Fasting

 1 HOW TO BEGIN YOUR FAST

How  you  begin  and  conduct  your  fast  will largely determine your success. By following these seven  basic steps  to  fasting,  you  will  make  your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.

STEP 1 Set Your Objective

Why  are  you  fasting?  Is  it  for  spiritual renewal,  for  guidance,  for  healing,  for  the resolution of problems, for special grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His  leading  and  objectives  for  your  prayer  fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.

Through  fasting  and  prayer  we  humble ourselves  before  God  so  the Holy Spirit will  stir our souls, awaken our churches, and heal our land according  to 2 Chronicles 7:14.  Make  this  a priority in your fasting.

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STEP 2 Make Your Commitment

Pray  about  the  kind  of  fast  you  should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15). For Him it was a matter of  when  believers would fast, not if they  would  do  it.  Before  you  fast,  decide  the following up front:

 How long you will fast—one meal, one day,  a week,  several  weeks,  forty  days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts.)

 The  type  of  fast  God  wants  you  to  undertake (such as  water only,  or water and juices;  what kinds of juices you will drink and how often)

 What  physical  or  social  activities  you  will restrict

 How  much  time  each  day  you  will  devote  to prayer and God's Word

Making these commitments ahead of time will help  you   sustain   your   fast  when   physical temptations  and  life's  pressures  tempt  you  to abandon it.

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STEP 3 Prepare Yourself Spiritually

The very foundation of fasting and prayer  is repentance.  Unconfessed  sin  will  hinder  your prayers.  Here  are  several  things  you  can  do  to prepare your heart:

 Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.

 Confess  every  sin  that  the Holy Spirit  calls  to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness (l John 1:9).

 Seek  forgiveness  from  all  whom  yon  have offended,  and  forgive  all  who  have  hurt  you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).

 Make restitution as the Holy Spirit leads you.

 Ask  God  to  fill  you  with  His  Holy  Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.

 Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord  and  Master;  refuse  to obey  your  worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).

 Meditate  on  the  attributes  of  God,  His  love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace,

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compassion, and others (Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8,11-13).

 Begin  your  time of fasting and  prayer  with  an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).

 Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16,17).

STEP 4 Prepare Yourself Physically

Fasting   requires   reasonable   precautions. Consult your physician first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. Some   persons   should   never   fast   without professional supervision.

Physical preparation makes the drastic change in your eating routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer.

 Do not rush into your fast.

 Prepare  your  body.  Eat  smaller  meals  before starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods.

 Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days before starting a fast.

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2 WHILE YOU FAST

Your  time  of  fasting  and  prayer  has  come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun  to  seek  the  Lord.  Here  are  some  helpful suggestions to consider:

 Avoid  drugs,  even  natural  herbal  drugs  and homeopathic  remedies.  Medication  should  be withdrawn    only   with    your    physician's supervision.

 Limit your activity.

 Exercise  only  moderately.  Walk  one  to  three miles each day if convenient and comfortable.

 Rest as much as your schedule will permit.

 Prepare   yourself   for   temporary   mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.

 Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day.  You may have fleeting hunger pains,  dizziness,  or  the  "blahs."  Withdrawal from caffeine  and  sugar  may cause headaches.

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Physical   annoyances   may   also   include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.

The  first  two  or  three  days  are  usually  the hardest.  As  you  continue  to  fast,  you  will  likely experience  a  sense  of  well-being  both physically and spiritually.  However,  should you  feel  hunger pains, increase your liquid intake.

STEP 5 Put Yourself on a Schedule

For  maximum  spiritual  benefit,  set  aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.

Morning

 Begin your day in praise and worship.

 Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably on your knees.

 Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you to will and to do His good pleasure according to Philippians 2:13.

 Invite  God  to use you.  Ask  Him  to show  you how to influence your world, your family, your

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church,  your  community,  your  country,  and beyond.

 Pray   for   His   vision   for   your   life   and empowerment to do His will.

Noon

 Return to prayer and God's Word.  Take a short prayer walk.

 Spend  time  in  intercessory  prayer  for  your community's and nation's leaders, for the world's unreached  millions,  for  your  family or  special needs.

Evening

 Get alone for an unhurried time of "seeking His face."

 If others are fasting with you, meet together for prayer.

 Avoid  television  or  any  other  distraction  that may dampen your spiritual focus.

When  possible,  begin  and  end  each  day  on your  knees  with  your  spouse  for  a  brief  time  of praise and thanksgiving to God. Longer periods of

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time  with  our  Lord  in  prayer  and  study  of  His Word are often better spent alone.

A dietary routine is vital as well. Dr. Julio C. Ruibal—nutritionist,  pastor,  and  specialist  in fasting and prayer—suggests a daily schedule and list of juices  you  may find useful and satisfying. Modify this  schedule  and  the  drinks  you  take  to suit your circumstances and tastes.

5 a.m.—8 a.m.

Fruit  juices,  preferably  freshly  squeezed  or blended and diluted in 50 percent distilled water if the fruit  is  acid.  Apple,  pear,  grapefruit,  papaya, watermelon,  or  other  fruit  juices  are  generally preferred. If you cannot do your own juicing, buy juices without sugar or additives.

10:30 a.m. - noon

Fresh  vegetable  juice  made  from  lettuce, celery, and carrots in three equal parts.

2:30 p.m. - 4 p.m.

Herb  tea with  a drop of honey.  Avoid black tea or any tea with caffeine.

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6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Broth made from boiling potatoes, celery, and carrots  with  no  salt.  After  boiling  about  half  an hour, pour the water into a container and drink it.

Tips on Juice Fasting

 Drinking  fruit  juice  will  decrease  your  hunger pains and give you  some natural sugar energy. The taste and lift will motivate and strengthen you to continue.

 The best juices are made from fresh watermelon, lemons, grapes, apples, cabbage, beets, carrots, celery,  or  leafy  green  vegetables.  In  cold weather, you may enjoy warm vegetable broth.

 Mix  acidic  juices  (orange,  tomato)  with  water for your stomach's sake.

 Avoid  caffeinated  drinks.  And  avoid  chewing gum or mints, even if your breath is bad. They stimulate digestive action in your stomach.

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3 BREAKING YOUR FAST

When  your  designated  time  for  fasting  is finished, you will begin to eat again. But how you break  your  fast  is  extremely  important  for  your physical and spiritual well-being.

STEP 6 End Your Fast Gradually

Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid foods

immediately after your fast. Suddenly

reintroducing  solid  food  to  your  stomach  and digestive  tract  will  likely  have  negative,  even dangerous,  consequences.  Try  several  smaller meals  or  snacks  each  day.  If  you  end  your  fast gradually,  the  beneficial  physical  and  spiritual effects will result in continued good health.

Here  are  some  suggestions  to  help  you  end your fast properly:

 Break an extended water fast with fruit such as watermelon.

 While  continuing  to  drink  fruit  or  vegetable juices, add the following:

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First day: Add a raw salad.

Second  day:  Add  baked  or  boiled  potato,  no butter or seasoning.

Third day:  Add a steamed vegetable.  Thereafter: Begin to reintroduce your normal diet.

 Gradually  return  to  regular  eating with  several small snacks during the first few days. Start with a little soup and fresh fruits such as watermelon and cantaloupe.  Advance  to a few tablespoons of solid foods such as raw fruits and vegetables or a raw salad and baked potato.

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4 A FINAL WORD

STEP 7 Expect Results

If  you  sincerely  humble  yourself  before  the Lord,  repent,  pray,  and  seek  God's  face;  if  you consistently  meditate  on  His  Word,  you  will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21).  The Lord  will give you  fresh,  new spiritual  insights.  Your  confidence  and  faith  in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.

A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all.  Just  as  we  need  fresh  infillings  of  the  Holy Spirit  daily,  we  also  need  new  times  of  fasting before  God.  A 24-hour fast  each  week  has  been greatly rewarding to many Christians.

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 out, or you may need to strengthen  your  understanding  and  resolve.  As

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soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do  succeed.  God  will  honor  you  for  your faithfulness.

I encourage you to join me in fasting and prayer  again  and  again  until  we truly experience revival  in  our  homes,  our  churches,  our  beloved nation, and throughout the world.

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APPENDIX

How to Experience and Maintain Personal Revival

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal any unconfessed

sin in your life.

2. Seek  forgiveness  from  all  whom  you  have

offended,  and  forgive  all  who  have  hurt  you. Make restitution where God leads.

3. Examine your motives in every word and deed.

Ask the Lord to search and cleanse your heart daily.

4. Ask the Holy Spirit to guard your walk against

complacency and mediocrity.

5. Praise and give thanks to God continually in all

ways   on   all   days,   regardless   of   your circumstances.

6. Refuse  to  obey  your  carnal  (worldly)  nature

(Galatians 5:16,17).

7. Surrender  your  life  to  Jesus  Christ  as  your

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Savior and Lord. Develop utter dependence on Him with total submission and humility.

8.  Study the attributes of God.

9.  Hunger and thirst after righteousness (Matthew 5:6).

10. Love God with all of your heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37).

11. Appropriate the continual fullness and control of the Holy Spirit by faith on the basis of God's command  (Ephesians 5:18) and  promise  (1 John 5:14,15).

12. Read, study, meditate on, and memorize God's holy, inspired, inerrant Word daily (Colossians 3:16).

13. Pray without ceasing ( 1  Thessalonians 5:17).

14. Fast  and  pray one 24-hour period each week. Prayerfully consider becoming one of the two million Christians who will fast for forty days before the end of the year 2000.

15. Seek to share Christ daily as a way of life.

16. Determine  to  live  a  holy,  godly  life  of obedience and faith.

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17. Start  or  join  a  home  or  church  Bible  study group that emphasizes revival and a holy life.

Six Vital Questions About Prayer

Q What Is Prayer?

Simply  put,  prayer  is  communicating  with God. Real prayer is expressing our devotion to our heavenly Father, inviting Him to talk to us as we talk to Him.

Q Who Can Pray?

Anyone can pray, but only those who walk in faith and obedience to Christ can expect to receive answers to their prayers.

Contact  with  God  begins  when  we  receive Jesus into our lives as Savior and Lord (John 14:6). Praying  with  a  clean  heart  is  also  vital  to successful  prayer.  We  cannot  expect  God  to answer our prayers if there is any unconfessed sin in our life or if we are harboring an unforgiving spirit (Psalm 66:18;  Mark 11:25).  For  God  to answer our prayers, we must have a believing heart and  ask  according  to  His  will (Matthew 9:29; 21:22; l John 5:14,15).

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Q Why Are We to Pray?

God's Word commands us to pray (Luke 18:1; Acts 6:4; Mark 14:38; Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; 1 Timothy 2:1,2).

We pray to have fellowship with God, receive spiritual  nurture  and  strength  to  live a victorious life, and maintain boldness for a vital witness for Christ.

Prayer  releases  God's  great  power  to  change the course of nature, people, and nations.

Q To Whom Do We Pray?

We pray to the Father in the name of the Lord Jesus  Christ  through  the  ministry  of  the  Holy Spirit. When we pray to the Father, our prayers are accepted by Jesus Christ and interpreted to God the Father by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:26,27,34).

Q When Should We Pray?

God's  Word  commands  us  to  "Pray  con-tinually" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). We can be in prayer   throughout   the   day,   expressing   and demonstrating our devotion to God as we go about our daily tasks.

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It is not always necessary to be on our knees, or even in a quiet room to pray. God want us to be in touch with Him constantly wherever we are. We can pray in the car,  while washing the dishes, or while walking down the street.

Q What Should We Include in Our Prayers?

Although  prayer  cannot  be  reduced  to  a formula, certain basic elements should be included in  our  communication  with  God:   Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (ACTS).

A—Adoration

To adore God is to worship and praise Him, to honor and exalt Him in our heart and mind and with our lips.

C—Confession

When  our  discipline  of  prayer  begins  with adoration,  the  Holy  Spirit  has  opportunity  to reveal  any  sin  in  our  life  that  needs  to  be confessed.

T—Thanksgiving

An attitude of thanksgiving to God, for who He

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is and for the benefits we enjoy because we belong to Him, enables us to recognize that He controls all things—not just the blessings, but the  problems  and  adversities  as  well.  As  we approach  God  with  a  thankful  heart,  He becomes strong on our behalf.

S—Supplication

Supplication  includes  petition  for  our  own needs  and  intercession  for  others.  Pray  that your  inner  person  may  be  renewed,  always sensitive to and empowered by the Holy Spirit. Pray  for  others—your  spouse,  your  children, your parents, neighbors, and friends; our nation and  those  in  authority  over  us.  Pray  for  the salvation  of  souls,  for  a  daily  opportunity  to introduce others to Christ and to the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and  for the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

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