Season of Seeking Fasting Guide and FAQs
The
chief purpose of fasting is to honor God by physically acknowledging our
dependence upon Him and not upon food.
If you do not already know the power
and importance of fasting, here are some very important facts.
- Fasting
was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example,
Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and
reminded His followers to fast. He
said, "when you fast," not if you fast.
- Fasting
and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and
result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.
- Fasting
is a biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13;
Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."
- The
Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will
become more meaningful to you!
- Fasting
can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
- Fasting
can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a
channel of revival to others.
- Fasting
enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in
brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life. We should fast to reveal those things that
control us: Pride, Anger, Bitterness, Jealousy,
Strife and Fear. We fast also to identify the nonessentials in our lives in
which we are daily preoccupied. Lastly,
we fast so that
attention can be more firmly concentrated on God, allowing us to cast every
care upon Him, which will move the hand of God to heal and deliver His people
from their sins and work of evil that plagues them.
- Fasting
and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of 2
Chronicles 7:14: "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 will I hear
from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
If you fast, you will find yourself being humbled.
You will discover more time to pray and seek God's face. And as He leads you to
recognize and repent of unconfessed sin, you will experience special blessings
from God.
Why
are we fasting?
- Spiritual
Revival and Renewal
- Consecration
and Discernment
- Demonstration
of God’s power (corporately and privately)
- Boldness
and Courage
- Healing and Deliverance
- Faith
and Unity, Maturity
- Hear
the call of the Lord
Those who should pray but not fast:- Diabetics
- Expectant or nursing mothers
- Heart patients and those experiencing problems with the vital organs.
Physically, what should I expect during
a fast?- Hunger pangs
- Bad breath
- Headaches– particularly for
caffeine drinkers
- Weakness and occasional
dizziness from changes in position
- More sensitivity to cold
(dress warmer)
What kinds of fast can we participate in?The Bible recounts primarily two types of fasts. A
partial fast is described in the book of Daniel. Although the water fast seemed
to be the custom of the prophet, there was a three-week period in which he only
abstained from "delicacies," meat, and wine (Daniel 10:3).
The two primary types mentioned in the Bible are
the "absolute" and "supernatural absolute" fasts. These are
total fasts-no food (solid or liquid) and no water. Paul went on an absolute
fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus
(Acts 9:9). Moses and Elijah engaged in what must be considered a supernatural
absolute fast of forty days (Deuteronomy 9:9; I Kings 19:8).
The level of your personal participation in this “Season
of Seeking” is a personal decision.
Some will participate by totaling abstaining from food, others will fast
particular food items such as meats or sweets, while others may fast items like
television, Internet, etc. Many will do a combination of fasts, will others will
gradually participate toward a total fast.
During
this fast what will we experience spiritually?
- An ear to hear God speaking
to His people
- Definite Divine Guidance
- Breaking of the chains of
despondency, stubbornness and rebellion
- Release of the anointing
and power upon His people
- Out-pouring of compassion
and mercy for the spiritually lost and hurting
What should I engage in during this
fast?- Prayer, Worship, Scripture
Reading, Scripture Meditation
- Family Devotions (prayer,
singing, scripture reading, encouragement)
- Study, reading of Christian
literature focused on spiritual formation
- Sharing of wealth and
resources
What will I learn during
this fast?- Learn that God’s Word is our life substance
- Learn how to suffer happily, for in this life we will suffer. Fasting,
through the denial of the self, teaches us how to handle adversity of the souls
- Learn how to fight by the
power of God
What scriptures should I read during this fast?- Matthew 6; Luke 4:1-13; Acts 13:1-3; Acts 14:19-23; Philippians 3
- Nehemiah 1: 4 -11; Esther 4: 12 -17; Isaiah 58:1-7; Daniel 10: 1-14