PRACTICAL GUIDELINE ON HOW TO FAST

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Start with a clear Goal!

Why are you Fasting? Remember we Fast not out of law but to get RESULTS! Notice carefully what Jesus says in Matthew 6:16,

When you fast, (not if) do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their REWARD in full!

What reward are you seeking from God?
Do you desire more intimacy with the Father, do you need direction in your life, healing in your body, restoration in your family or salvation for someone?

Read the Word before you Pray:
The Word will Anoint your Spirit, and you will Pray Anointed Prayers. (1 John 5 14:15)
Remember, Prayer is a vital part of the Fast. It is Prayer that makes the Fast Spiritual. If you don’t incorporate Prayer, it is not fasting but dieting.

“Then I set my face toward the Lord God to make request by prayer and supplications, with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes”
(Daniel, 9:3).

Prayer always goes along with Fasting.

Preparing Spiritually:
▪ Make A Decision that you are going to Fast and you are going to be FAITHFUL! If you leave any possibility open, the enemy will use this against you. MAKE A FAITH DECISION and ACT upon it! (Daniel 1:8. 9:3)
▪ Confess your sin to each other. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended. (Matthew 5:15, Mark 11:25)
▪ Surrender your life: fully to Jesus Christ and yield your Spirit man to the Holy Spirit. Reject the desires that will try to hinder you. (Romans 6:16, Romans 12:1-2).

Hear From God What Type Of Fast:
We are all called to Fast. (Matthew 6:16), However, we are not all called to the same degree of Fasting.

The Three Different Types of Fast:

1. Dry Fast – where you abstain from both food/ water over a certain period of time

2. Ordinary Fast – abstain from all solid and only drink water over a period.

3. Partial Fast – what most believers call “The Daniel Fast”. Where you abstain from certain foods (especially luxuries) and give your self to, vegetable, Fruit and water only, over a period of 21 days.

The Daniel Fast is the one type of Fast we practice at our Church annually.

We also Fast, the Ordinary Fast every, Tuesday and Thursday throughout the year (08:00 – 16:00).

This Fast was impressed upon my heart by the Spirit, may years ago, when He reveled to me that our annual Fast was becoming a religious duty.
So I stopped it and introduced the Ordinary Fast.
I later discovered that the early Church fasted on those two days as well.

What to Expect Physically and Spiritually:

When you Fast your body detoxifies eliminating toxins from your system, especially during the first three days.

1. Body toxins create a dirty body, like dirt creates a  dirty house. If you don’t clean your house regularly, all sorts of fungi, parasites, bacteria, etc moves in and infests… The same is true with the human body. Body toxins create an acid environment and disease thrive in this. The Fast will help remove some of these toxins and promotes  Healing and Health.

2. During the Fast shower regularly and brush your mouth more than usual. Suck on breath mints and avoid chewing gum. Gum creates chemicals in your body, that’s needed only for the digestive process. When you Fast this process is slowed down.

3. Eventually you will look and feel great! As you withdraw from caffeine and sugar, you may experience headaches and irritability. (When you keep and complete your Fast, continue with this developed habit of using less sugar or no sugar (White sugar is particularly bad for your health).

5. You will naturally have hunger pains. Remember, at times, the stomach eats out of habit, not hunger. In other words, you may experience hunger pains, but you may not be hungry. Fool your stomach by drinking water.

6. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time
to rest.

7. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you Fast. Spend time listening to Word-based, Praise and Worship songs.
Read The Bible, and Pray as often as you can throughout the day, in both your earthly and heavenly tongue. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mindset on seeking God’s Face.

8. Expect Angelic assistance (Matthew 4:11) and  remember we FAST TO GET RESULTS! (Matthew 6:18, Isaiah 58, Hebrews 11:6)

9. Your Spirit becomes sensitive. During the fast, your five physical senses become extremely sensitive, to things like smell, taste, etc.… This is exactly what happens to your Spirit. This is the time you can easily hear God’s Voice. What upon the Lord, He will Speak. (Acts 13:2)

10. Fasting slows your ageing process. Moses fasted often, and the Bible confirm that he lived until 120  years. (Deut, 34:7).

How to End:
· Don’t overeat when the time comes to an end your fast.
Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves to attain what we seek for the kingdom of God. – Andrew Murray

I have food to eat that you know nothing about.- Jesus (Jn. 4:32 NIV)
Stay Spiritual,
Ps. Shandrey Thumbran
Consult your doctor if you need professional advice, this article serves only as a guild line.

Revised 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015, 2021

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The Power of the Prayer Fast

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The Prayer Fast the most Powerful Spiritual discipline in the life of the Believer

Please read my blog on a practical outline of how to effectively prepare yourself for your fast, discuss various Fast options that will best suit you.

Let me first talk to you about the Fast that does not please God. Look at God’s precaution;

Why have we fasted,’ they (the people) say, ‘and You have not seen it? Why have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed?’ (Isaiah, 58:3).

Not everybody’s PrayerFast will warrant Heaven’s attention. The reason is simple: the PrayerFast that does not change us first is not an actual biblical fast.

Listen carefully to what God told His people, who fasted but still remain unchanged;

“What good is fasting when you keep on fighting and quarrelling? This kind of fasting will never get you anywhere with Me. Is this the kind of Fast I have chosen…?” (Isaiah 58:5).

Notice the question,

Is this the kind of fast I have chosen…? God does not sound happy.

If we engage in this discipline of the Prayer fast with the serenity of heart, needless to say, we cannot remain at odds with each other; we cannot continue to stay in offence, un-forgiveness and hatred.

Now, listen very carefully to what kind of Fast God seeks;

“Is not this the kind of Fasting I have chosen: (what’s that?) to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter– when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?” (Isaiah 58:6-7).

What is God asking from us? Personal transformation!

Transformation in our hearts first and transformation all around us. These requirements are immediately followed by four beautiful Promises; 1) Answered Prayers, 2) Healing, 3) Honor and 4) Protection; for fasting with sincere hearts.

Now listen to Jesus, as He precautions us further, concerning the hypocrisy that is so commonly associated with the Fasting.

Jesus sternly cautioned us not to fall into the snare of Pride and hypocrisy, when He said,

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces …” (Matthew 6:16).

Participating in the Prayer Fast can very easily allow you to think that, your Fasting entitles you to be; aggravated, frustrated and impatient.

The Biblical Fast’s entire purpose is to bloom in us the Character of Christ, with His Humility as the most pungent fragrance that infuses our lives.

 

The Biblical Fast’s entire purpose is to bloom in us the Character of Christ, with His Humility as the most pungent fragrance that infuses our lives.

 

When one pursues the Prayer Fast with the “Right Motive”; it produces in us – Christ-like Humility!

If God gives Grace to the Humble, the question is how do we become the embodiment of Christ’s Humility?

I believe the answer is found in the habitual discipline of the Prayer Fast.

Look at this one example from the life of Ezra;

…I gave orders for all of us to fast and (to) humble ourselves before our God (Ezra 8:21 NLT). True Fasting, destroys every modicum of Pride in us forever.

 

True Fasting, destroys every modicum of Pride in us forever.

 

Remember;
One-third of God’s angels, including satan, was evicted from God’s Presence because of Pride, but what was it that authorized the other two thirds to remain? Humility!

The most compelling definition of Humility is this;

 

“Humility is no denying the power you have but admitting that the power comes through you and not from you.”
-Fred Smith.

 

Yes, you have the power to choose to not inconvenience yourself by fasting or decide not to forgive your offender. However, Humility, on the other hand, enables you to relinquish your rights. It takes exceptional Humility to do this. To give up your right to be right, or even quick to admit when you are in the wrong.

This is how God uses our Humility to allow others to benefit through our endless sacrifices and inescapable pain.

Let’s considers this last example, from the LORD Himself.

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross” (Philippians 2: 5-8).

If Jesus made Himself of any reputation, He would have been totally fruitless, regardless of the great Plan and Purpose upon His Life. Friend it is the same for you.
If by some means, the ultimate Sacrifice made it to the Cross with minute uncia of a “reputation”, God would not have accepted the Sacrifice. God cannot work with a proud heart. He gives Grace to the humble but He resists the proud.

 

Every request needs Humility of Spirit. Fast then, and you will receive from the Lord what you ask.
– Hermes “The Shepherd” AD 150

 

Prayer and fasting were a big part of Jesus’s life. Why should it be such a small part of yours? If Jesus needed to fast, how much more should you? -Jentezen Franklin

Fasting requires us to take up our Cross daily and put our flesh on the Cross, crucifying it daily, for the Will of Father to prevail in our lives.

The discipline of the Prayer fast is God’s gift to us to romanticize the Presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

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Confession of Favour

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In the Name of Jesus, I am the righteousness of God. Therefore, I am entitled to covenant kindness and covenant favour. The favour of God is among the righteous. The favour of God surrounds the righteous. Therefore, it surrounds me everywhere I go and in everything I do. I expect the favour of God to be in full manifestation in my life. Never again will I be without the favour of God. It rests richly upon me.

It profusely abounds in me. I am a part of the generation that is experiencing God’s favour immeasurably, limitlessly, and surpassingly. Therefore, favour produces supernatural increase, promotion, restoration, honour, increased assets, greater victories, recognition, prominence, preferential treatment, petitions granted, policies and rules changed, and battles won in which I do not have to fight.

The favour of God is on me and goes before. Therefore, my life will never be the same. This is the time of God’s favour in my life. That is the favor of God. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Scripture References:

  • II Corinthians 9:8
  • Exodus 12:35-36
  • Genesis 39:21
  • Luke 2:52
  • Deuteronomy 33:23
  • Esther 8:5
  • Esther 5:8
  • Psalms 44:3
  • Psalms 102:13
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Prayer for a New Home

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A Prayer for a New Home In the Name of Jesus, we magnify you for being the One who sees and provides. We glorify you that you are a God of more than enough, and your blessings shall overtake me because I hearken diligently to the voice of the Lord my God. I am blessed in the city and blessed in the field, and in my household, we shall worship the Lord our God all the days of our lives.

Father, you take immense pleasure in the prosperity of your children. We come to your throne of mercy and grace to ask and receive of a new home filled with all good things. Through wisdom is a house built, and we ask for wisdom for the acquiring of the land, hiring of the builders and the price of the land is favorable for our household. According to your Word, your plans are to prosper me and my family and give us a future filled with hope. As we seek your kingdom and your righteousness, we thank you that our home has come to us quickly without any toil and we are clothed in your favor.

We thank you that you have given us peaceful habitations and plenty enough space to accommodate my family in a way that represents the Kingdom of God and your wealth. We are not anxious, worried or in fear because your perfect love has eliminated fear out of our lives. Therefore, we stand in full faith that He who promised us a new home is faithful to bring it to pass. This is our confidence in your Word. We declare angels to go forth and open doors to acquire our new home debt free, prime real estate that appreciates continually which fulfills the covenant that was made with Abraham by bringing him into a land to inherit it. We forbid any demonic interference or delay upon the purchase of our new home. Every negative Word we silence, and every plant that the heavenly Father has not planted, we rebuke and bind. We now lose the power of God, the wisdom of God and the Blood of Jesus to be our defence and our exceedingly great reward. We magnify our God for hearing and answering our prayers in the name of Jesus. Amen!

(Bill Winston Ministries.)

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