JANUARY 2012 FAST

On Monday, January 9, 2012 we began our annual Fast.  Please check this page regularly for Fasting updates.

Each Sunday during January will be a "Fast free day".  See instructions below for tips on using your "free day" wisely!
For Week One, Monday January 9 - Saturday January 14, we will do the following (as your health conditions allow):

EATING

Things you SHOULD NOT eat:

    - Beef and pork
    - Fried foods

Things you CAN/SHOULD eat:

    - Plenty of fruits and vegetables (all you want)
    - 1 meal/day
    - Fish, Chicken or Turkey (baked, broiled, boiled or grilled) - NOT FRIED
    - Nuts (not excessively, just as a snack to keep-up your strength)
    - Popcorn, made in a healthy way (and not slathered in butter)
    - Drink plenty of water
    - You may drink fruit juice (try to buy 100% juice to reduce the harmful effects of too much sugar)

ACTIVITIES 

- Activities for 2012 will be outlined shortly.  Check back for the update.

FASTING - WHAT, WHO, WHY, HOW a/

Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all the Christian disciplines.  Through fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life!

Fasting and prayer can bring about revival - a change in the direction of our nation, the nations of the world and the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

The awesome power can be released through you as you fast through the enabling of the Holy Spirit.

  • What is fasting?
  • Who should fast?
  • Why should you fast?
  • How do you prepare for a fast spiritually and physically?
  • How can you make your spiritual experience the best it can be?

What is fasting?
Fasting is voluntarily refraining from food and drink at a time and for a time, to give us the opportunity to give our full attention to a particular matter.  It must be accompanied with sincere prayer to be effective in securing an answer from God (Ezra 8:21-23).

True fasting is more than what we don’t eat - it is pleasing God by applying His Word to our lives and reaching out to serve society (Isaiah 58:6-12).
Our Fast will be observed from Monday through Saturday each week.

Who should fast?
Everyone who is physically able to, should fast.  It is a Biblical principal in both the Old and New Testaments.  Moses fasted on at least two recorded periods.  Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, saying, "when you fast, ...", not if you fast.

Why should you fast?

· Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance and a transformed life.
· The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you.
· Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer, more personal and more powerful experience.
· Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life and make you a channel of revival to others.

How do you prepare for a fast spiritually and physically?
Spiritually
In preparation for this special time with God, you should examine your heart for any un-confessed sin.  God always requires His people to repent of their sins before He will hear their prayers.

Come and listen, all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me.  For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke.  If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. Praise God, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me.  - Psalm 66:16-20

During the fast, constant reliance on the Holy Spirit will enable you to resist the temptation to sin and abandon your fast.

Physically (using your "free day" wisely)
Your fast will go better if you adhere to the following guidelines going into it and on the Sundays during the fast (where you may eat things from the DO NOT EAT list):

·  Resist the urge to have that "last big feast"
·  Wean yourself off caffeine and sugar products (this will ease your hunger and discomfort in the early days of the fast each week).

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a/ Sources of Fasting information:
      - Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
      - Amplified Bible Commentary
      - Campus Crusade for Christ International website