Skip to main content

What is the Purpose of this fast?

We want a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit of God in each one of our lives, our families, and our church.

We want to:

  • Know God in a deeper way (Fresh revelation of who He is and who we are in Him),
  • Hear His voice and His direction with more clarity,
  • Experience I breakthrough in our personal life or someone else’s life
  • Courage to be used by Him in our daily lives.

Fasting Basics

What is fasting?

Fasting is a sacred time in which Christians abstain from food or other pleasures, and take the time to focus on God.

 


Fasting Tips

Part 1 – Before the Fast

  1. Hold the right motives. Note that fasting as a Christian means to humble yourself before Him. It is a way to glorify our Lord. Keep these aspects in mind while you fast. Don’t confuse this with any other reasons for fasting such as weight loss, etc. Center it around Jesus.
  2.  Pray before your fast. Pray, confessing every one of your sins, and inviting the Holy Spirit to lead your life. Let Jesus know you wish to know Him personally. Acknowledge that He lived without sin, died in our place, on the cross for our sins and rose 3 days later, freeing us from condemnation, and giving us His free gift of eternal life. Humble yourself to ask forgiveness from everyone you have hurt; ask forgiveness from God. Forgive those who have hurt you. You do not want to enter into a fast holding grudges, carrying envy, pride, anger or hurt. The enemy will try to use those things to distract you from your fast.
  3. Meditate on the Gospel, and on the Holy traits of our Lord. These may include the ability to forgive, His strength or wisdom, His peace, the capacity to love unconditionally, etc. Praise Him for these attributes! Surrender your life and thank Him for all He has done for you!
  4. Determine the length of your fasting experience, whether this is for 1 meal, 1 day, 3 days or a week (Jesus and Moses fasted for a period of 40 days, but that is no sign that anyone else might do that). You may wish to try a shorter fast, and start slowly at first, if you have not previously fasted. You can also pray and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you how long you should fast.
  5. Note the type of fast you are being called to. You may feel that the Holy Spirit calls you to a specific type of fast. A partial fast may mean giving up only certain types of foods. Juice fasts remove the pleasure of chewing any type of solid food, yet fruit and vegetable juices are permitted.
  6. Drink enough water to support life, since it is not a food, observing this Absolute Caution: In an absolute fast one abstains from solid and liquid “foods” — for example, fruit juices are foods — but, water is essential for life much as breathing, as one may go into a foggy mental state, then coma and die after a mere 2 or 3 days of dehydration.

Part 2 – During the Fast

  1. Hold morning worship. Worship Him and praise Him for His attributes. Read God’s Word, and meditate that God will lend me His Wisdom, so that I can input His Word into my life, and I can gain a fuller understanding of it. Pray for God’s Will to be done, and for the guidance of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to lead you in spreading His Glory into the world we live in.
  2. Go for a prayer walk. Walk outside, hand in hand with nature, while noticing God’s wondrous creation. Thank Him for everything He has created as you walk. Ask Him to give you a spirit of thanksgiving and appreciation.
  3. Pray for the welfare of others. Pray for church leaders to preach His Word as God intended, so that your friends and family members will grow closer to Him or accept Him into their lives; pray for government leaders to come to Him, and ask Him for His Will.
  4. Drink water every time your stomach asks for food

Part 3 – Breaking (after) the Fast

  1. Avoid gorging, as one of the recommended ways to return to a regular eating habit after fasting.
  2. Gradually add in a raw salad the first day of breaking your fast.

Preparing Spiritually
Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25Luke 11:417:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).

Deciding What to Fast
The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.

Deciding How Long
You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.

What to Expect
When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.

How to End
Don’t overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.


Fasting Types

There are several types of fasting. The one you choose is between you and God. He will honor your best sacrifice.

Full Fast
Drink only liquids (you establish the number of days).

The Daniel Fast
Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables.

3-Day Fast
This fast can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

Partial Fast
A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sun up to sundown. You can select from three types of fasting —a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.

Scripture References for Fasting:
Matthew 6:16-18Matthew 9:14-15Luke 18:9-14

Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:6-817-18Nehemiah 1:4Daniel 9:3, 20Joel 2:12Luke 2:37Acts 10:30,Acts 13:2

Corporate Fasting:
1 Samuel 7:5-6Ezra 8:21-23Nehemiah 9:1-3Joel 2:15-16Jonah 3:5-10Acts 27:33-37

Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58Jeremiah 14:121 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you fast!


Credit to:

  1. http://www.wikihow.com/Fast-As-a-Christian
  2. Jentezen Franklin – www.jentezenfranklin.org

GOD IS AWESOME!