January 5th – Getting Started
1. Pick your fast:
Full Fast – Liquids only (Please consult your Doctor), Daniel Fast: Eat only vegetables, fruit, water and juice, limited carbs., Partial Fast: Not eating one or two meals on a specific day or abstaining from certain kinds of food, All-day Food Fast: Abstaining from food one day or multiple days per week, Activity/Media Fast: Forgoing a time consuming activity such as entertainment, hobbies, television, internet, sports, etc. *As with any fast, please contact your medical professional and use wisdom.
2. Set Goals & Write them down.
3. Feast on the Word of God. If you need something structured to help you focus on the Word, try these options: The YouVersion Bible App or bible.com for some possible 21 day reading plans.
4. Open your life before God It’s time to get real before God. It is during time that we can have a heightened awareness of God. Breakthrough is more apt to come when we open ourselves up to God and examine our life.
5. Expect God to Move. As we enter into these next 21 days, let’s do so with faith that God is going to do something in our lives like never before. Anticipate that we will testimonies of breakthrough, healings and financial blessings. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him. The best news of all is that God will meet you right where you are at. Let it be our hearts cry today, Luke 17:5, Increase our Faith!
Day 1: Assumed Practice
Fasting is an assumed practice for the serious-minded follower of Jesus. Jesus did not say “If you fast,” but, “When you fast”.
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6 with the Key Passage of verses 16 – 18 : “16 “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 17 But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 18 so that you do not appear to men to be fast-ing, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
A Fasting thought.
A quote from Dietrich Bonhoeffer, ” Jesus takes it for granted that his disciples will observe the pious custom of fasting. Strict exercise of self- control is an essential feature of the Christian’s life. Such customs have only one purpose -to make the disciples more ready and cheerful to accomplish those things which God would have done.”
Let it be our hearts prayer to invite God into our lives so that flesh doesn’t dictate to us how to feel or act. Pray that God will help you not be distracted with the business of life but focus on His leading. Open ourselves up to fasting as an act of worship and that we will do this with a glad heart in Jesus’ name!