Getting Ready for a Fast at Faith

We're preparing for a special "Miracles & Breakthroughs" Sunday at Faith on May 1st.  To get ready, starting Friday, April 1st, we're challenging everyone who attends Faith to participate in a month of fasting and prayer.  The following is a guideline for fasting that we've used extensivley in the past.  Please choose a form of fasting that is appropriate for you, and a schedule that works for you.  For those with health issues or advanced age, plese contact your doctor for guidance.  If you are not part of Faith Christian Center, we encourage you to make fasting a prayer a part of your spiritual walk.  If you would like, we would love for you to join us in believing Jesus for so much more than the wonderful things He is already doing in our midst!

Forms of Fasting

For each form of fasting, it is understood that the individual who fasts will pray during those times that they give up food as an offering to the Lord.  This means that you would find a place to pray, possibly write a journal to God, or do some other form of expression for our Savior during mealtimes, and/or other set times during your day.  [As a side note, it may be more appropriate for you to give up an activity, something that dominates your life – which is also a form of fasting].

The following is a list of five kinds of fasts; the first three are actual forms of personal fasts, with the last two speaking of corporate calls.  Again, this list is not meant to be exhaustive, but are provided for your understanding.

1.  The Normal Fast.

A normal fast means abstaining from all food, solid or liquid, but not from water.  This is possibly the type of fast that Jesus went on for those 40 days and nights in Matthew 4.  Since the body can normally function no longer than three days without water, we assume that He drank water during this time.  If you have never fasted before, you might try a juice fast, using "soft" juices like unsweetened apple or grape juice.  Avoid juices with citric acid.

Bill Bright, founder of Campus Crusade for Christ went on his first 40-day fast in 1994.  During that time he drank the fluid from boiled vegetables, receiving their natural vitamins in the process.  Should you decide on an extended fast (seven days or longer), you may wish to use this method.

2.  The Absolute Fast (Acts 9:9)  "For three days he ... neither ate nor drank."

An absolute fast is abstaining from food and drink.  Normally, this type of fast went on for no more than three days; any longer period may prove injurious to your health.  (Ezra 10:6;  Esther 4:16;  Acts 9:9).  In these instances the fast of food and drink occurred in the midst of great crises or change.

3.  The Partial Fast (Daniel 10:3)  "I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth."

The emphasis here is on restriction of diet rather than complete abstinence.  Daniel 10:2-3 tells of a special season of seeking God with a restricted diet.  This is an excellent way to begin if you have never fasted before, or have health issues.  A partial fast could also include cutting out one or two meals during the day, or the elimination of foods that you enjoy eating on a regular basis.  If you choose to allow your children to participate in this fast, you might remove candy or ice cream from their diet.

4.  Congregational Fast (Joel 2:15-16) 

This is the kind of fast that our church will be participating in.  Joel 2 says, "Blow a trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly.  Gather the people, consecrate the assembly." NIV

At least a part of the congregation of the church at Antioch were fasting together in Acts 13:2, as evidenced by Luke's words, "While they were worshipping the Lord and fasting." 

During our fast, there will be normal fasts, absolute fasts, and partial fasts taking place throughout the congregation.  The prayer focus is based on a sense of the leading of the Spirit over the previous several months by the pastor and other church leaders.

5.  National Fasts (2 Chronicles 20:3).

Here is the response of King Jehoshaphat to an invasion in 2 Chronicles 20:3:  "Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah."

The Jews were called to a national fast in Nehemiah 9:1 and Esther 4:16, and the king of Nineveh proclaimed a fast in response to the message of Jonah.

Over the course of our fast, please check back with this blog for tips and devotions to encourage/enhance your experience.