2010 will be a breakthrough year for many! In order for this year to get started in the right direction, I want to encourage you to spend the month of January in prayer and fasting. Here are some answers to common questions about fasting…
What is the purpose of fasting? The primary purpose is to deny our bodies the pleasure and familiarity of food so that we are drawn closer to God. We are to spend the time that we would normally eat food in prayer and meditation instead of eating. Two words could summarize fasting: 1) Intimacy – when we fast, the closeness we experience with Jesus is amazing. 2) Breakthrough – I don’t fully understand it; but it is a fact that breakthrough of all kinds happen when we fast.
How do I pray when I fast? 1) Ask God to cleanse you of sin and make your heart pure before Him. Allow Him to reveal areas of your life that need cleansing. 2) Daily and moment by moment breath out prayers of reliance upon Him to strengthen you and sustain you as you fast. 3) Petition God. Be bold. Ask God in faith and expectation for spiritual renewal!
Is there only one way to fast? No! The Bible is filled with many different forms of fasting from individual to corporate, from short to long, from total avoidance of food to partial avoidance of food. Personally, I am seeking to fast from one meal each day and spend that time in prayer rather than eating.
What nutrients do I take in when I fast? Be sure to increase your water intake and supplement this with various juices and vegetable drinks throughout your fast.
It is my hope that this information will aid you as you join our church body in this season of prayer and fasting!
Jeff Powell
