Week of Fasting & Prayer (Part 2)

This is a guide for all those who are planning to participate in a fast. This is a guide for all of us to use a foundational starting point for this exciting trip with Jesus in a way that may be different than what you may be used to.

If you are new to this blog, we have a Facebook Group and have generated an event called “Week of Fasting & Prayer”; therefore, we are encouraging all those in this group to participate in this fast. For a detailed reason why we should fast please CLICK HERE. With that said, let us get this party started…

The Purpose of Fasting

Fasting is the gracious privilege to have an opportunity to seek God; therefore, it is a giving up (Abstaining) your physical hunger to feed your spiritual hunger. It is seeking to savor God in the person of Jesus.  We are seeking to desire and depend on God and we do this with joy.

Choose What You Will Fast From

What you fast from should be something that means something to you. If you don’t like baseball and you fast from Major League Baseball, you are marring the purpose of fasting and, in effect, telling God that He isn’t good enough for you to fast from something “important”. So, fast from something important. It does not have to be food, but food is the most common practice. It does not have to be an everyday thing either. If you want to fast this week from the best television show ever, LOST; then fast from it. We want you to fast from something that is of importance to you. This will show God that whatever you “lift up as important” will be put to shambles before a Holy God.

If You Fast From Food

You need to make a wise decision here. You need to stay healthy. If you are diabetic, this is probably not the best choice and I would encourage you to find something to fast from other than food. If you have health issues, do not fast from something that may affect your health. Got it?

If you have never fasted from food before, do not hit this fasting like you play Varsity for the Fasting Leagues. You are not Varsity, you might not even be Junior Varsity. Start with one meal. As Bill Murray said in “What About Bob” it takes “I’m Baby Steppin”.

Remember this important fact, it is important for you to sustain healthy levels of food, water and oxygen. Drink plenty of water, do not consume too much caffeine to “supplement” or “replenish”. God expects you to fast, but with wisdom not foolishness.

Do not fast from food and then take on strenuous physical activities. Avoid heavy exercise during a food fast and if you ever get dizzy or light headed STOP, REST and DRINK WATER!

When you do eat, do not overeat. For example, if you fast from lunch then eat 3 dinners…not a good idea. Don’t make yourself sick.

If at any point while reading this you are getting second thoughts, then that is a good indicator you shouldn’t fast from food/drink. If at any time you ask yourself “What about…” or “I wonder if this would…” – don’t’ do it. We then suggest you fast from some things like:

• Music
• Radio
• Shopping
• Internet
• Video Games
• Movies
• Television
• When You Fast

When you fast, the time you would normally spend do that “thing” you are fasting from. We encourage you to rev up those RPMs.

Reading (Your Bible)

We encourage you to read and scriptures.  The purpose for this, God revealed who He is through the life and person of Jesus.  The Bible is all about Jesus; therefore, to know God is to read the Bible.  After all the Bible is living and active [Hebrews 4:12], so let it get moving in you!

Prayer

We encourage you to pray for spiritual growth, not only for yourself but for others.

Turn your prayers toward other people, not only those who need an “attitude adjustment” but those in leadership; pastors, teachers, elders, deacons, small group leaders etc.

Pray for God’s will, pray through the Biblical text you are reading or last Sunday’s sermon or your small group notes. If you need something to study you can check out some Bible Studies I generated by CLICKING HERE.

Meditation

We recommend taking this time to meditate. Meditation is the opposite of worrying. If you can worry you can meditate. Worry is the constant thinking of the negative, meditation is the constant thinking of the righteous. So just think about Jesus, Salvation, Adoption, Election.

If you are looking at this and still need some guidance or would like an idea of what to do each day – keep on reading.

Need A Fasting Map, ACT Up.

Monday

Write out what you expect this week. Then get into the word.

Read Psalm 119. As you read the text, jot down things you can Adore God for, things you need to Confess to God, things to Thank God for and finally, things to ask God for.

Tuesday

Read Ephesians Chapter 5

Read the text and just think about it. Evaluate yourself against the Scripture not another person. You may have a tendency to think about how others are doing, but renew your mind to evaluate yourself against the Scripture. Redeem your thoughts in the morning, on your way to work, before you get on the internet or as you go to bed. Think about it, imagine the text to be a movie or if Paul was preaching to you. Think about the text and evaluate yourself against it.

Then, pray to God and confess any shortcomings and ask Him for the wisdom and grace to repent and overcome.

Wednesday

Read Luke 23:33 – 46.

Pray through the text. Read it aloud and read it to God. Think of the verse in the context of your life and what the Bible says about Jesus. Consider reading Philippians 2:1-16 and Hebrews 12:1-3.

Now, write out your thoughts regarding your week so far and keep them in a safe location.

Thursday

Read Titus 3:3-7.

Consider all that Jesus has done for you. Think how the Trinity (God The Father, God The Son and God the Holy Spirit) are intimately involved in life. Look at this verse and think about what you can Adore God for, what you need to confess before Him, what you can thank Him for and what you need to ask Him for. Couple this verse with Ezekiel 36:26 and pray for other people who need to know Jesus as Savior.

Friday

Read Revelation 1:12-20 and consider what it will be like to see Jesus again. Then read Revelation Chapter 19 and pray for the leadership not only in your local church but in Churches in your city, then region then state and all over the globe. Think and pray for the ministry in a global context. Pray and meditate on Jesus’ return.

Saturday

Read Romans 12:1-13 and consider how you may serve and minister in your local church then expand that in how you can serve your local region. Pray for the wisdom to make discerning decisions in regards to Philippians 1:9-11.

At this point, find someone you know who may be fasting with you or someone whom you can talk about Jesus with. Get in a discussion about God’s work in their life. Spur one another on to love and goods deeds by praying with someone this week and just showing the love of Jesus to them. Find someone to share your love of Jesus with.

Sunday

Go to church.

Find your favorite Christian song and mediate and pray through it or check out Brandon’s blog “In Christ Alone”.

At the end of the day, write out your thoughts this week in total and compare them to Wednesday and Monday.

We hope this will be a week of spiritual growth for you all and praise God for His Grace.

Glory To God,

The VoM Team

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