reading: Losing Weight With 16 8 Intermittent Fasting
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Fasting and prayer is a Christian’s best weapon to seek God’s guidance during a pivotal moment in their life. It’s one of the spiritual disciplines that produce potent and perceptible results. Christians have been using fasting and prayer for two thousand years. Fasting has become an enduring discipline for the church to grow closer to God. It helps build deeper intimacy and open the doors of your soul for God to speak directly with you.
Thanksgiving Prayer After Fasting
Lord, thank you for the lessons you taught me during fasting. Thank you for the ways you grew me in fruits of the spirit like patience and self-control. I know I could not have accomplished this by my own power, but only because of Your work in me.
Guide me as I move forward. If Your desire is for me is to fast again, show me that clearly. Help me not forget this time of fasting, but instead to use these lessons in my daily life. Above all, help me honor and serve You with the choices I make. I love you, Lord.
Amen.
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How Many Times What Time & What Direction To Pray
The prophet Daniel tells that he prayed 3 times a day. Morning , Noon and Night . He would also face toward Jerusalem, which is to the east.
Daniel 6:10
10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.
We are are also told in the Wisdom of Solomon that praying takes place before Sunrise and at Sundown/Sunset:
Wisdom of Solomon 16:28
That it might be known, that we must prevent the sun to give thee thanks, and at the dayspring pray unto thee.
Wisdom of Solomon 16:28
to make it known that one must rise before the sun to give you thanks, and must pray to you at the dawning of the light
Above you can see the times that we are supposed to pray to the Most High, as always we use his creation to judge this. Before the sunrises, we are supposed to be up and giving praises
And as the Sun goes down and daylight decreases were supposed to be praying to the Most High.
A Prayer To Prepare Your Heart To Fast:
Scripture describes how individuals fasted in preparation for fulfilling Gods purpose and calling in their lives, such as Moses, who was called by God to deliver His people out of Egypt.
Exodus 34:28 describes how he fasted during one of the most significant times in his life. Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tables the words of the covenant–the Ten Commandments.
Luke 4:1 describes how Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit when he entered the wilderness to be tempted. And Luke 4:14 describes the results of how He walked out of the wilderness after forty days of fasting in the power of the Spirit.
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Set An Objective For Your Fast
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 what He wants you to take away from this time. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.
Through fasting and prayer, we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches and heal our land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Make this a priority in your fasting.
Prayers During Your Fasting Prayer While Youre Fasting
Heavenly Father, thank You for hearing this prayer during fasting.
As You know the listener has made the decision to fast before You.
Their heart and mind are fixed on You Lord.
Thank You for wisdom, revelation, and understanding regarding the question they have on my heart.
Your Spirit is showing them what to do. They are led by Your peace.
Father You know all and it is to You that they look for answers.
Praise Your Name! Thank You that every question is answered!
They can rest in Your promise that You hear them when they pray according to Your will and they know that they shall have the petitions that they desire of You.
Father they delight myself in You and You cause their desires to be agreeable with Your will.
Not their will be done but Yours be done! In every area they bow their knees before You!
Thank You that You are revealing to them what they need to do and what they need to change.
This fast has been dedicated to You and their plans will succeed.
They thank You that it is You who gives the wise answer of the tongue.
Forever oh Lord, they will praise You! You are wonderful! There is none like You!
You are faithful and they can rest in Your faithfulness.
They continue this fast with the joy that is set before them. Thank You that You are right here with them, every step of the fast.
Please help them to get all that You desire for them to receive from this fast!
Thank You for hearing this prayer while they are fasting.
Scriptures To Read:
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What Biblical Fasting Is Not
Biblical fasting is not all about food! Not all examples of a Biblical fast or spiritual fast are about food.
The last two examples give me an understanding that to fast and pray is really about replacing things that satisfy us physically with God for a time and specific purpose.
In the past, I have fasted from food and found that to draw me nearer to God in deep ways.
The physical reminder of hunger is a prompt to pray, worship and draw nearer to God. The emotional connection to food can actually drive me to my knees more intensely!
There have also been times I chose social media fast that is eye-opening! Another time I set aside my phone for an entire day to fast and pray wow was that humbling and revealing!
What Is A Fast From Sex
Before men went to war in biblical times, they sometimes abstained from sex wither their wives to fast. The New Testament also reveals to us that abstaining from sex is a good thing to do when a couple decides on it together . This type of fast from pleasurable things short-circuits our tendency to lose appreciation for them. No matter how good something makes us feel, over time we take it for granted and lose the thrill.
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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
Step : 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.
- Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies. Medication should be withdrawn only with your physicians 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.
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How Fasting Is Carried Out According To The Bible
When I attended the church fasting was definitely one of the most challenging things for a christian to do.
The different fasts I encountered in church were the dry fast. Which meant eating no food at all until the end of the fast.
The water fast which meant you were only allowed to drink water during the fast.
You may or may not be able to relate to these fasts? If not, it just further proves that in church there is no universal way to fast.
The length of the fast was often from 6 oclock in the morning until 6 pm or 12 am in the evening.
It was never for the whole day, which you will find out is contrary to scriptures.
In order to understand the length of a fast in the bible we have to read scripture, where a fast takes place.
We find this when we look at an appointed day called
Day of Atonement, this gives us the blueprint of what the Most High considers a one day fast.
Leviticus 23:27-32
We can see from the above scriptures that the day of atonement last one biblical day.
It begins on the 9th day in the evening and finishes the following day on the 10th day in the evening.
So with that we know have a definitive answer about how long a one day fast actually last.
The terminology used here for not eating is to inflict your soul.
You now have a biblical, definitive fasting time.
