STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL FASTING

How you begin and conduct your fast will largely determine your success. By following these basic steps to fasting, you will make your time with the Lord more meaningful and spiritually rewarding.

STEP 1: SET YOUR OBJECTIVE
Why are you fasting? Is it for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of problems, or for special grace to handle a difficult situation? Ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically and strategically.

STEP 2: MAKE YOUR COMMITMENT
Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14,15). For Him it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it. Before you fast, decide the following up front:

1. How long you will fast – one meal, one day, or the full three days of our Prayer and Fasting as a church, etc. (We suggest that beginners start slowly and build up to longer fasts.)

2. The type of fast God wants you to undertake such as juices only, television, etc. Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life’s pressures tempt you to abandon it.

STEP 3: PREPARE YOURSELF SPIRITUALLY
The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:

1. Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

2. Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3,4).

3. Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 5:18 and His promise in 1 John 5:14,15.

4. Surrender your life afresh and fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master. Refuse to obey your worldly nature (Romans 12:1,2).

5. Meditate on the attributes of God, His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others (Psalm 48:9,10; 103:1-8, 11-13).

6. Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart (Hebrews 11:6).

7. Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit (Galatians 5:16,17).

STEP 4: PREPARE YOURSELF PHYSICALLY
Do not rush into your fast. Prepare your body. Eat smaller meals before starting a fast. Avoid high-fat and sugary foods. Eat raw fruit and vegetables for two days before starting a complete fast.

Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the first few days of your fast. Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. You may also experience tiredness or weakness.  As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually.

STEP 5: FOLLOW A DAILY SCHEDULE
For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside enough time to be alone with the Lord every morning and evening.  A good idea is to take a short prayer walk during the day.  Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be.

If others are fasting with you, meet together for prayer. It’s a great idea for married couples to begin and end each day together for a brief time of praise and thanksgiving to God.

STEP 6: END YOUR FAST GRADUALLY
How you break your fast is extremely important for your physical and spiritual well-being. Do not eat solid foods immediately after a complete fast. Suddenly reintroducing solid food to your stomach and digestive tract will likely have negative, even dangerous, consequences. Try several smaller meals or snacks each day. If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued good health.

STEP 7: EXPECT RESULTS
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek God’s face; if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.

A fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many Christians.

It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or you may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honour you for your faithfulness.