This week I'll be dealing with a few of the nitty gritty specifics about fasting, we'll be looking at the Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How of fasting.
Who?
Everyone!!!!
Everyone needs food and everyone can make a choice to say 'no' to food and 'yes' to more of God. The Lord made a way so that anyone (no matter what situation or circumstance) and everyone could experience this specific style of communion with Him and its as simple as not eating.
What?
True biblical fasting is fasting food. There are many other good fasts such as fasting time, money, speech, the media etc... But in the context of biblical fasts and this tvvt fast group we fast food. A direct result of fasting food on a regular basis is entering a season of a "fasted lifestyle" where a believer will usually automatically eliminate many other distractions in their lives and focus on God in an increased way which would lead to them dealing with time, money, speech etc... and giving that over to God as well.
It is important to ask yourself and the Lord how you want to fast. Be realistic. Never fasting before then trying to do a 10 day water fast usually doesn't work very well. If you are new start off slow and eliminate a meal a day or certain foods. Getting down to just liquids and eventually just water is a good goal to set for yourself. The Lord gives grace and someone who is fasting needs to realize the grace that is given them and then contend for more!
Try not to be too religious about your fast. Fasting is an error free way to express our heart to God. If I eat during a fast I haven't sinned. Just thank the Lord for the grace given and the posture of your heart you've attained through His Spirit and keep fasting like nothing happened. Stay focused remembering that this is mostly for you and not God. He isn't more impressed when we fast for long periods of time compared to when we don't. He gives us fasting as a vehicle to get ourselves closer to Him, not the other way around.
Also the same muscle you flex when you say 'no' to food during a fast is the same muscle you flex when you say 'no' to sin. You will realize that God truly does build you up during an immense time of humility through simply not eating.
When?
Whenever you want.
One day a week is a good start. 3 days a week/joining this fast group is a great idea!
If you're feeling a burn to know God more then FAST! If you're still feeling it, FAST MORE!!
If you have to work during the day, fast in the evening. If you have to work during the evening fast during the day. Its that simple. Learning some of the practicals of not eating is done mostly by trial and error. Learning the practicals of communing with God is a heart posture and a choice to focus on Him. Put the 2 together and you've got a great equation to an amazing adventure with the Lord! (and you'll find that the 2 parts of the equation complement each other perfectly!!!)
Where?
Fasting in the closet and in the secret place.
Get away to your room. Go deep in your heart/mind with the Holy Spirit and the Word.
Set apart time to read the Bible and pray.
Have a focus. Even if its just one day pick a verse from the Bible and go deep in it the best way you can. Praying(speaking)/singing in tongues is also a great tool when fasting.
Set your heart before the Lord and give your fast to Him and He will use it no matter what you do BUT the more you set aside time for yourself (in the closet/secret place before Him), that's when you'll truly see the difference!!! Remember this is for you, take advantage of it!!!! The Lord will honor your fast and you will grow no matter the circumstance but I urge you to take it serious and draw away with Him.
Why?
The context of New Testament fasting and this tvvt fast is mourning for the Bridegroom. Longing to get our own hearts closer to Jesus' (Matt 9: 14,15). A result of this will be: heightened consecrated lifestyle, increased revelation of Him, revival, renewal, repentance, accountability, dreams, visions, visitations etc...
Having a focus to tackle issues in your own personal life is a good thing to do while fasting and the Lord will work through those issues so I'd encourage anyone to do that.
This fast team could have many members but we normally do not fast corporately as the church might fast to see a distinct change in situations or circumstances. We usually won't fast directly for revival or the in breaking of God in a city or nation (ex: The Call Nashville http://www.ihop.org/Group/Group.aspx?id=1000015986).
This fast (tvvt/Matt 9 Bridegroom fast) is very personal and intimate and it tackles the heart issues which then reflects outwardly as righteousness and a change in our personal lives which then will effects situations and circumstances.
When its all said and done I want to be more like God. Everything else will fall into place. (Matt 6:33)
How?
Numbers 6: 21
"This is the law of the Nazirite who vows his offering to the Lord according to his separation, in addition to what else he can afford; according to his vow which he takes, so he shall do according to the law of his separation."
I love using this verse for fasting, here is how I look at it:
My offering to God is my heart. From that comes a longing to touch Him in an increased way. From that comes fasting.
My separation is simple: Food.
What am I willing to afford: energy, time, degree of daily intake (ex: 1 meal a day/water) (My own personal goal is to get myself down to only water. But crazy grace or the right circumstances must be in place and I need to discern that for myself. There is a time and a season for different degrees of fasting (in the context of not eating) its important to shy away from a religious spirit.)
The vow that I take is how I decide I will fast for that specific fast. Even if its fasting for just one day I need to decide ahead of time how I will fast (physically/mentally/spiritually). Fasting=Focus.
Then once a vow is made I should try and follow through "I will do according to the law of my separation."
Read through Numbers 6. The Nazirite was an Old Testament fasted lifestyle that is still applicable today. Many of us are Nazarites at heart. We will tear our hearts and not our garments. (Joel 2:13) It doesn't matter what it looks like outside its your heart that counts. Get your heart in the right place before the Lord. Say 'Yes!' to fasting and go for it!!!! He will take you by the hand and lead you through it.
So that's it folks. Hope this helped.
There is one last thing I wanted to say and that is: Your flesh will rage during a fast. Stuff is going to come out of you that you never thought was there. No matter how long you've been fasting or how Holy you think you are... sin is in there and God is gunna get rid of it. I have personally dealt with a lot of self control issues in my own life in the context of fasting. This type of thing is usually more of a problem for girls/ girls in our generation and a lot of the time it manifests as eating disorders. Guys deal with the same issues but in different ways. For Guys and Girls it usually looks one of two ways: a decrease in eating after a fast or an increase in eating after a fast. Its important to take all of that before the Lord before/during/after a fast. Give it all to Him and tell Him you won't let fear get in the way of Love. Let the Holy Spirit minister to you and allow Him to guide you. What, when and how to eat before and after a fast is very important if you want to stay healthy. If you want in depth info on this e-mail me at
mewithoutdrew@gmail.com
I'll probably end up doing a post on that as well but till then,
Keep fit and have fun! Body break!
er...
God Bless and keep that fire burning! Put on those wings and fly with the Lord higher and higher, fasting can help ya get there.
-Drew
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