This much is sure: when you petition Him on behalf of your children He gets involved in their lives! Ezra and the other priests fasted and prayed for the next generation of Israel's children as well as the future priests of Israel.
He knew this was not just a personal prayer, but a God-connected desire to see generational striving cease. Eventually, Samuel was molded into one of Israel's greatest prophets by the prayers of a godly mother called Hannah. The community of prayer and fasting that Samuel was raised into allowed him to grow in God and see many prayers answered.
God cares about the daily concerns of our lives, even financial ones. If unemployment, the foreclosure rate or the stock market are anything to go by, you'd be wise to consult God before you make a financial decision. God has promises for you financially, if and when your heart is in harmony with His.
If and when you are being obedient to the spiritual guidelines for giving, His will and your desire come together in an amazing way. You may have already read that fasting is the duty of every Christian. Keep in mind that like any other spiritual discipline, fasting is about strengthening your relationship with Christ. Answered prayers are a product of a strong relationship with God and right alignment to His will.
By submitting yourself in fasting and prayer, you also submit your own will to His. God has plans for us that are good Jeremiah and we can rely on that never changing. However, sometimes what we think is good and what God knows is good for us differ. Fasting with prayer can clear up that confusion and prayers get answered because the alignment between God and our hearts is finally banded together. As our Father, He takes no greater joy that joining with us and answering our prayers.
Keep seeking God with all your heart, both in fasting and in prayer, as you grow closer in relationship with Him, He will meet your needs in abundance. Keep a notebook and pen nearby to record the ideas, insights, directions and instructions He impresses on your mind. Continue to drink plenty of water. Apple or watermelon juice is a great morale booster. Sleep early — the first few days of the fast are usually the most challenging. Persevere through this period. Consult your doctor if you are unsure of any headaches or bodily reactions.
Breaking the fast may require as much discipline as beginning it. The longer you fast, the more time the digestive organs need to reactivate before functioning at full speed. If you plan to fast only a day or two at a time, it is best to end the fast with a small glass of fruit juice as your first meal. Gradually introduce small amounts of easily digestible foods such as yogurt, soup, fresh fruit, and cooked vegetables.
If your fast lasts longer than a few days, you should continue with juices for a day or more before gradually introducing more substantial foods like yogurt, soup and fruit. Be sure you introduce new foods in small quantities and that you chew it well. You should stop eating at the slightest sensation of fullness.
If fasting only a few days at a time, ending the fast should be easier. If you have built up to and desire to fast longer, you should consult your physician and review a health book on fasting.
Consult your physician before beginning any fast lasting longer than three days. If you have underlying health conditions such as pregnancy, anemia, behavioral disorders or other chronic health problems, you should never fast without consulting a physician first. Bill Bright put it this way : It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles.
If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time, or you may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. Keep trying until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.
Jesus, David, and many other followers of our God have gone without food for a little while to worship and pray to the one who supplies all our needs. God considers fasting important. His Word, in fact, contains 92 passages mentioning it. Many of our heroes of the faith, including Moses, Elijah, Esther, Nehemiah, Daniel and Paul, fasted at crucial points. Discover what fasting is and how it can impact your faith. Learn why giving up food and drink for a period of time can improve your relationship with God.
There is little instruction about how to fast in the Bible, but there are plenty of examples of people who fasted. Learn about the key times in which individuals and nations fasted in the Bible. What is Christianity? Learn the basics of what Christians believe. Dealing with Life's Questions Explore answers to life's biggest questions.
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Campus Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others. City Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city. Inner City Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs. Before fasting, try to eat very little for the previous week so that your body adjusts to not eating a lot. There are many different symptoms that could be caused if you do not properly prepare yourself before fasting.
Here are just a few of the many symptoms that could happen if you do not properly prepare your body before fasting:. Make sure that you also drink a lot of water during your fast. The great thing about fasting is that you get all the water you can drink! If you feel hungry while fasting, just guzzle a half-gallon of water, and that hunger will be gone instantly.
When you are supposed to be eating a meal, meditate on scripture and prayer. Food and drink will be a temptation, but persevere through this hard time and distract yourself with the Holy Word and your communication with the Lord.
It feeds our souls at the very deepest level. One example is in the book of Matthew. Laziness is a problem that the Bible speaks against, but most of us today suffer from being too busy and not getting the rest we need.
A fast will reveal to you that you have too many activities and busyness in your day-to-day routine. Fasting is not necessarily a vacation, though dedicating time off and away from people during your fast can help you get the most benefit out of this precious time. Leave your email and cellphone behind. If possible, find someone who can cover your responsibilities at work and ministry. Many people fast and still carry on their normal daily activities.
But if you can get away, it will give you more time in quietness and stillness with the Lord. What makes fasting extremely difficult in our culture is that everything revolves around food. As much as you live food, God is not your stomach. Disconnecting from TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet can help you stay focused on your purpose for fasting.
You will be less tempted by the constant bombardment of advertising as you become physically and emotionally challenged. Avoiding media will give you more time to focus on the Lord and His word. People are often surprised by how much time they spend preparing food, eating, and cleaning up. During a fast, all that time becomes open. Before your fast, decide how you will fill some of that open time. You may engage in prayer, meditation, or spiritual reading. For example, pray for the hungry.
You may plan an act of services, such as volunteering at a homeless shelter or a local church. Make sure that you are exercising when you are fasting. Being physically active motivates not only your body but your mind as well.
Again, fasting involves dependence on God; God will provide the energy and strength you need. A good idea is having a notebook or journal to keep the progress of your fast. You can describe the emotions that you are having and what you did to overcome those negative ones. Writing letters to the Lord can help you vent through emotions and also give you a sense of thankfulness. Just like praying, it would be like writing to a friend. The Lord loves each and every individual human on this planet and loves that you are giving up your time of eating to spend time with Him.
Think about the mastery your spirit is gaining over your flesh. Think about the positive effects occurring in your body as the toxins are being purged. Think about how God is purifying and sanctifying you for His purposes. Like Paul said in the book of Philippians, it will get you through the rough patches.
After completing your first fast involving food and drink, consider partaking in your other fasts. Try and consider if there is another fast that you would like to participate in. There are three different types of fasts.
The Regular Fast also 2. The Supernatural Fast and 3. The Complete Fast. Regular Fast — Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a regular fast. This is where most people start. Whether denying yourself food or some other pleasure, an occasional fast that lasts six, twelve, or twenty-four hours is the most manageable.
Nevertheless, you must treat it with the same sincerity as a longer fast. It is not insignificant just because it is short. But it does allow you to move gently into the discipline and to let the Lord instruct you. You are not necessarily making a commitment to do this type of fast again, as it is a one-time fast for a specific purpose. Partial Fast — This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods.
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