Important information before you embark on Fasting

When fasting, be sure to stay hydrated, eat nutrient-dense foods and get plenty of rest. It’s best to consult with your doctor before fasting if you have any underlying health conditions or are planning to fast for more than 24 hours.

Here are a few of the most common types of fasting

  • Water fasting: Involves drinking water for a set amount of time
  • Juice fasting: Entails only drinking vegetable or fruit juice for a certain period.
  • Intermittent fasting: Intake is partially or completely restricted for a few hours up to a few days at a time and a normal diet is resumed on other days.
  • Partial fasting: Certain foods or drinks such as processed foods, animal products or caffeine are eliminated from the diet for a set period.

7 days of fasting starting from 24 to 30th October 2022

14 days prayer and fasting starts today Monday 3rd January to Sunday 16th January 2022.

Biblical Fasting

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!

2 Chronicles 7:14

14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

This 14 Days Prayer and Fasting is to humble ourselves before God. Because the Lord is going do something special in our lives

Joel 2:15-17 King James Version (KJV)

15 Blow the trumpet in Zion, sanctify a fast, and call a solemn assembly: 16 Gather the people, sanctify the congregation, assemble the elders, gather the children, and those that suck the breasts: let the bridegroom go forth of his chamber, and the bride out of her closet.

17 Let the priests, the ministers of the Lord, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare thy people, O Lord, and give not thine heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: wherefore should they say among the people, Where is their God?


Application

  • The trumpet was used primarily for religious purposes to call the congregation together for meetings
  • To summons the whole nation to an assembly of repentance in order to implore God’s mercy
  • To usher them into the beginning of the month or the year To note the solemn days and festive occasions

Point

The trumpet is purposely used to warn the people about the seriousness of the crisis that is upon them

We don’t know what is ahead of us in this Month of August. Thus, we want to prepare and create a high way for God’s visitation.

Duration of Fasting

There are several choices as to the length of fasting period.

The Bible shows examples of: One day (2 Sam 1:12); Seven days (1 Sam 31:13); 40 days (Exo. 34:28); etc. Usually the decision is made by God, His messenger or self (depending upon the instruction given or received).

Partial Fast

•  Daniel’s Fast – Daniel 10:1-3

•  Daniel mourned for three weeks

•   I ate no choice food

•  Daniel’s Voice was heard – 12-14

Full Fast

•      Fast – Esther 4:16

•       No food or water is consumed

•      Moses’s Fast Esther’s– Deut. 9:9

Great Men of Faith Who Fasted

•  Moses – Exodus 34:28

•  Elijah – 1 Kings 19-8

•  Daniel – Daniel 9:3 & 10:2-3

•   Paul – 2 Corinthians 11:27

•  Jesus Himself Fasted – Matt. 4:1-2 & Mark 2:18-20

The Five Spiritual Benefits of Fasting

•   Cleansing of Soul

•  New desire for God and Spiritual things

•  Deeper Praise

•  Sensitive to the Voice of God

• New Satisfaction

Physical and Spiritual Benefits of Fasting

•   Give Up Bad Habits

•   Worship

•   Peace of Mind

•   Healing Relationships

•  Looking to Jesus

•  Physical Health

•   Devotion

Thinking about Others

•      Add years to your life

•      Lower Risks of Diabetes

•      The Word

•      Self-Control

•      Lose Weight

Functions / Occasions of Fasting:

  • Fasting is used to express inner sorrow and great distress as in the case of Hannah who fasted when she was childless (1 Sam. 1:17);

  • Fasting is done at times when one is mourning for the loss of a beloved person, as in the case of David mourning for Abner (2 Sam. 3:35).
  • Fasting is used to a peace God or secure forgiveness (1 Kg. 21:2-29)
  • Fasting is used to ensure one’s request from God is effective (Esther 4:3, 16 & Ezra 8:21-23).
  •  Fasting is used when one seeks victory of some sought (Judges 20:26-28; Joel 1:13-14)