Dear Refresh Girls,
Today I want to share with you how to “fast”. Fasting should become a regular part of your life just like prayer. The word fast means to go without food, to abstain, to deny or humble oneself. I would encourage you to take a moment and go to Biblegateway.com and look up the word fast or fasting. When you read the verses you will notice that fasting is used in many different situations. Fasts were called in times of trouble, in approaching dangers, for guidance, for confessing sin, for mourning, for protection, for healing, for worship, for intercession and so on. Most of us have been in these situations or are presently. God says fasting will make a difference.
As believers when we fast we are emptying ourselves in order to be filled and used by the Holy Spirit. Fasting isn’t just about outwardly denying ourselves. When we fast we are making a faith choice to not fill ourselves up, this leads to true hunger and dependence on God our supplier. Fasts are about taking the focus off ourselves and through denying self we focus on Jesus.
Here are a few things to consider before you fast:
1. Fasts can vary in length of time. If you are fasting from food you can fast for one meal or for whatever period of time you and the Lord decide.
2. What to fast for -Personal strongholds, guidance, answers, illness, focus, thanksgiving, praise, to draw close, for others needs etc.
3. Fasting can be done alone or with a group (Accountability can help)
4. Kinds of fasts - Fasting doesn’t have to be from food only. You can fast from your activities like the gym, television, internet etc. Another way to fast is to fast from areas God is presently speaking to you about. Maybe He will ask you to fast for a period from giving your opinions, or an area of control, or an area you are regularly anxious over. When the situation comes up you will by God’s help say no and replace it with prayer.
5. When you are fasting from food you also can do it a variety of ways. You can fast from food and drink water only or you can drink juices. You also can fast for longer periods by not eating foods you like to eat or drink.
6. It is always a matter of the heart. All for the sake of emptying yourself and being instead filled by Him.
A Simple Fast
In order to not approach fasting as an outward act it is important to take a little time to prepare for a fast. This allows for a time of confession and emptying.
1. Prepare your heart and mind the night before (around 30 minutes or so). Pray and decide what you are fasting for, healing, decisions, someone else’s need, to thank Him and so on. Ask God to help you find verses to use as you fast. Use your concordance or a web site like Biblegateway.com or Crosswalk.com. Have a notebook and your Bible ready. You also may want to use a devotional, a hymnal or music ,a book like Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore etc. Think through your next day and commit ahead to the times you will have sitting before the Lord. Before you go to bed pray and ask God to speak to you, ask Him to examine you, confess sin, ask Him to prepare you. Start emptying self.
2. Wake up early and go to the place you have already prepared the night before. Pray using the scriptures you prepared, confess what God brings to mind, read, listen and write down what the Spirit says to you. The Spirit will often take you into areas that you didn’t expect. Submit to Him. Empty and receive.
3. If you work use your breakfast and lunch time to come before Him. Have scripture on cards to stay focused throughout the day. If you are at home use the time you have committed to Him and keep focused on Him listening through the day.
4. Break the fast with the evening meal
Start a fasting notebook and record the insight and answers God gives.
You will bless the Lord and he will pour blessings on you and those you lift up.
In His Grace and Mercy,
Eileen
