What Is Fasting?
When you fast, you partner with God. He desires to have a divine partnership with you in the area of fasting and prayer for your family, your life, and His purpose in the earth. There are times when God requires us to take a physical action to receive a spiritual blessing.
There's a connection between what we do physically and what God releases spiritually in the Bible. Exodus 17 tells the story of Moses holding up his hands with a staff and, as long as his hands were extended, the battle was won against the enemies of Israel. But when Moses’ arms started getting weary, the battle would start to turn as his arms would let down and Israel's enemies would begin to prevail.
The story tells us that there are times when what we do physically affects our circumstances, the battle and the victory spiritually. Fasting is perhaps the most powerful physical action a Christian can take to show God how sincere you are about wanting to see change.
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SIMPLY STATED, BIBLICAL FASTING IS REFRAINING FROM FOOD FOR A SPIRITUAL PURPOSE.
According to the Bible, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast.
Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline will bring you rewards in Heaven, says Matthew 6. When you give God your first through fasting, prayer and giving at the beginning of the year, you set the course for the entire year.Why should I fast?
Are you in need of healing or a miracle?
Do you need the tender touch of God in your life?
Is there a dream inside you that only He can make possible?
Are you in need of a fresh encounter?
Do you desire a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord?
Are you ready to have heightened sensitivity to the desires of God?
Do you need to break away from bondages that have been holding you hostage?
Is there a friend or loved one that needs Salvation?
Do you desire to know God’s will for your life?BIBLICAL FASTING FOCUS
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”ROMANS 12:1
“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”MATTHEW 6:33
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”ISAIAH 58:6
“[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”
We encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and let your decisions about your biblical fasting come from Him. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer. We believe that, as we pray and seek God and give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year (Matthew 6:33)!From January 6 - 26 we will be emailing a daily devotion that will include specific areas to focus on for your daily prayer times. Thanks for joining us in making this not only a powerful personal time of prayer and fasting but a corporate time as well. (If you currently receive the weekly email updates from the Lighthouse, you will automatically receive the prayer and fasting daily devotion. If you are not, please send an email to info@lighthousedallas.org requesting your email address to be added to the distribution list.)
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• Daniel Fast: giving up sweets, meats, and liquids other than water for 21 days
• Television Fast: giving up entertainment for 21 days
• Social Media: giving up all social media for 21 days
• Jewish Fast: refraining from food from sunrise to sunset
• Other options: you may give up only certain foods that you like during this 21 days
Scripture References for Fasting:
Matthew 6:16-18
Matthew 9:14-15
Luke 18:9-14Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word:
1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18
Nehemiah 1:4
Daniel 9:3, 20
Joel 2:12
Luke 2:37
Acts 10:30
Acts 13:2Corporate Fasting:
1 Samuel 7:5-6
Ezra 8:21-23
Nehemiah 9:1-3
Joel 2:15-16
Jonah 3:5-10
Acts 27:33-37Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you fast!
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