“Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.”
Joel 1:14

Together, we seek God’s best and listen for His direction for our future. Commit to pray daily for 40 days, and fast as God guides.

MESSAGES IN THIS SERIES

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FASTING INSIGHTS

To draw closer to God through prayer, to seek God’s best
Fasting is biblical, and Jesus fasted
Fasting is “assumed” as a spiritual practice for believers (Matthew 6:17-18, Acts 9:9, Acts 13:1-3, Acts 14:23)
Fasting honors God and facilitates & strengthens prayer
Fasting is used to seek relationship and direction in important or even desperate circumstances
Fasting humbles us (1 Kings 21:27-29), helps us submit, helps us listen to God, shows our dependency on God
Fasting helps facilitate prayer breakthroughs (Ezra 8:23), soul-searching, expressing love for God (Luke 2:37), sorrow or mourning (1 Samuel 31:13, Nehemiah 1:1-4), seeking God’s wisdom or direction (Judges 20:26, acts 14:23), preparing for a season of ministry (Nehemiah 1:3-4, Matthew 4:1-17), confession & repentance (Jonah 3:10), deliverance (2 Chronicles 20:3-4, Ezra 8:21-23), resisting temptation (Matthew 4:1-11), seeking needed change, and deep intercession for others (Isaiah 58:3-7)
Not a way to gain God’s favor (we already have it)
Not about calling attention to ourselves, not a “competition” (it’s about God, not us)
Not a punishment or penance payment (no need, Jesus paid it all)
Not a diet, or something that should endanger our health
Item descrThankful Attitude: Seeking & Glorifying God: Core motive must be to glorify God (Matt 6:16-18, Luke 2:37, Acts 13:2, Zech 7:5
Humble Posture: Fasting help us submit, gets our attention, can reveal things that have a hold on us or control us: Psalm 69:10, 1 Cor 6:12 (Paul: “I will not be enslaved by anything”) 1 Cor 9:27 Paul: “…subdue my body”, Psalm 35:13 (David: “I afflicted myself with fasting”)
Intentional: Seeking God, listening to God’s word, using daily reminders, getting encouragement from other believers
Free: Fasting is an ancient spiritual exercise to seek God, not a legalistic requirementiption
Item Seek a clear purpose behind your fast: Connection to God, Direction, Decision, etc.
Commit up front to what you are fasting from (i.e. food, or types of food), when (i.e. one day a week), and duration of season (i.e.40 days)
Keep primary focus on connecting with God through prayer (not on the fasting itself)
Fasting most commonly involves food, but can include self-deprivations of things that please, distract, or create dependencies, such as sugar, alcohol, forms of entertainment, phones & screens, social media, etc.
Stay hydrated (if fasting food)
Utilize fasting to get in touch with your brokenness and deep need for God.
Item descriptionNo need to advertise that you are fasting (Matthew 6:16)
Don’t see fasting as a way of raising your “spiritual status”
Don’t forget to ask for God’s guidance in your fasting plans