Fasting
Consider the following decisions
  1. What type of fast is God prompting you to undertake? Water only (Normal Fast), water and juices, water and vegetables (“Daniel” fast).
  2. How many times will you fast? In a two-week period you could fast once, or practice two or three different types and lengths of fasts.
  3. How long will you fast? One meal, Daylight hours (Dinner-to-Dinner), a 24 hour fast or longer
  4. What physical or social activities will you replace with prayer and worship? Radio in the car, Television, Internet, meal preparation and clean up, meal time?
  5. What passages, phrases, or books will you use to direct your thoughts toward God during the fast? Psalms, memorize a verse, read a devotional book.
  6. What special times of reading, study, or prayer will you set aside?
During the fast consider these three themes

Worship
  • Meditate on the attributes of God – His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion.
  • Whenever you feel hungry, use it as a reminder to pray and worship God. Perhaps decide on a short prayer to utter whenever you feel hungry, “Lord Jesus, have mercy on me” or “Father, you are good” or “Spirit, you are near”
  • Set aside some special time to worship alone, or as a family. Read aloud passages that have been meaningful, recount times where you have felt God’s presence and seen His faithfulness
Humility
  • As sin surfaces (anger, irritability, bitterness, resentment) confess it to God and sit in God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
  • Invite God to enter into areas of you life you may not have allowed Him to go (Rom. 12:1-2).
  • Admit that you are an imperfect and flawed person, you are unable to make necessary decisions in you own wisdom.
  • Admit that we as a church are imperfect and flawed, unprepared in many ways to be a light to our community and world.
Guidance
  • Take your deepest cares before God and ask Him to provide you with some sort of guidance.
  • Ask God to impress upon you some guidance about your serving here at Voyagers, the giving of your time and resources.
  • Ask God to use the new Sanctuary for His Glory! – that through this building, He would be magnified in our community
Want to learn more about fasting?

For more practical advice on your fast consider 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer by Bill Bright. Available for free by clicking on the link above or for $1 on the patio/plaza between services.

Other helpful reading

Richard Foster, “The Discipline of Fasting” pages 47-61 in Celebration of Discipline (1988). A brief introduction to the spiritual discipline of fasting from the tradtion of contemplative spirituality.

Arthur Wallis, God’s Chosen Fast: A Spiritual and Practical Guide to Fasting (1968). A thorough but brief coverage of the topics related to fasting. A biblical study as well as practical helps.

John Piper, A Hunger for God: Desiring God Through Fasting and Prayer (1997). A Biblical and devotional approach to fasting. An appeal to fasting from a Reformed perspective.

Jentezen Franklin, Fasting (2008). A Biblical and experiential study of fasting from the perspective of a pastor who begins each year in a 21 day fast. There are many accounts of how fasting has impacted the life of his Church and his people. This is written from a third wave perspective.

Ronnie W. Floyd, The Power of Prayer and Fasting (1997).
Worship music for fasting and prayer
Recommended downloads from iTunes

Song Title Artist Album
Glorious Chris Tomlin & Christy Nockels Everything Glorious
The Highest and Greatest Tim Hughes Holding Nothing Back
Everything Tim Hughes Holding Nothing Back
Your Name Paul Baloche Greater Song
In Christ Alone Newsboys Adoration: The Worship Album
Holy Is The Lord Chris Tomlin Arriving
How Great Is Our God Chris Tomlin Arriving
Enough Chris Tomlin Passion
Everlasting God Chris Tomlin See the Morning
I'm Sustained Danny Donnelly Solo Worship
My Soul Thirsts Danny Donnelly Solo Worship
Jesus Draw Me Close Danny Donnelly Solo Worship
From The Inside Out Hillsong United We Stand
None But Jesus Hillsong United We Stand
You Never Let Go Matt Redman Everything Glorious
Center Charlie Hall Everything Glorious



 
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