A Season of Consecration

As a faith family, we are tenaciously pursuing God. We are consecrating ourselves in response to His holiness. It is our desire to clearly see Him, intimately hear His voice, and wholeheartedly follow His plan. We encourage you to join the journey by actively seeking the Lord through listening to and obeying God's Word, fasting, prayer, and worship during the next 21 days, starting on January 10, 2014.

Fasting 

The next 21-day season of consecration will include focused fasting and prayer. To learn more about why and how we fast I have included some helpful explanations in this guide. (At the close of this guide are some resources to learn more about fasting). Each week will include a focus as outlined below. During our Consecration please share what God is teaching you, or impressing on your heart, by using our Riverbend bulletin board designed for our private use during this season (you will receive a separate email communication with this link and directions) or in your interpersonal contacts with one another. This is as much a corporate experience as it is a personal one.

What is fasting?

Biblical fasting is giving up specific food and drink for a specified number of days for a specific purpose. The type and length of the fast you choose is between you and God, and should not be determined by what anyone else is doing. Fasting, prayer and reading God’s Word go hand in hand. When you fast, also pray for God’s purpose and plan for your life to be revealed. Fast and pray about every major decision in your life. Simply put, fasting is a way to conquer the physical and open the door to the supernatural in your life. When you deny your body, you feed your spirit and grow closer to the Lord. In Matthew 6, Jesus gave us specific direction on how to live as a child of God. That pattern addressed three specific duties of a Christian: Giving, Praying and Fasting. Jesus said, “When you give”. . .“when you pray” . . . “when you fast.” He made it clear that fasting, like giving and praying, was a normal part of Christian life.

Kinds of Fasts

TOTAL FAST: Drink only liquids – especially water. On this type of fast you may also take in clear
broth and 100 percent fruit and vegetable juices in order to maintain your strength. You establish
the number of days for your fast in your prayer time

PARTIAL FASTS: There are many options for partial fasts. Below are just a few for you to
consider.
 - Daniel Fast: The most frequently used example of a partial fast is found in Daniel
chapter 10. The Daniel Fast is a fast from meats, sweets, breads and any drink, except
water, for a specific time period (Daniel 10:2-3). The easiest way to think of this fast is
eating only vegetables and fruits, and drinking only water.

The following are examples of other types of partial fasts:
 - Give up one item of food or drink such as caffeine, coffee, soft drinks or sweets give up
one meal a day for a specific amount of time, one meal a week, etc. fast for a specific
number of days . . . one day, three days, so on.

 - Choose to fast from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. or from sun-up to sundown. When doing this type
of fast, consider your work and sleep schedule. The hours that you sleep should not be
considered part of your fasting period, so the time frame for this type of fast may vary.

Common Questions and Answers

 - What if I have a medical condition? Consult your doctor before starting any fast. Decide together
what is possible. If your health condition prohibits you from fasting food, try fasting something
else and concentrate on prayer and Bible study. God knows your heart.

 - I forgot and ate something that wasn’t on my fast; do I need to start again? No, think of fasting as a marathon, rather than a sprint. Don’t give up! If you fall down, get up and keep trying. Conquering “king stomach” is difficult, but you’ll make it.

 - Do I continue to exercise while fasting? For most people moderate exercise is OK. But it is best to always consult a doctor about fasting and exercise. If you are on a complete fast, you may not have the energy for exercise.

 - What if I have a manual labor job? If you have a job that requires you to expend a lot of physical energy, you may want to consider a full fast for one to three days or make your fast a partial fast that allows you to receive enough nutrition to perform your job.

More

To learn more about fasting and specifically learn details about the Daniel Fast click here for Jentezen Franklin links and/or here for excerpts from the Discipline of Fasting from Richard Foster’s, The Celebration of Discipline.

Whether you are considering your very first fast, or you desire to take your fasting experience to a deeper level, God’s Word is full of practical insights to help you make your fasting journey successful.