Prayer and Fasting Seeking the Lord Ready For

Prayer and Fasting; Seeking the Lord; Ready For Change! 2 Chronicles 7: 14 -15; Ezra 8: 23 21 Day Fast/Consecration January 1 st-21 st 2019

2 CHRONICLES 7: 14 If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer. § EZRA 8: 23

§ The goal of fasting is to draw nearer to God. Biblical fasting always has to do with eliminating distractions for a spiritual purpose; it hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out. § It also enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God and prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives. § Remember, your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and, most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

Complete Fast § This fast calls for drinking only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option. Selective Fast § This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, or bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.

Partial Fast § This fast is sometimes called the Jewish Fast and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6: 00 am to 3: 00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.

Soul Fast § This fast is common for those who do not have much experience fasting food, who have health issues that prevent them from fasting food, or who wish to refocus certain areas of their life that are out of balance. For instance, someone might select to abstain from using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast, and then choose to carefully bring that element back into their life in an orderly fashion at the conclusion of the fast.

§ I encourage fasting for 21 days each year in the month of January. This is part of a season of focused prayer as a church family. § You may also choose to fast at other times during the year for your own spiritual development. It’s very typical to fast a single meal, a whole day, or three days or more. § The timing of your fast is not as important as the strength of your focus on Him as you fast.

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.

§ 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.

§ 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.

§ 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 (1 John 1: 9). § Seek forgiveness from all whom you 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, 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).

§ Spiritual Preparation— a. Examine your heart, and detect any unconfessed sin (Ps. 66: 16 -20). Confess them in your prayers. b. Spend more time in prayer leading up to your fast. § Physical Preparation— a. Begin eating smaller meals before you abstain altogether. Don’t treat fasting as a New Year’s Resolution. b. Resist the urge to have that “last big feast”

a. Physical Schedule—throughout your fast you may feel somewhat weaker than normal and irritable. Lighten your workload and cut down on strenuous exercise will help maintain your morale. b. Spiritual Schedule—fasting is not just denying yourself food. It is exchanging the needs of the physical body for those of the spiritual. It’s essential to spend much more time in prayer and in the Word of God than normal. Prayer and the Word will feed your spirit and strengthen you. (daily prayer points)

§ 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. § 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. 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.

§ 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 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 each day on your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God. Longer periods of time with our Lord in prayer and study of His Word are often better spent alone.

§ 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 a warm vegetable broth. § Mix acidic juices (orange and 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.

§ 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.

§ 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:

§ 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 fruit 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.

§ 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 your may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.

6: 00 am to 6: 00 pm Monday through Friday 6: 00 am to 3: 00 pm Saturday and Sunday

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Prayer of Repentance: II Chron. 7: 13 -15 Prayer of Devotion: Eph. 5: 19 Prayer of Thanksgiving: Ps. 95: 2 Prayer of Declaration: 1 Pet. 2: 9 Prayer of Supplication: Eph. 6: 18 Prayer of Intercession: 1 Tim. 2: 1; Rom. 8: 34 Prayer of Agreement: Matt. 18: 19 Prayer of Petition: Mark 11: 24 Prayer of Commitment: 1 Pet. 5: 7

§ Lack of Faith: when our prayers become so ritualistic that we don’t believe what we are praying for. § Lifestyle: when our life doesn’t reflect what we are asking for. § Un-forgiveness: God is the God of forgiveness. If He can forgive us we can do the same for others. § Praying out of Gods Will: God won’t grant any petition out of His will.

§ 6: 00 am to 6: 00 pm Monday through Friday § 6: 00 am to 3: 00 pm Saturday and Sunday Purpose § The purpose of the 21 day fast (3 weeks) is to allow all of the Saints of God an opportunity to grow and develop in their own personal relationship with God. § This will be a personal and intense walk with God; with each participant having expectancy to hear from as well as see God move in their life like never before (Matt. 15: 32).

§ DO NOT EAT BEFORE YOU PRAY, AND END YOUR FAST EACH DAY IN PRAYER. § FOLLOW THE PRAYER, AND SCRIPTURE MEDITATION SCHEDULE.

January 1 st (Tuesday) through January 7 th (Monday). § We will sacrifice by diligently seeking God’s face in prayer at least twice a day, and… 1. Abstaining from ALL meals during the Fasting period; 6 am to 6 pm. 2. Replacing those meals with prayer and time in the Word. 3. From ALL fast foods, fried foods, sweets, caffeinated drinks (soda, coffee, teas, energy boosting drinks, etc), alcohol, and tobacco, alcohol or tobacco; during the Fasting period. 4. After the fasting period (6 am to 6 pm) (you may eat a meal (including meat).

January 8 th (Tuesday) through January 14 th (Monday). § We will continue to sacrifice through (at least twice daily) prayer, and fasting by abstaining from: 1. The above foods in PHASE I and, … NO meals during the Fasting period; 6 am to 6 pm. 2. Replacing those meals with prayer and time in the Word. 3. From ALL fast foods, fried foods, sweets, caffeinated drinks (soda, coffee, teas, energy boosting drinks, etc), alcohol, and tobacco; during the Fasting period. § 4. After the fasting period you may eat a meal (no meat).

January 15 th (Tuesday) through January 21 st (Monday) § We will continue to sacrifice through (at least twice daily) prayer, and fasting by abstaining from: 1. ALL of the above foods in PHASE I & PHASE II and, 2. ALL meals in the Fasting period; 6 am to 6 pm 3. You can eat a meal after the fasting period, but NO Meats during or after the fasting period. 4. From ALL fast foods, fried foods, sweets, caffeinated drinks (soda, coffee, teas, energy boosting drinks, etc), alcohol, and tobacco; during the Fasting period.

January 1 st (Tuesday) through January 21 st (Monday). We will also discipline our minds in limiting or excluding the following activities: (Romans 12: 2) 1. Non-productive television programs, immoral movies and activities, video games, card games, 2. Worldly music and videos, 3. ALL tobacco products, and alcoholic beverages, 4. Internet surfing, (with the exception of banking, work related contact and pertinent e-mails).

§ During the 6: 00 am – 6: 00 pm and weekend fasting period, fresh fruits and vegetables are highly encouraged. After 6: 00 pm (weekdays) and 4: 00 pm (weekends), meats may be consumed (only in the first two phases). § You are encouraged to get an accountability partner for encouragement and strength during the fast.

st 21 JANUARY 5 PM TO 6 PM LIGHT DINNER SERVED AFTERWARDS