- Mar 25, 2025
- 78
- 125
Personal Revival: Fasting 6.
(Last But Not Least). The Most Important Elements Of Sanctifying Yourself.
I have never been the type of Christian that fasted as an essential part of my Christian walk with God. Possibly because it was never preached in my church growing up as a new believer, nor was it ever expounded on in general. I always believed that fasting was reserved mainly for ministers and leaders in the church. I did a fast for 12 days once just because someone mentioned at work that you could only live for a week without food and three days without water. I wanted to bust that old wives’ tale and fasted to see if he was correct, but he wasn’t. I was still alive after twelve days. Then I decided I had better eat because I would have continued on otherwise. As a young Christian, I had fasted for 3 days on a number of occasions for prayer and direction, but it was more like trying to win a marathon and get over the finish line rather than fighting the good fight of faith and being in communion with God since my whole focus was on what I was going to eat when I finished.
Looking ahead to the present day, I decided that I needed to fast as a number of serious issues had arisen that required me to fervently seek God through prayer and fasting. Prayers, which were urgently needed. intercessory prayer for my family, friends, and also for my own personal direction and purpose in God.
A good friend once told me that “fasting forces him to pray more, and prayer combined with fasting gets God's attention, so it’s more like entering into better obedience.". The Bible speaks of a time when the disciples of Jesus could not cast out a specific spirit (Mark 9:24–29), which can only be cast out through prayer and fasting. So prayer and fasting are powerful tools when dealing with certain unclean spirits.
Fasting is a way of depriving your body by abstaining from food or drink for a specific period of time (in my case, 3 days) so that you can draw closer to God. This is also a good opportunity to abstain from various forms of addictions at the same time, as it has a way of canceling each other out.
The Bible tells us in Matthew 4:4 that "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”
Fasting requires a purpose, which you may want to write down so that you can focus on your objectives. (An example)
My Purpose:
1. To draw closer to God, enabling me to clearly hear and discern his leading and direction.
2. To Pray for the immediate needs and divine intervention of my family
3. To pray for the immediate needs and divine intervention for specific members of my friends
4. Pray for personal direction and for ministry.
Create clear, concise strategies to help you keep on track without wasting any valuable time, like scrolling through the internet or mindless activities that are not productive.
Key elements to keep yourself focused while fasting (An example)
Prayer:
I have been getting up every morning at 3am for months now, so it’s not a difficult thing for me to pray as it has become a good habit. You can also pray for those specific needs you are seeking God for at any time during the day. I have kept these various prayer times separate because my early morning prayer time with the Lord is a set time I spend with him anyway. Prayer spent for my specific purpose of fasting is done many times during my fasting days. This is also a good time to put on the armor of God found in Ephesians 6:10–18, which is another thread entirely. This is because the enemy does not want you to be free in anyway or for you to help others through prayer and being obedient to God to fasting, so he will work on your flesh to try to stop you from spending that quality time with God.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-18 tells us;
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Worship:
Spending time worshipping God or listening to worship music. It sets the tone for an open heaven to pray as you give God the praise and glory for all the wonderful things he has done and for all the blessings and good things he has given us. Worship is a form of sacrifice of praise to God. I have an hour-long worship playlist on YouTube that I listen to or I will just sing out loud to him or pick up my guitar with praise on my lips
John 4:24 says
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Reading the Bible.
I am an avid Bible reader, or should I say, I listen to Max Mclean, who is a Bible narrator, reading from the KJV. Wonderful smooth, rich vocals, very dramatic in his articulation of scripture as he walks you through the old and new testament. I do this as I sometimes have difficulty with small print, which is most of my bibles. I spend at least an hour, sometimes 2 hours, just listening to the word of God per day. The bible tells us in Hebrews 4:12: For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Keeping physically active.
There is always something to do around the house. I have a list of things that need my attention, including things to do inside, i.e., cooking, cleaning, laundry, fixing things, preserving summer fruit and vegetables, making meals for the week for the freezer, etc., and also on my property, i.e., gardening, pruning trees, picking vegetables, trimming hedges, mowing the lawns, etc. Other activities could include fellowshiping with other believers, doing a Bible study, or creating a support group to help you keep your mind focused on your objectives. Walking and praying on a daily basis and things that keep your mind occupied. I had decided not to go to the gym during my fasting days because I did not want to feel faint or cause any kind of injury for lack of energy while using any of the workout machines. These activities also include doing groceries. I kept away from people while fasting, as I do not wish to offend anyone as I wrestle with bringing my body into submission to Christ. 1 Corinthians 9:27 says -27 But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.
Combining Those 4 Key Elements To Keep Focused For 24 Hours
Using the idea of a 24-hour time period and removing 6 hours for the hours I would personally need to sleep (this will depend on each individual), leaves 17 hours for those 4 key elements above.
Divide those hours into 4 equal parts with one hour free. This leaves an hour per day for each of those key elements, four times per day. Prayer, worship, Bible reading, and keeping active. Allowing an hour for unforeseen situations.
Having a strategy to keep focused is a good idea, particularly when we can get distracted easily and sometimes lose sight of our objective. You can also use this 24-hour model for each day of your fasting period. One specific thing I noticed was when you are doing some of these things anyway, the transition between the flesh and the Spirit is not a big leap. I could have stopped fasting on the second day because I received the answers I was requesting from the Lord, but I finished the whole three days out anyway. Glory!
May the Lord bless you as you endeavour to draw closer to him in the mighty name of Jesus!
Be Blessed!
Angelina 01/03/2025
6 of 6 parts
