FASTING + PRAYER
Join us for our 7 day Prayer and Fast! Let’s stand together as one body and draw near to the presence of God during this time of intercession.
WHY ARE WE FASTING
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Ephesians 6:12 ESV
WHY ARE WE FASTING
A Biblical fasting period always results in very positive spiritual results. Below are some tips about fasting – how, when, how long etc. Fasting is difficult for the human body – but if done correctly it is a wonderful experience for the serious Christian and brings with it wonderful results. The idea is solitude with God – no TV or anything that distracts one from attending to the Word and prayer. IMPORTANT If you are suffering from a medical condition (e.g. diabetes), it is strongly recommended that you consult with your home doctor prior to engaging in any form of fasting.
VARIOUS METHODS OF BIBLICAL FASTING
- Normal fasting – abstaining from all food (i.e. solid and liquid foods) –but NOT from water – Matt. 4:2
- Total fasting – no eating or drinking at all – Acts 9:9 (maximum period: 3 days!)
- Partial fasting – “Delicious food, I have not eaten meat or wine entered my mouth come…” – Daniel 10:3 (Some Christians call this a fruit and /or vegetables fast or a Daniel fast.)
NOTE: Your motives and attitude in the fast, not the particular food you consume or don’t consume, is important. Whether you’re just on carrots or juice is not important to God.
COMMENTS
The ideal is to separate yourself with a Bible, notebook and pen. “Setting yourself apart” means removing yourself from factors that will distract you, e.g. telephones, children and noise. People who are unable to seclude themselves can fast, and still meet their daily obligations. Remember Daniel in his palace duties while fasting (Daniel 1 & 10). A partial fast is the answer here.
Father God has no pleasure in seeing you punish yourself, but in the attitude of your heart (Isa. 58:3-12). You can please God more by fasting a single meal than fasting three days without water with the wrong motives and wrong heart attitude.
PRACTICAL TIPS
- Start with a partial fast of one or two days
- Fast AND pray!
- Prepare your body beforehand if you are going to fast for longer than a day by:
- Discontinuing the use of coffee and tea for 2 or 3 days before the fast.
- It appears that caffeine causes headaches.
- A partial fast consisting of e.g. soft fruit juices (just be cautious of too acidic juices or vegetables) for 2 or 3 days beforehand will also help your body to prepare to engage in a regular or complete fast.
- Experience has shown that abstaining from meat, dairy and sweets (sugars) a few days before a regular or complete fast is also conducive to a physical problem-free fast.
How do I break a fast (a fast of longer than a day)?
- Start with small amounts of food (e.g. vegetable soup)
- Eat slowly, small portions, chew properly, exercise self-control!
- Stop eating when you start experiencing signs of discomfort. Only resume eating once the discomfort disappears.
Because your body is not receiving food to convert into energy, you will probably get cold faster and experience weakness in your muscles. Your breath may start to smell unpleasant as well as your body odor. With longer fasting periods your tongue may turn white, your body will start burning your fat and later even your muscles – all to obtain energy for the vital body functions such as brain, heart and lungs. Long fasting periods may lead to radical weight loss. That is why the Biblical prescribed maximum period for a fast is 40 days. Worldly hunger strikers usually continue living for no longer than 60 to 70 days.
FINALLY
Your real “food” during a period of fasting is PRAYER AND THE WORD (Matthew 4:4). If you neglect prayer and the reading of Scripture you are not participating in Biblical fasting. Without the right motive (see point number 2) you will not experience blessings but merely pain and discomfort. A Biblical correct fast is one of the most blessed spiritual activities in which a person can get involved!
PRAYER FOCUS POINTS
- Don’t give up! Zeph. 3:16-17
- Free access through the veil. Heb. 10: 19-23
- Jesus Christ our sacrifice. Heb. 10: 12
- The Holy Spirit will teach you all things. John 14:26
- Pray continually. 1 Tes. 5:17
- Hope in newness of life. Rom.6:4
- Your sanctification. 1 Tes. 4:3
- God is jealous for you. Ex. 34:14
- When you fast. Matt. 6:16
- Power of the tongue. Ps. 37:30
- Present your bodies as a living sacrifice. Rom. 12:1
- Count it all joy. James 1:2
- Blessed are the merciful. Matt. 5:7
- The Lord is calling you to intimacy. Heb. 4:16
- The true heart. Ps. 51:6
- Turn the other way. 1 Tes. 1:9
- Let us love one another. 1 John 4:7
- Be still and know He is God. Ps. 37:7
- God restores you. Luke 22:32
- Compassion. Mark. 1:41
- God satisfies your soul. Ps. 107:9
WHAT TO EAT
Here we offer you a guideline on what foods to eat and not to eat during a Daniel Fast. These are only suggestions and guidelines.
WHAT TO EAT: DANIEL FAST
On the Daniel Fast, you eat plant-based meals that are nutritious and delicious, while setting aside other foods as an act of worship and sacrifice to the Lord. The following list explains the categories of foods to eat and foods to avoid on the Daniel Fast.
FOODS TO EAT (GUIDELINE ONLY)
Whole grains Amaranth, barley, brown rice, buckwheat, bulgur, freekeh, millet, oats, purple rice, quinoa, rye, sorghum, spelt, teff, whole grain pasta, whole wheat, and wild rice.
Beans and legumes Black beans, black-eyed peas, cannellini beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), great northern beans, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, pinto beans, and split peas.
Nuts and seeds Almonds, Brazil nuts, cashews, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, nut butters, peanuts (actually legumes but people think of them as nuts), pecans, pepitas (pumpkin seeds), pine nuts, pistachios, poppy seeds, walnuts, sesame seeds, soy nuts, sunflower seeds.
Vegetables All vegetables are allowed (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned).
Fruit All fruit is allowed (fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, and canned). However, any dried fruit shouldn’t contain added sugar (check ingredients to be sure).
Oils Oils (such as coconut, olive, and sesame, for example) are allowed but should be used minimally. For example, you can sauté foods in olive oil but avoid deep-frying them.
Other Unleavened bread (whole grain bread made without yeast, sugars, or preservatives. All herbs, spices, and seasonings are allowed, including salt and pepper.
Beverages Water should be the main beverage on your Daniel Fast. Distilled, filtered, sparkling, spring, and mineral water are allowed as well. However, you may have 100% fruit juice on occasion (just don’t overdo it).
FOODS TO AVOID
Animal products Meat (bacon, beef, bison, chicken, lamb, pork, and turkey), dairy, (butter, cheese, cream, milk, and yogurt), fish/seafood, eggs.
Added sugar Agave nectar, artificial sweeteners, brown rice syrup, brown sugar, cane juice, corn syrup, honey, malt syrup, molasses, and raw sugar.
Yeast Yeast (and, therefore, leavened bread) isn’t part of the Daniel Fast.
Refined grains White flour and white rice. Only whole grains are allowed on the Daniel Fast. A whole grain product contains the entire grain kernel ― the bran, germ, and endosperm.
Processed food Foods that contain artificial flavorings, chemicals, food additives, and preservatives.
Deep-fried food Examples are corn chips, French fries, and potato chips. (Baked chips are acceptable if they don’t contain restricted ingredients. Check the label for “baked” to be sure.)
Solid fats Butter, lard, margarine, and shortening.
Chocolate Milk chocolate, semi-sweet chocolate, dark chocolate, chocolate syrup, and cacao.
Caffeinated and alcoholic beverages Alcohol, coffee, caffeinated tea, and energy drinks.
TALK TO US
We encourage you to send us a message if you have any questions or enquiries about the 21 day-fast movement. Send through your messages, our pastors will be attending any enquiry.