FASTING: A BIBLICAL OVERVIEW
Fasting in Scripture:
· The Isrealites fasted for the restoration of the Ark of the Covenant. 1 Samuel 7:6
· Nehemiah fasted when he heard about Jerusalem’s condition. Nehemiah 1:4
· The prophet Joel called the Israelites to fast. Joel 2:12
· Cornelius. Acts 10:30
· Commissioning of Barnabas and Saul. Acts 13:1-3
· A pattern for the Apostle Paul. 2 Corinthians 6:5
· A Christian family practice. 1 Corinthians 7:5
· Jesus’ fast. Matthew 4:2
· Jesus’ instructions to His disciples. Matthew 6:16-18 Mark 2:20
Purposes of fasting:
· Expressing humility, grief and repentance. 2 Samuel 1:11-12 1 Kings 21:27-29 Psalm 35:13
· Seeking God more intimately and intensely. Judges 20:26-28 Jeremiah 36:4-7
· Preparing for effectiveness in God’s will and work. Ezra 8:21-23
· Receiving strength and victory during spiritual battles. Matthew 4:2-3
· Securing God’s protection and deliverance. 2 Chronicles 20:2-4 Esther 4:15-16
· Demonstrating devotion to God. Luke 2:36-38
· Produces spiritual clarity and sensitivity. 2 Chronicles 20:2-4 2 Chronicles 20:13-14
· Brings personal breakthroughs. 1 Samuel 1:7
· Helps us discipline our appetites. 1 Corinthians 9:27
· Brings the release of blessings, help and God’s power. Joel 2:18-20 Joel 2:28
Types of fasts:
Specific Food or Activity Fast
This type of fast refers to omitting a specific item(s), activity or habit from your time of prayer and fasting. For example, you may choose to eliminate red meat, processed or fast food, or sweets. It could also involve fasting from an activity or habit, such as television watching, or social media.
Daniel Fast
The Daniel fast is a great model to follow that proves to be extremely effective for spiritual focus, bodily discipline and purification in the body and soul. It is probably one of the most commonly referred to types of fasts, however within the term “Daniel Fast”, there is room for broad interpretation. In the book of Daniel, we find two different times where Daniel fasted, once in Daniel 1 and again in Daniel 10. Daniel 1 states that he ate vegetables and water, and in Daniel 10, while the passage does not give a specific list of foods that Daniel ate, it does state that Daniel ate no rich (or choice) foods as well as no meat or wine. So based on these two verses, we can see that either of these, or any variations in between constitutes a fast. Again, there is nothing “inherently spiritual” about one type of fast as opposed to another. It is important to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
Juice Fast
A juice fast is when no solid food is consumed and instead involves the intake of vegetable juices, fruit juices and water.
Total Fast
A total fast is where nothing – neither liquid, solid food or even water is consumed for a period of time. We do not recommend total fasting as this can be very dangerous to your health. Attempting to go without water especially, for any period of time can be extremely harmful to the body.
Duration and Extent of Your Fast
As with choosing what type of fast you will be undertaking, it is important to also decide ahead of time how long you will be fasting and to what extent you will be fasting. Some people may choose to fast at one level all 21 days or culminate with a special 3 day fast at the end. Others choose to fast one week out of the 21 days, or even fast once or twice a week throughout the 21 day period. This is a personal decision and one that should be prayerfully considered.
21 Days of Prayer Guide
Every Day Prayer Focus:
Seeking God – Declaring our dependence on Him in every area of our lives.
Hear From Heaven – Inviting the presence of God into our church and our lives and our hearts to be open to hear from Him.
Growth – Pray for people to grow in their journey with God. They will find and fulfill their purpose.
Revival, Souls and Victory – For Revival to happen in our church and country, for tons of people to give their lives to Jesus and walk in Victory!!!
Daily Prayer Focus
Day 1 – Praying for our church services and all the other churches in town.
Day 2 – Our Leaders – Nation, State and City (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Day 3 – Our Pastors – church staff, elders, Connection group leaders and all who serve at CG.
Day 4 – Church wide prayer service from 6-7pm in the auditorium.
Day 5 – Our city – pray for a move of God in our city and surrounding cities.
Day 6 - Our nation – pray for revival in our county – for repentance and revival.
Day 7 - We pray for God to give us our Mountains and for dreams to come alive and come to pass.
Day 8 – Our world – the Gospel to be taken and received in the whole world.
Day 9 – The lost – that we would have a minimum of 25 people give their lives to Jesus every Sunday!!!
Day 10 – Own our mile – for us to reach our part of town – to come up with God ideas on how to reach them.
Day 11 - Church wide prayer service from 6-7pm in the auditorium.
Day 12 – Provision – for God to provide in such big ways that we live in abundance and that helps us to reach more people with the Gospel.
Day 13 – Children and Youth – that revival will come and grow among our
children and youth.
Day 14 - We pray for the right people to be in the right places. For every one of our ministries to have more than enough people serving.
Day 15 – Our church vision for 2024 will come to pass – for breakthrough in all areas of life – for God to show up in a big way.
Day 16 – Calling prodigals home – children and family back to relationship with God.
Day 17 – Families and Marriages to be strong.
Day 18 - Church wide prayer service from 6-7pm in the auditorium.
Day 19 – For miracles, in our church and outside the church, to increase and bring
people to know Jesus!!
Day 20 – Abundance and provision.
Day 21 - We pray for Revival, Souls and Victory!