Isaiah 58:6-18 6 Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? 7Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh? 8Then shall thy light break forth as the morning, and thine health shall spring forth speedily: and thy righteousness shall go before thee; the glory of the LORD shall be thy rereward. 9Then shalt thou call, and the LORD shall answer; thou shalt cry, and he shall say, Here I am. If thou take away from the midst of thee the yoke, the putting forth of the finger, and speaking vanity; 10And if thou draw out thy soul to the hungry, and satisfy the afflicted soul; then shall thy light rise in obscurity, and thy darkness be as the noonday: 11And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not. 12And they that shall be of thee shall build the old waste places: thou shalt raise up the foundations of many generations; and thou shalt be called, The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in. 13If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the LORD, honourable; and shalt honour him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: 14Then shalt thou delight thyself in the LORD; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it.
Matthew 6:16-18 16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. 17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; 18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
How to fast effectively is the key to spiritual growth.
You must prepare yourself physically and mentally for a fast. You must study what a fast is, understand the reason for a fast, and the benefits of fasting. Fasting is a spiritual key/weapon for bringing your flesh under subjection. (1Corintians 9:27 But I keep it under my body and bring it into subjection: lest by any means when I preached to others, I myself should be a cast away.) In addition, fasting is a spiritual key/weapon to build up your spiritual man to stand against the wiles of the Devil. When on a fast, you incorporate prayer and scriptures. A fast is when you are abstaining from food, and activities and setting aside time for yourself away from all distractions to communion with God. You are seeking a greater intimate relationship with the Father; you are becoming transparent. You are acknowledging that he is holy, his law is perfect, his statutes are right, and his commandments are pure. You are crying for chains to be broken, for the mind of Christ, and how to fight in the spirit. You can fast for the deliverance of any kind, for generational curses to be broken, healing in your body, mind, and emotions.
During a fast God will reveal to you what your purpose is and what your identity is in him. Your eyes and ears will open spiritually; your discernment will increase. Fasting takes you to a place of humility; it tears down strongholds, build up your spirit man. Fasting and praying becomes a lifestyle. As you are denying your flesh from certain foods, activities, and people, you will become sensitive to the spirit realm. You will be able to hear from God clearer. You will be able to discern the enemy with a righteous eye.
Fasting opens the heart and purifies it. You will become stablished in your walk with the Lord, and you will want to honor and glorify him because of who he is. You will have joy, peace that you never experience before. You will worship and obey him because the fast has taken you into a realm that only the spirit can enter in. Your love will intensify toward the Father. You will seek him just because you want to be in his presence, and you want to please him. Because of the consecrated fast, God has allowed you to enter in to the holy of holies. The fast will give you a heart of God and for the things of God. You will have compassion for the nations (people). You will begin to rightly divide the word of truth (scriptures), and how to apply them to your life righteously. Your faith will grow, and you will walk in knowledge and in wisdom.
You take your time. There is a set time for deliverance. You wait for the process to take place. God does honor a consecrated fast. You allow yourself to become vulnerable with the Father. Fasting is not a show; it is a consecration. You are showing God that you want more of the spiritual than the natural. Fasting and praying converts the soul to a righteous lifestyle and makes you stronger to stand against your fleshy desires, temptations, and stand against the wiles of the Devil. If you are a beginner, you can start with a couple hours then build yourself up to days.
You must study and mediate on scriptures that pertains to whatever you are dealing with. Example If you are seeking to have mental stability, you study and mediate on scriptures about the mind/ your thoughts.
Isaiah 26: 3 -Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 2:5 – Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
Proverbs 16:3 – Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.
Romans 7:23 – But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
There are several different fasts you can do. Please see below: (I was taught to always include room temperature water. No tap water)
- Daniel 1:8-21-10 day fast (consist of vegetables)
- Daniel 10:1-3– 21 day fast (no food)
- Matthew 4:1-2 Jesus fasted 40 days and 40 nights.
Please understand that fasting is a spiritual key/weapon, however you must use wisdom when fasting. You do not have to do 21 days or 40 days just to prove something. Please let the spirit lead you.
**Disclaimer: I am not a medical doctor, nurse, or a dietitian. I have experienced the benefits of fasting and praying. Anyone that has any medical issues should always consult your doctor first.**
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