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Sunday, April 3, 2016

Fasting Guide

What is fasting? Fasting is when we go without food for some spiritual purpose

What are good reasons for Christ-followers to fast? 
  1. Fast to refocus on God’s priorities
  2. Fast to see our need for God (with every groan) and to rely more fully on His power 
  3. Fast to seek God’s guidance  
  4. Fast to give extra time and attention to the word and prayer
    • Praying for spiritual breakthroughs in our lives and in the lives of others
    • Praying for the salvation of others
    • Praying for causes of justice and mercy in our day (e.g. abortion, sex trafficking, pornography epidemic, ISIS, persecuted Christians, etc.)
  5. Fast to become more sensitive to the needs of others
  6. Fast to expose sin and idols, the things we rely upon in place of God
  7. Fast to grow in self-control and to find victory in the face of temptation 
  8. Fast to express love and worship to God: nothing I desire beside you!


How might a Christ-follower go about practicing the discipline of fasting?
  1. Start small (e.g. one meal, two meals, then a full-day fast, perhaps a 2-day juice fast.  Build up to an extended fast of 3-7days)
  2. Fast with purpose (see above)
  3. Fast with a plan: clear purpose, mindful of others, what will you do with extra time?
  4. Experiment with different forms of fasting: personal and communal, congregational and national, regular and occasional, absolute and partial.