FASTING

Fasting resets our minds, hearts, and appetites on the things of the Lord.

Watch how Isaac connects with God through Fasting.

Why Do We Fast?

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that calls us to deny the desires of our flesh and fill ourselves up with God, His Word, and His presence.

Fasting isn’t a time of emptiness but spiritual abundance! We fast to draw closer to God and magnify His desires above our own.

Fasting is one of the most powerful tools we have access to. It is a direct partnership with the Holy Spirit to extinguish our flesh and draw us deeper into the will of God.

As we fast, we are creating more room for the Holy Spirit to work in our lives by replacing fleshly things with the Holy Spirit.

It is a way we can touch heaven. Think of it as spring cleaning for your spirit.

  • Water Only Fast (Jesus, Moses, Elijah)

  • Partial Fast (Daniel)

  • Full Fast (Esther)

  • Liquid Fast (juicing)

  • Sex fast for Married Couples (1 Corinthians 7:5)

  • Corporate Fast (All Israel)

  • Fast Anything! (TV, Social Media, Spending, etc. / Whatever the Lord puts on your heart to fast)

  • Weekly, Monthly, Yearly Fasts 

Types of Fasts:

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Practical Tips for Fasting

PREPARE FOR YOUR FAST

Ask God what type of fast you should do and for how long. 
Length of the fast: The length of a fast always has a spiritual significance. It doesn’t matter if it’s an extended 40 day fast or a one-day fast. Both are capable of bringing deep spiritual health, freedom, deliverance, and revelation. The key is your heart posture and surrendering your flesh to be replaced by the Holy Spirit. 

TYPE OF FAST

We should be seeking the Lord for wisdom on what type of fast we should do and what we are fasting for. If you feel stuck or like you aren’t hearing from the Lord, pay attention to what is distracting in your life. Is social media distracting you from hearing God? Start with fasting social media. Do you yearn for a cup of coffee more than spending time with the Lord? Fast coffee/caffeine. Sometimes we don’t know where to start, but it’s important to just start somewhere. Sometimes just starting creates the space to hear specifically from the Lord. The Lord will direct you as you go. The only responsibility we have is to be obedient!

SET ASIDE TIME

Set aside and reserve additional time for prayer and worship. Limit excessive plans and protect the time you have set aside. Become un-busy.

INVITE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Invite the Holy Spirit into your fast daily. If you want to replace your flesh with God’s will, then invite Him into that space. He will partner with us and give us the strength to make it through the fast. Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through him [Christ] who strengthens me.”

RELEASE EXPECTATIONS

Don’t expect God to move in the way you want to see Him move. Instead, dwell in anticipation of Him moving.  

NAME YOUR FAST

Ask God what your fast should be named. When you attach words to your fast, you are putting a demand of faith on God! 

HAVE A PRAYER FOCUS

A fast is not a diet! Fasting requires us to lean into daily personal encounters. Take time to pray, worship, and read the Word. While you are starving your flesh, you are feeding your spirit! 

FAST IN SECRET

Don’t boast about your fast. 
“Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Matthew 6:18

DON’T BE DISCOURAGED

Fasting is taking ground in you for the kingdom of God, and the enemy hates it. Don’t be discouraged or surprised if it gets tough or if you are being tempted. Even Jesus was tempted! (Luke 4:1-13) Lean into the word and ask Holy Spirit for help. The benefits of the fast will always be greater than the temptation at hand. Also, don’t be discouraged if you fail. God extends grace. If you make a mistake, just start again! 

BREAKTHROUGH CAN COME ANYTIME

Breakthrough can come after the fast! Even if you are not seeing it, God is moving! Hebrews 11:6- “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”

Grow in How You Connect with God.

Encouragement

Without prayer, your fast is just a diet. While you are withholding entertainment, social media or food, be intentional about filling yourself up with the Lord through prayer, worship and reading your Bible. It is not a fast unless you lean into your daily personal encounters with God. Jesus was tempted when He was fasting.

This is why it is important that we daily encounter Him while we fast. Take time to be with the Lord outside of your typical discipline and agendas for no other reason than to be with Him and to hear what is on His heart.

Don’t allow shame to settle in if you break your fast before it’s over—you can restart and keep going! Jesus responded to attacks from the enemy with the Word of God. When you fast, fill yourself up with His Word.

Be cautious of boasting while you are fasting, but if someone asks if you are fasting you can answer. Don’t be weird about it! Pursue humility while you fast, because fasting opens doors that no man can open. Jesus began His ministry by fasting. Fasting gives you access to His throne, and breakthrough comes after the fast.

Suggested Activities 

  • Ask yourself, “What do I need to give up to connect with God?” “What is keeping me from a deeper connection with God?”

  • Ask the Lord what to name your fast and what to expect. Put a demand of faith on your fast!

  • Ask God what to fast (food, media, entertainment, etc.) and reset your appetite to hunger and thirst for Jesus.

  • Ask God how long you are supposed to fast.

  • Have a fasting journal. Document what you are praying about, what you are hearing God say, and the breakthroughs that happen after the fast. 

  • Be obedient, but also wise in your fasting! You can learn to grow in fasting whether it’s meals, days, weekends, weeks, or extended fasts. 

Scripture

Deuteronomy 9:9-11, Esther 4, Ezra 8:21-23, Psalm 16:11, Psalm 40, Isaiah 40, Isaiah 58, The Book of Daniel, Matthew 4:1-11, Matthew 6, Matthew 9:14-17, Matthew 17, Luke 4, Galatian 5 

Books

  • The Jesus Fast by Lou Engle

  • Fasting by Jentezen Franklin 

Mix It Up

Learning how we connect with God shows us how we can enter into His presence daily. While you may best connect with God through one or a few ways, remember that you can connect with God in all the ways! Use this guide below to help you grow in connecting with God through Adoration by pairing it with your favorite way.

  • While you are connecting with God through fasting, spend intentional time adoring God through worship. He rewards those who seek Him! While you are withholding from worldly satisfaction, lavishly supply God with worship and adoration. Posture your heart to receive from the Lord as you engage in your fast. God wants to give you an abundance as you deny your flesh!

    Hebrews 11:6 says, “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.”

  • When you are reading the Bible, take time to sing and place melodies behind what you are reading. It doesn’t have to be for anyone because it is between you and the Lord. Turn on instrumental music and allow Holy Spirit to fill the space. Let Him give you the words to say and the melodies to release. He is the author of your faith, so let Him author your thoughts and meditate on who He is!

  • Sing songs about the wonders of creation to our Creator. When having your daily encounters outside, take time to meditate on the awe of God’s creation. Your awe will minister to His heart! Listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees, the sounds of the creatures around you, the sounds of rushing water and ask yourself, “How are they singing to the Lord?” Join in with their chorus and worship Him!

  • Take time throughout your day to minister to God’s heart through your movement. In the midst of moving from place to place, keep your heart bent towards Him. Sing in the Spirit, sing a spontaneous song, or express to Him how you love Him. Ponder on the attributes of God that you love when you are moving. 

  • As you connect with God through adoration, create a new song, a new painting, or a new writing for Him. Write a letter expressing your thankfulness and adoration to God. Turn on instrumental worship music and create your art based on the thoughts that flood your mind. In the midst of those melodies, let the Holy Spirit guide your hand. He is the Ultimate Creator, so let Him author creation through you!

  • Sing in the Holy Spirit. When you are singing in the Spirit, ask God what questions you should ask Him. In your daily encounters, ask God, “Father, what can I do to please you today?” When you hear Him, respond and ask Him to teach you. Leave space for the Lord to speak back to you in worship. He desires to speak to you as you engage in Adoration!

  • When you are alone with God, you can come to Him in full vulnerability and authenticity. In solitude, worship God from a completely exposed state. Then, sing to Him! It doesn’t matter what you sound like because it is just between you and the Lord. Your authentic worship moves His heart. Take time to let melodies and songs usher you into deeper intimacy with God. Write down what He says to you in those moments. That is His love song to you!

  • As you connect with God through learning, take extended time to connect with God through Adoration. Study the Levites. Worship will bring new perspective on the revelation God is showing you through His Word! Engage your mind as you sing to the Lord. What scriptures come to mind as you sing certain lyrics? What biblical stories are the songwriters pointing you back to? Remember, we worship in spirit and truth. It is not real worship to God if it isn’t done with His truth!

  • Connect with God through Adoration by worshiping God as the Perfect Judge. He is the author of heavenly justice. Ask God to reveal a new facet of His righteous character to you. Before interceding, spend time worshiping God for who He is. He is holy and righteous. Sing this to Him! Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and praise. This is how your requests are made known.

  • Adoration is a lifestyle. When you are serving the least of these, keep worship unto God in your heart. Before you can minister to others, you need to first receive from Him. We love because he first loved us! What is His love song to you? Ask Him. Take time to receive love from the Father, so you can pour that love back out to God by serving others. 

  • Take time to look back on all that God has done in your life and thank Him for it. This is an act of worship! Let these memories put meaning behind the words you sing. When you sing of His worthiness, think back on how He has shown Himself worthy. When you sing of His goodness, think back on how He has been good to you. When you sing about freedom, think back on how He has set you and others around you free! Let cadence and melodies usher you into remembrance. As you worship, your thoughts will testify to the faithfulness of God! 

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