Fasting
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.
James 4:8 (NKJV)
Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:12-13 (NKJV)
STUDY MATERIALS PURPOSE
The purpose of these study materials is to help, strengthen and educate the Persecuted Church around the world.
People have contacted us from very remote and persecuted areas of the world. These resources are not available to them and/or if they are seen with them they can be persecuted for their faith in Jesus Christ. Some people can only look at these resources for a brief moment on their cell phones. This library is dedicated to the Lord Jesus Christ and to those with fierce determination are following Him.
The books, media and information on this website are a library service and for educational purposes only. This is a lending library for the persecuted church around the world. Please look inside the back of each book or look up the authors name on the internet to obtain more information and more resources from these great ministries. Also, please financially support their ministries as they bring the good news of Jesus Christ to billions of people around the world.
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A Wonderful Way to Draw Near
Written by Lynne Hammond
… when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.Matthew 6:17 – 18
One wonderful way to cut out the clamoring of the flesh and tune into the things of God is by making use of the much neglected spiritual discipline of fasting. Few believers realize it these days but fasting is a wonderful way to draw near to the Lord.
Granted, many people have misused it and given it a bad name. They’ve mandated it as a religious duty (which it is not). They’ve used it manipulatively as a way to get God to give them something they want, and in doing so, they’ve found it to be difficult and unrewarding.
But if you fast simply as a way to worship God and deepen your communion with Him, you will find it to be a delightful thing. As you rest in the grace of God and draw on His strength, you’ll find that missing a meal or two (or more) is not painful at all. On the contrary, the peace that arises in your heart will be so precious to you that the occasional complaints from your stomach will seem insignificant by comparison.
Although the New Testament does not explicitly command us to fast, Jesus said plainly that His disciples in this age would do it. And it is definitely worth noting that the believers in Antioch were fasting when, in Acts chapter 13, the Holy Spirit spoke to them and told them to separate Paul and Barnabas to their world-changing, apostolic work. Clearly, fasting had helped quiet their hearts so they could clearly hear the voice of the Lord.
No doubt, it can do the same for us.
Scripture Reading: Mark 2:18 – 22
21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
Every year Believers International Church has a time of fasting.
Basics
Why Should I Fast?
Simply put, fasting does not change God, it changes you and your situations. Fasting is one of the most powerful tools Christians have at their disposal. Jesus did not tell us that we had to fast, but He expects that we will, based upon Matthew 6:16 “When you fast…”. Fasting simply brings the spirit man into ascendance over the flesh. It also limits the influence of the physical appetites so that you can more effectively hear from and respond to the Holy Spirit. This happens because when you fast your focus is more on prayer and seeking God’s will, which causes you to grow in your knowledge and intimacy with God. Fasting is a powerful weapon that helps bring transformation, revelation, deliverance, and breakthroughs.
Write down clear fasting goals. Be specific about what you are expecting from God during the fast, whether it be healing, direction, restoration in marriage, family, finances, etc. If it matters to you, it matters to God. If you make fasting about the why, it will be easier to hear from God about the what. He will lead you.
What do I Fast?
It's up to you! It's a personal commitment between you and God. There are all different types of fasts. Some people do a fast called the Daniel Fast, some people fast specific foods or activities, i.e. chocolate, soda, TV, Social Media. It’s very typical to fast a single meal, a whole day, or three days or more. Your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and, most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. This is between you and God, and you are encouraged to pray about what type of fast is best for you. We also encourage you to seek the advice of a physician before starting any fast, especially if you have any health concerns.
Below we have provided a few suggestions of fasts:
21 Day Liquid Fast - Give up solid foods
21 Day Daniel Fast - Fruits and vegetables only
21 Day Media Fast - Give up media
7 Day Fast - Fast with us for 7 days
Lunch Fast - Fast with us over lunch each day
Wednesday Fast - Fast with us on Wednesdays
Create Your Own Fast
What Is A Daniel Fast?
The Daniel Fast is based on the prophet Daniel’s fasting experiences as recorded in the Bible. The fast is a biblically based partial fast. According to Daniel 1, the results were: (v. 17) learning, skill, wisdom, spiritual understanding, favor, and better appearance! (v. 19) In Daniel 10, the fast resulted in answered prayer and spiritual insight. (vv. 11-12) One of the great things about the Daniel Fast is that you are not limited to any specific amount of food, but rather to the kinds of food you can eat.
THE DANIEL FAST FOOD LIST
All fruit // fresh, frozen, juiced, or canned
Apples, apricots, bananas, cherries, grapes, lemons, limes, peaches, pineapples, strawberries, watermelon, etc.
All vegetables // fresh, frozen, dried, juiced, or canned
Asparagus, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, mushrooms, onions, potatoes, spinach, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, veggie burgers, etc.
All whole grains //
Whole wheat, brown rice, millet, barley, oats, quinoa, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes, popcorn
All nuts & seeds //
Sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame, nut butter (including peanut butter)
All legumes // canned or dried
Dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black-eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans
All quality oils //
Olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame
Beverages //
Natural fruit juices, spring water, distilled water, other pure waters
Others //
Tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs, spices
Scriptures on Fasting
HERE ARE SOME BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF HOW FASTING WAS A VITAL COMPONENT IN ASSISTING THE PEOPLE OF GOD
FOR BREAKTHROUGH:
Isaiah 58: 6–8 “Is this not the fast that I have chosen: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, your healing shall spring forth speedily, and your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the Lord will answer; you shall cry and He will say, “Here I Am”.
FOR SEEKING GOD FOR A NATION:
II 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 I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
Daniel 9:3-4 “Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplication, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes. And I prayed to the Lord my God, and made confession, and said, “O Lord, great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant and mercy with those who love Him, and with those who keep His commandments…”
Daniel 10:3 “I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.”
Joel 2:12-13 “Now, therefore”, says the Lord, “Turn to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping and with mourning.” So rend your heart, and not your garments; Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of a great kindness; and He relents from doing harm.”
FOR PROTECTION AND WISDOM:
Esther 4:16 “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!”
FOR DIRECTION:
Acts 13: 2-4 “As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, “Now separate to Me Barbabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” “Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.”
FOR CONSECRATION TO GOD’S WILL AND SERVICE:
Acts 14:23 “So when they appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”
Your Personal Guide to Fasting and Prayer
By Dr. Bill Bright founder of Campus Crusades for Christ
We are serious about you.
Contacts us, we want to pray for you. God has a great things ahead for you.
The books, media and information on this website are a library service and for educational purposes only. This is a lending library for the Believers International Church Family. Please look inside the back of each book or look up their names on the internet to obtain more information and more resources from these great ministries. Also, please financially support their ministries as they bring the good news of Jesus Christ to billions of people around the world.