Spiritual Growth
21 Day Journey – Deep Waters
“Preparation”
January 2 – January 22
It’s time to shake the dust of 2021 off and look with expectation to 2022. The first fruits of 2022 will be a statement of our faith in and devotion to God who will allow us to thrive in the midst of calamity. So, for 21 days we are presenting our bodies, minds and souls in personal sacrifice to the Lord. Upon doing so the Lord will hear our cry and answer our petitions during this 21-Days of Prayer and Fasting.
Types of Fasts
The New Testament translation for fasting means eating little or no food for spiritual purposes. It also means to abstain or reduce the activities one does in order to focus on prayer, the Word of God and being in the Lord’s presence.
Three types of fasts are generally recognized
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Normal Fast
No food is consumed for a period of time, although liquids are allowed.
Partial Fast
Some food and beverages are allowed.
Absolute Fast
No food or beverage is consumed.
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There are no restrictions as to the number of days these fasts should last. The longest fast in the Bible was forty days while the shortest was a day, from sunrise to sunset.
Who Should Fast?
Matthew 9:14 indicates that it was the practice for Pharisees to fast. Jesus did not criticize them for fasting but rather how they fasted. Jesus explains to the Pharisees, his disciples will fast when the bridegroom is taken away from them. Meaning they will fast when Jesus no longer walks among them. Matthew 9:15; Mark 2:19-20
In Matthew 6:16 it is important to note that Jesus says “when” they fast not “if” they fast. In saying such, Jesus was indicating there was value in fasting and that under the correct circumstances his disciples would fast.
Who are Jesus’ Disciples?
If you believe Jesus Christ as Savior and keep his commandments, then you are his disciple, Luke 14:27; John 8:31; John 15:8. Anyone that is a disciple [follower] of Christ is expected to fast as a part of their discipleship.
Why should Christians Fast?
Reasons to Fast
- To avert God’s judgement – Jonah 3: 4-10
- To avert disaster – 2 Chronicles 20:1-3; Esther 4:16
- For divine guidance – Exodus 24: 18 through chapter 34; Matthew 4
- For divine protection- Ezra 8:21-23
- Repentance – 1 Samuel 7: 6; Joel 2:12
- Life-threatening illnesses – 2 Samuel 12:16-20
- Intercession for others – Daniel 6: 18-24; Acts 14:23; Daniel 9:2-6; Isaiah 58:6-7
- Initiating a ministry – Acts 13:2-3
Benefits of Fasting
Spiritual Benefits
- The light of God’s glory will shine through you.
- Spiritual restoration and elevation
- Natural and spiritual prosperity
- God’s protection
- Answered prayer
- Guidance
- Provision
- Restoration of what was lost
- Intimacy with God
- Increased desire to give
- Develop a spiritual discipline
Although the main goal is to achieve spiritual benefits, there are physiological benefits realized depending on the length of time fasting.
Physical Benefits
- Clarity of thought
- Enhanced energy
- Enhanced sensory perception
- Digestive process is minimized so related organs are at rest
- Toxin elimination accelerated
- Weight loss
- Physical healing
- Develop physical discipline over sensual appetites
Fast 2022
For 2022, I am suggesting the Daniel Fast. The food components of this fast are listed later. The motivation for this fast is spiritual growth. Otherwise, without that as motive, the 21-day fast amounts to a super detox diet absent of spiritual benefits.
Preparation
Is this fast appropriate for you?
If you have health issues you probably need to consult your doctor to determine to what extent you can participate safely.
The point of this fast is to choose spiritual food over natural food. In this fast you are placing little interest in the preparation and consumption of natural food. Rather, you are placing the emphasis on feeding your spiritual man through prayer and the Word of God.
The Daniel Fast
Daniel 10:2-3 New Living Translation
2 When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three whole weeks.
3 All that time I had eaten no rich food. No meat or wine crossed my lips, and I used no fragrant lotions until those three weeks had passed.
Daniel Fast Food List
(most common interpretation)
All fruits – fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned
All vegetables – fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned
All whole grains – barley, brown rice, quinoa, millet and whole wheat
All nuts and seeds
All legumes – all beans canned or cooked fresh without animal fat or meat
All quality oils – avocado, coconut, grapeseed, olive, peanut sesame, vegetable
Beverages – water, distilled, filtered or spring
Other – unsweetened almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk or soy milk
Foods to Avoid
All meat and animal products – beef, pork, fish, poultry
All dairy products – butter, cheese, cream, milk, yogurt
All sweeteners – nectars, artificial sweeteners, all syrups, cane juice, honey, molasses, raw or refined sugar, stevia
All leavened bread and yeast products = baked goods
All refined and processed food – artificial flavorings, food additives, preservatives white flour, white rice
All deep-fried foods – includes chips as well as food
All solid fats – lard, margarine, shortening, butter
Beverages – alcohol, carbonated drinks, coffee, energy drinks, all teas
Activities Conducive to Good Results
- Bible reading with meditation
- Prayer
- Singing
- Journaling
Activities to Avoid
Avoid activities that break consecration and shuttle your mind to carnal thinking and worldly distractions.
- All social media
- Entertainment
- Television and radio shows that do not spiritually edify
- Sexual relations with your spouse,
1 Corinthians 7:5 Amplified
5 Do not deprive each other [of marital rights], except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves [unhindered] to prayer, but come together again so that Satan will not tempt you [to sin] because of your lack of self-control.
- Any other activity, conversation, or engagement that would detract from your mission
Prep for Fast
- Collect your food and beverage items before you begin your fast
- Select music for meditation
- Collect preaching and inspirational CDs
- Establish your prayer place. This should be a place you can pray, read and sing uninterrupted.
- Let your immediate family know so they may respect your fast and space
- Create topic posters or stickies to remind you who and what to pray for. Place these on the wall. Add topics as they come up.
- Highlight your prayers in a journal. Use this later to document how God answered these prayers. Answers may not come immediately but hold onto the journal until God has answered all. Normally God answers configure to a “yes”, “no” or “not now”.
- Find a fast partner so you may encourage each other.
The first seven days will probably be your most difficult. When you get past this period the symptoms become less challenging. To help yourself, DON’T binge before you start the fast. DO cut down your meal portions a few days before the actual fast. Ease into the fast, avoid starting with a slam dunk. Too much shock to your system.
The Fast
Humility and Repentance Required
2 Chronicles 7:14. Living Bible
14 then if my people will humble themselves and pray, and search for me, and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear them from heaven and forgive their sins and heal their land.
The Hebrew word for humility means assessing oneself in light of one’s sinfulness or humanness. Humility in the role of a Christian means that we maintain a subordination to God in Christ. Jesus said in Matthew 10:24 that a servant is not above his master nor a student above his teacher.
- Acknowledge your tendencies to choose sin over holiness
- Acknowledge God’s way is the right way and submit your will to His
- Pray for God’s guidance in daily matters no matter how simple
John 5:39 New Living Translation
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me [Jesus]!
- Meditate on His Word
Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful.
Many of you work but you can still do this. You are still eating, your menu is just restricted. What you do with your free time will dictate the level of success you have on this fast.
Ending the Fast
Super important!! As you eased into the fast, you must break the fast the same way. As you add to your diet, do it over many days allowing your system to work itself back up from rest.
Be selective of what you add to your diet. You’ve done well releasing the toxins and the weight. Let this guide you into a change of lifestyle by adjusting your food intake to maintain a healthy body.
Maintain your spiritual experience by continuing to pray and be in the presence of God on a regular basis. Don’t let this rendezvous with God be a fling. Set up time to do short fasts to seek God’s face on issues and to stay close to Him. Let this become your new normal.
Be ready for answers. Look for God to move on your behalf in small and miraculous ways! And when He does, write me and let me know.
James River Church in Missouri Preparing to Fast
I’m praying for you.
You can do it!
36 COMMENTS
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