Description

Fasting-Jesus did it, so should we.

Fasting for Spiritual is NOT the same and for Physical. While both have health benefits, there IS a difference. Listen in as Schell and Danielle discuss the purpose, benefits, and Biblical command to this Spiritual Discipline.

Heightened awareness-When you seek the thing you’re focused on, you see it more. 

Selective Attention- The processes that allow an individual to select and focus on particular input for further processing while simultaneously suppressing irrelevant or distracting information. -National Library of Medicine

Key Verse Isaiah 58:5 NASB

Scripture:
“Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 6:1 NASB)."

“Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you (Matthew 6:16-18)."

corporate fasting

Nehemiah 9:1-38
Joel 1:14

Matthew 18:20

keeping your fast between you and the Lord

Matthew 7:6-not casting Kingdom ideas before people who don't understand and may even become angered by them-Bibleref.com
prayer and fasting
Daniel 9:3

God gave vision

Daniel 10:2

Jesus tempted

Matthew 4:1-11

Test the spirits

1 John 4 

Resources:

Wendy Speake- Sugar fast

Susan Gregory- Daniel Fast

Biblical Fasting
Biblically defined fasting & examples: types, periods of time, and why

Practical Application:

Prepare for your fast- "If you fail to plan, you plan to fail."

• What are you fast from, fasting for, believing for?
• Think it through. Pray about it. Write it out.
• Get the food/drink/etc. that you are fasting from out of your house. 
• Shop before fast starts with foods you can eat
• Consider health needs- prior unhealthy relationship to food, athletic training, dietary restrictions

Fasting is NOT legalistic.

A fast is to position and posture your heart towards Him.

Fasting does not need to have rules around it. Yes, fasting is food; however, there are other things you can abstain from as you strengthen this discipline. It isn’t only things that the world sees as “bad.” 

Fasting always starts with prayer. God's Word shows us that fasting looks different for everyone! 

Fasting/abstaining ideas:

• Daniel fast
• Sugar fast 
• Caffeine
• Full fast -all food
• Social media
• Phone boundaries 
• Liquids only 
• apologizing when necessary not apologizing for who you are
• gossip
• reacting

Fasting/Believing God for:

• confusion broken off
• healing
• marriage
• provision
• for love to abound
• generational stronghold
• job position
• financial favor

Prayer: God, how can I give up what my flesh wants to feed, so I see what you want me to see in my environment in order to become the person you say that I am? Take off the junk that's holding me back from who I am. Help me surrender.

Shareable quotes:

"The point isn't to feel the burn...it's to reach for Jesus." -Schell

"What you put in, is what you'll get out." Schell

"God doesn't always give us what we are asking for, but He is faithful to give us exactly what we need in that moment." -Danielle

"Christians are not perfect people. They are broken people who acknowledge their brokenness and need of a Savior. And the Savior is the only one who will give us freedom. And "Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is FREEDOM (2 Corinthians 3:17)."- Danielle