Fasting & Prayer Guide
Anytime we come together for corporate fasting and prayers, unity/oneness is very important (Acts 2:1, Matthew 18:19).
“But he answered, “It is written, “‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 (ESV)
INTRODUCTION
Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are full of stories on fasting and prayer. For instance, people like Moses, Elijah, Esther, Ezekiel, Jehoshaphat, Daniel, and even the apostles all fasted. Also, early church fathers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Finney, D.L Moody, E.M Bounds, and many others had fasting as part of their normal lives. Jesus, our saviour also fasted. There is more to fasting than just not eating. Fasting, is first, a heart posture. It is the readiness of our hearts to humble the flesh and seek more of God.
“I humble myself by fasting, and people insult me …” Psalm 69:10 (GNT)
A period of fasting is a suitable time to seek God at an intimate level, although there might be other corporate reasons, especially in a corporate fast. When fasting, we must schedule a time to read the Bible, worship, and pray. And if there are corporate prayer meetings, it is highly recommended that we join. Without prayer, fasting becomes a starving exercise.
Note:
· Some people with medical conditions should contact their doctors before fasting.
· Pregnant, and breastfeeding women are not recommended to fast.
This material is designed to provide you with a general overview of fasting and prayer as expressed in the Bible.
WHAT IS FASTING
Here are a few definitions of fasting:
a. “A conscious, intentional decision to abstain for a time from the pleasure of eating in order to gain spiritual benefits” Dr. Myles Munroe.
b. Fasting means to abstain from food/or drinks” Drs. George & Hazel Hill
c. “Fasting is abstaining from food and bypassing the opportunity to eat with a spiritual goal in mind” Unknown.
WHY SHOULD WE FAST
There are several spiritual and physical purposes for fasting. Here are a few with scripture references.
1. Produces Humility - 2 Chronicles 7:14, Ps 69:10
2. Aids repentance and reconnection to God - Joel 2:12-14
3. Produces spiritual empowerment - Luke 4:1-3,14, Matthew 17:19-21 (NKJV)
4. Brings healing to our land (nation, family, business, etc.) - 2 Chronicles 7:14
5. Attracts God’s favour - Nehemiah 1:4,11
6. Releases God’s intervention - Ezra 8:21-23, 2 Chronicles 20:1-17
7. Provides spiritual growth and guidance - Luke 2:37-38, Acts 13:2
8. Brings revival - Jonah 3:5-10
9. Destroys the plans of the devil - Esther 4:15-17
10. Reduces the control of the flesh and gives strength to our spirit -
Matthew 4:4
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FASTING
1. Corporate Fast This is a fast done by a group of people, instead of one person. E.g. a church, family, organization, nation, etc. See 2 Chronicles 20:2-4, Esther 4:15-16, Ezra 8:21-23, Jonah 3:10, 1 Samuel 31:13
2. Personal Fast This is a fast done by one person. See Matthew 4:4, Nehemiah 1:4.
HOW LONG SHOULD WE FAST
The Bible has examples of different time limits that people fasted. When you decide to fast, you choose how long you want to fast. In some cases, especially in a corporate fast, the duration will be specified by the leaders who call the fast.
1. One Day: 1 Samuel 14:24, 2 Samuel 3:35
2. Three Days: Esther 4:15-16, Acts 9:9
3. Seven Days: 1 Samuel 31:13, 2 Samuel 12:16-18
4. Fourteen Days: Acts 27:33-35
5. Twenty-one Days: Daniel 10:2-3
6. Forty Days: Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 9:9, 1 Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:2
WHAT SHOULD YOU EAT OR NOT EAT DURING FAST
1. What you decide to eat or not eat depends on the type and length of fasting you choose to embark on. As stated earlier, you decide how long you want to fast. Drinking water is recommended,
especially for prolonged days of fasting. Below are a few ways you can go about it.
· You can skip breakfast and eat lunch and supper.
· You can also skip breakfast and lunch and eat supper.
· You can skip all three meals.
· You can be on water only.
· You can do a Daniel Fast (only vegetables and water, see Daniel 1:12-16).
2. Refer to the six(6) points under HOW LONG SHOULD WE FAST? Once again, drinking water is recommended, especially for prolonged days of fasting.
3. During fasting, we are encouraged to abstain from things that please the flesh or distract. E.g. Games/sports, social media, TV, entertainment, sex (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Identify what could be a distraction and avoid it while using that time to read the Bible,
worship, and pray.
FASTING IS A PRODUCT OF HUNGER.
IT IS EITHER WE ARE MORE HUNGRY FOR GOD AND HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH OR WE ARE HUNGRY FOR FOOD AND OTHER THINGS OF THE FLESH.
EITHER WAY, WE ARE HUNGRY.
INTRODUCTION
Both the Old and New Testaments of the Bible are full of stories on fasting and prayer. For instance, people like Moses, Elijah, Esther, Ezekiel, Jehoshaphat, Daniel, and even the apostles all fasted. Also, early church fathers like Martin Luther, John Calvin, John Knox, Jonathan Edwards, John Wesley, Charles Finney, D.L Moody, E.M Bounds, and many others had fasting as part of their normal lives. Jesus, our saviour also fasted. There is more to fasting than just not eating. Fasting, is first, a heart posture. It is the readiness of our hearts to humble the flesh and seek more of God.
“I humble myself by fasting, and people insult me …” Psalm 69:10 (GNT)
A period of fasting is a suitable time to seek God at an intimate level, although there might be other corporate reasons, especially in a corporate fast. When fasting, we must schedule a time to read the Bible, worship, and pray. And if there are corporate prayer meetings, it is highly recommended that we join. Without prayer, fasting becomes a starving exercise.
Note:
· Some people with medical conditions should contact their doctors before fasting.
· Pregnant, and breastfeeding women are not recommended to fast.
This material is designed to provide you with a general overview of fasting and prayer as expressed in the Bible.
WHAT IS FASTING
Here are a few definitions of fasting:
a. “A conscious, intentional decision to abstain for a time from the pleasure of eating in order to gain spiritual benefits” Dr. Myles Munroe.
b. Fasting means to abstain from food/or drinks” Drs. George & Hazel Hill
c. “Fasting is abstaining from food and bypassing the opportunity to eat with a spiritual goal in mind” Unknown.
WHY SHOULD WE FAST
There are several spiritual and physical purposes for fasting. Here are a few with scripture references.
1. Produces Humility - 2 Chronicles 7:14, Ps 69:10
2. Aids repentance and reconnection to God - Joel 2:12-14
3. Produces spiritual empowerment - Luke 4:1-3,14, Matthew 17:19-21 (NKJV)
4. Brings healing to our land (nation, family, business, etc.) - 2 Chronicles 7:14
5. Attracts God’s favour - Nehemiah 1:4,11
6. Releases God’s intervention - Ezra 8:21-23, 2 Chronicles 20:1-17
7. Provides spiritual growth and guidance - Luke 2:37-38, Acts 13:2
8. Brings revival - Jonah 3:5-10
9. Destroys the plans of the devil - Esther 4:15-17
10. Reduces the control of the flesh and gives strength to our spirit -
Matthew 4:4
WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF FASTING
1. Corporate Fast This is a fast done by a group of people, instead of one person. E.g. a church, family, organization, nation, etc. See 2 Chronicles 20:2-4, Esther 4:15-16, Ezra 8:21-23, Jonah 3:10, 1 Samuel 31:13
2. Personal Fast This is a fast done by one person. See Matthew 4:4, Nehemiah 1:4.
HOW LONG SHOULD WE FAST
The Bible has examples of different time limits that people fasted. When you decide to fast, you choose how long you want to fast. In some cases, especially in a corporate fast, the duration will be specified by the leaders who call the fast.
1. One Day: 1 Samuel 14:24, 2 Samuel 3:35
2. Three Days: Esther 4:15-16, Acts 9:9
3. Seven Days: 1 Samuel 31:13, 2 Samuel 12:16-18
4. Fourteen Days: Acts 27:33-35
5. Twenty-one Days: Daniel 10:2-3
6. Forty Days: Exodus 34:28, Deuteronomy 9:9, 1 Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:2
WHAT SHOULD YOU EAT OR NOT EAT DURING FAST
1. What you decide to eat or not eat depends on the type and length of fasting you choose to embark on. As stated earlier, you decide how long you want to fast. Drinking water is recommended,
especially for prolonged days of fasting. Below are a few ways you can go about it.
· You can skip breakfast and eat lunch and supper.
· You can also skip breakfast and lunch and eat supper.
· You can skip all three meals.
· You can be on water only.
· You can do a Daniel Fast (only vegetables and water, see Daniel 1:12-16).
2. Refer to the six(6) points under HOW LONG SHOULD WE FAST? Once again, drinking water is recommended, especially for prolonged days of fasting.
3. During fasting, we are encouraged to abstain from things that please the flesh or distract. E.g. Games/sports, social media, TV, entertainment, sex (1 Corinthians 7:1-5). Identify what could be a distraction and avoid it while using that time to read the Bible,
worship, and pray.
FASTING IS A PRODUCT OF HUNGER.
IT IS EITHER WE ARE MORE HUNGRY FOR GOD AND HIS PURPOSES ON THE EARTH OR WE ARE HUNGRY FOR FOOD AND OTHER THINGS OF THE FLESH.
EITHER WAY, WE ARE HUNGRY.