Fasting Basics
Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose.
According to the Bible, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray
and fast. Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and
strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline
will bring you rewards in Heaven,
says Matthew
6.
When you give God your first through fasting, prayer and giving at the
beginning of the year, you set the course for the entire year.
Why should I fast?
1. Are you in need of healing or a
miracle?
2. Do you need the tender touch of God
in your life?
3. Is there a dream inside you that
only He can make possible?
4. Are you in need of a fresh
encounter?
5. Do you desire a deeper, more
intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord?
6. Are you ready to have heightened
sensitivity to the desires of God?
7. Do you need to break away from
bondages that have been holding you hostage?
8. Is there a friend or loved one that
needs Salvation?
9. Do you desire to know God's will for
your life?
How Would You Like to Fast?
BIBLICAL FASTING FOCUS
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2"I exhort therefore, that, first of all,
supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all
men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty."
ROMANS 12:1"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of
God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God,
[which is] your reasonable service."
MATTHEW 6:33"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his
righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you."
ISAIAH 58:6"[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen to loose
the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go
free, and that ye break every yoke?"
We want to encourage you to target your prayers during the fast. Two specific
areas we will be focusing on together are leadership and finances. The Bible
instructs us to continually pray for our leaders (1 Timothy 2:1-2). When we
lift up our leaders, here in the United States and around the world, we can
expect God's peace in our lives and in our nation.
Another great promise, from the book of Isaiah, proclaims that the chosen fast
will "undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free." We are
living in tough economic times and we know that so many people are under a
financial burden. As we come together to fast and pray, we believe that your
burdens will be lifted and that financial blessings will be released into your
life!
We encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and let your decisions about your
biblical fasting come from Him. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during
your time of fasting and prayer. We believe that, as we pray and seek God and
give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year
(Matthew 6:33)!