Fasting Book

All rights reserved under International Copyright Law.
Contents and/or
cover may not be reproduced in whole or in part in any form without the
express written consent of the author.
The Power of Fasting
ISBN: 1-931810-09-5
Copyright 2011
Daniel King
King Ministries International
PO Box 701113
Tulsa, OK 74170 USA
1-877-431-4276
daniel@kingministries.com
www.kingministries.com
Table of Contents
Introduction
What is Fasting?
Who Fasted in the Bible?
11
Who Fasted Throughout Church History?
15
What are the Spiritual Benefits of Fasting?
19
Why Should I Fast?
23
1. To Meet with God
25
2. To Seek Direction
27
3. To Appeal for Protection
29
4. To Increase Spiritual Strength
31
5. To Repent
33
6. To Obey Jesus
41
7. To Defeat the Devil
43
8. To Overcome Temptation
46
9. To Humble Ourselves
49
10. To Petition for Help
51
What are Different Types of Fasts?
55
How Long Should I Fast?
57
What Should I Expect Before My Fast?
63
What Should I Expect During My Fast?
70
What Should I Expect During an Extended Fast?
72
What Should I Expect After My Fast?
73
What Activities Should I Do During My Fast?
75
What Activities Should I Avoid During My Fast?
79
How Should I Pray During My Fast?
83
Introduction

Listening intently to the Gospel, a massive crowd stretches across a soccer field. A young girls deaf ear is supernaturally
opened. Three deaf-mute boys utter words for the first time. A woman who has been confined in her wheelchair for eleven years slowly
rises and walks. Thousands of people receive salvation in Jesus.

As I watched these amazing events unfold before my eyes,
I asked myself, Why are we experiencing so many miracles tonight? The answer came to me as I pictured myself three months
prior, stretched out on a carpet, facedown in the presence of God. I
had discovered the answer during my fast. The answer was Jesus!

For several years I desired to launch into ministry with a
time of fasting and prayer. Just as Jesus spent the first forty days
after His baptism fasting, I wanted to set aside time to seek Gods
perfect will for my life. Prior to this I had fasted for various amounts
of time, but never for such a long period as forty days.

I set aside almost six weeks to dedicate my life to God. As
I spent time in prayer, I cried out for Jesus to be manifested in my
ministry. I was tired of just talking about the power of God, I wanted
to experience the miracle power of God. I was desperately hungry to
know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that Gods promises are true.

On that crusade platform, Jesus answered my prayers. He
showed up and showed off. Hundreds of people received a miracle
from God. During my fast, I received a great revelation about who
Jesus is, and on the crusade field that night Jesus was manifested.

The main pastor who was hosting the crusade said, Daniel,
you are the miracle we have been praying for! I asked him what he
meant.

He explained that for over two years, he had prayed for God
to send a crusade to his city of Potrerillos, Honduras. Even though
he had a passion for the salvation of the people of his city, he did not
have the resources to host a crusade. Day after day, he asked God to
make a crusade possible.

Finally, out of his desire to see a move of God, he decided
to fast. He called the Pastors Association of Potrerillos together and
challenged them pray together for a spiritual breakthrough.

In response to this call to meet with Jesus, eighty local pastors and church members fasted for forty days in order to ask God
to send a crusade to their city. Amazingly, only a few days after the
end of their fast, I called the pastor and asked if I could come to his
city for a massive miracle crusade.

I was praying for God to move at the same time the local
pastors in Honduras were praying for God to move. Even though we
were thousands of miles apart as we sent our petitions heavenward,
God heard us. Through a series of divine connections and miracles,
God brought us together. The crusade was held and together we
touched the lives of over forty thousand people.

Daniel King

Would this crusade have happened without us fasting? Would
we have experienced the miracle healings if we had not spent time
in prayer? I do not know, but I believe that fasting and prayer helped
pave the way for God to move. When we fasted, we met Jesus, and
when we met Jesus, miracles were the result.

Throughout the Bible, God moves in response to His people fasting. I have proved this in my own life. There is tremendous
power when a believer denies the flesh and spends time on his or her
knees in prayer.

The reason I wrote this book is to help you tap into the power
of fasting. I pray that as you fast, you will come to know Jesus better
than you ever have before.
A fast is any length

of time when you
abstain from
eating food.
Question 1
What is Fasting?

Do you want more intimacy with God? Do you desire spiritual breakthrough? Would you like more supernatural power in your
life? One key to activating these in your life is a time of fasting and
prayer.

A fast is any length of time when you abstain from eating
food. The Hebrew word for fasting is tsom. It literally means not to
eat. The Greek word for fasting is nesteuo. This word comes from
a combination of a prefix of negation ne and the word edo meaning
to eat. So, the word nesteuo means to not eat.

For example, most of us do not eat in the middle of the night
while sleeping. This is why we call the first meal of the day breakfast. When you eat in the morning, you break your all-night fast.

But fasting is far more than abstaining from food. It is a spiritual discipline. One pastor said, Fasting is choosing to set aside
something natural in pursuit of something supernatural. Fasting
gives us a continual physical reminder to seek Gods presence. Fasting is a sign that you are so passionate about God that you would
deny your physical body in pursuit of greater spiritual intimacy with
God.

Unfortunately, fasting has become a neglected spiritual discipline. In place of corporate fasting, many churches host prayer

breakfasts, church picnics, mission banquets, and potlucks. We could
have overwhelming power, instead we are overweight. It seems the
only acceptable sin in most Christian circles is gluttony. Rather than
balancing the scales of justice, we are breaking the scales in our
bathrooms. Why do our knees bend because of excess weight instead of bending for prayer? Do we rule our stomachs or do our
stomachs rule us? Is food our servant or our master?

Many Christians pay lip service to fasting, but they continue
to service their lips with food. Jesus prophesied that in the last days
people would be eating and drinking (Matthew 24:38). Is the worlds
feasting (instead of fasting) a sign of the end times?

Fasting was frequently practiced during Bible times; it was
practiced by church fathers down through the centuries, and it should
be practiced today. There are a number of significant benefits and
blessings that come when we spend time in fasting and prayer. Fasting should be restored to its proper place in the arsenal of Christian
weapons. In this book, I will show you how to release the power of
fasting in your life.
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Question 2
Who Fasted
in the Bible?

Who fasted in the Bible? Why did they fast? Here are some
of the reasons people fasted in the Bible:
1.
The Eliezer Fast...to Complete a Task

(Genesis 24:33)
2.
The Moses Fast...to Receive Instructions

from God (Exodus 24:28)
3.
The Wave Offering Fast...for Giving to God

(Leviticus 23:10-14)
4.
The Day of Atonement Fast...for Repentance

(Leviticus 23:26-32)
5.
The Nazirite Fast...to Fulfill a Vow

(Numbers 6:3-4)
6.
The Hannah Fast...for Answer to Prayer

(1 Samuel 1:7)
7.
The Samuel Fast...for Confession of Sins

(1 Samuel 7:6)
8.
The David Fast...to Humble Yourself (Psalm

35:13)
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9.
The Widows Fast...as a Seed Toward Your

Future Need (1 Kings 17:15)
10.
The Elijah Fast...to Cure Depression and

Discouragement (1 Kings 19:8)
11.
The Jehoshaphat Fast...for Deliverance From

an Enemy (2 Chronicles 20:14)
12.
The Esther Fast...for the Salvation of a

People (Esther 4:1516)
13.
The Ezra Fast...for Protection (Ezra 8:2123)
14.
The Nehemiah Fast...to Prepare for Rebuilding (Nehemiah 1:4)
15.
The Isaiah Fast...Gods Chosen Fast

(Isaiah 58:6-12)
16.
The Jeremiah Fast...to Hear Gods Word

(Jeremiah 36:6, 9)
17.
The Daniel Fast...to Obey Gods Law

(Daniel 1:8)
18.
The Gabriel Fast...for Spiritual Breakthrough (Daniel 9:3, 21)
19.
The Joel Fast...to Turn to God With All Your

Heart (Joel 2:12)
20.
The Jonah Fast...for the Repentance of a Nation (Jonah 3:5-9)
21.
The Zechariah Fast...during Times of

Mourning (Zechariah 3:5-9)
Daniel King
22.
The Anna Fast...the Fasted Lifestyle

(Luke 2:36-37)
23.
The John the Baptist Fast...to Prepare the

Way for Jesus (Luke 7:33)
24.
The Jesus Fast...for Consecration

(Matthew 4:2)
25.
The Disciples Fast...to Cast Out Demons

(Matthew 17:21)
26.
The Pharisee Fast...to Impress People rather

then God (Luke 18:12)
27.
The Wedding Partys Fast...to Wait for the

Bridegroom (Luke 5:34-35)
28.
The Saul Fast...for Light in the Midst of

Darkness (Acts 9:9)
29.
The Cornelius Fast...to Catch Gods Attention (Acts 10:30)
30.
The Paul and Barnabas Fast...for Ordination

into Ministry (Acts 13:2-3)
31.
The Paul Fast...during Times of Hardship

(2 Corinthians 6:46)
13
We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power

as no other nation has ever grown. But we have
forgotten God...we have vainly imagined, in the
deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings
were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own...It behooves us, then to humble
ourselves before the Offended Power, to confess
our national sins, and to pray for clemency and
forgiveness. - Abraham Lincoln
14
Question 3
Who Fasted
in Church History?

After creating the world in six days, God rested on the seventh day (Genesis 2:2). Fasting is symbolic of this day of rest.

In early Christian teachings, believers are told to fast for
those who persecute you (Didache 1:3). Traditionally, the early
church fasted every Wednesday (to remember Christs betrayal) and
Friday (to remember His crucifixion). Of course, after fasting the
church members ate the Lords Supper together on Sunday morning
to celebrate Christs resurrection!

Tertullian in his book On Fasting written during a time when
Christians were being persecuted said, ...an over-fed Christian will
be more [pleasing] to bears and lions, perchance, than to God...

St. Augustine wrote, When a man imposes on himself the
burden of fasting, he shows that he really wants what he is asking
for.

Martin Luther fasted frequently. Much of his translation of
the Bible into German was completed during his times of fasting.

John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, refused to ordain anyone who did not fast at least two days each week.
He believed no one is worthy to rule the body of Christ if he cannot
rule his own belly.

The first settlers in America often declared days of fasting
to pray for their crops and animals. In the summer of 1623, the Pilgrims crop was failing. They set apart a solemn day of humiliation
to seek the Lord by humble and fervent prayer...and he was pleased
to give a gracious and speedy answer, both to their own and the Indians admiration.

Jonathan Edwards, whose preaching sparked the Great
Awakening, is often depicted holding onto his pulpit while preaching his sermon Sinners in the Hands of Angry God because his body
was weak from much fasting.

When England declared an embargo on the port of Boston,
the Assembly of Virginia passed a resolution calling for a day of
fasting, humiliation, and prayer on June 1, 1774. According to his
diary, George Washington joined in the fast.

John Adams, the second president of the United States, declared May 9, 1798 a day of fasting for the nation when the country
was in danger of going to war with France. He said, As the safety
and prosperity of nations ultimately and essentially depends on the
protection and the blessing of Almighty God...and as the United
States of America are at present, placed in a hazardous and afflictive situation...under these considerations it has appeared to me that
the duty of imploring the mercy and benediction of Heaven on our
country, demands, at this time, a special attention from its inhabitants.

Under James Madison, the fourth president of the United
States, the United States was at war with Great Britain. The Senate
and the House of Representatives passed a joint resolution declaring
a day of fasting on January 12, 1815.
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Abraham Lincoln declared three days of fasting during the
Civil War. He wrote, We have grown in numbers, wealth, and power as no other nation has ever grown. But we have forgotten God...
we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all
these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue
of our own...It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the Offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency
and forgiveness.

Charles Spurgeon writes, Our seasons of fasting and prayer
at the Tabernacle have been high days indeed; never has Heavens
gate stood wider; never have our hearts been nearer the central
Glory.
The greatest
benefit of fasting
is the opportunity
to meet Jesus.
18
Question 4
What are the

Spiritual Benefits
of Fasting?

The greatest benefit of fasting is the opportunity to meet
Jesus. The best passage in the Bible on fasting shows us how we
meet Jesus during a fast. The passage is found in Isaiah 58:6-12.
God says, Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen... Then, He
lists many of the benefits of fasting. Here they are:
1. Fasting sets those in captivity free.

...to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the
yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke... If you or a
member of your family has been bound by the oppression of satan,
fasting is a powerful tool to set them free! It is particularly powerful
at setting people free from addictions, from sexual sins like adultery
and pornography, and from sins of the imagination. By denying the
body a basic necessity like food, we can be set free from sins that
have held the flesh captive. Who came to set the captives free? Jesus!
2. Fasting sets abundance in the proper perspective.

...is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide
the poor wanderer with shelter, when you see the naked, to clothe
him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? There

are millions of people around the globe who are forced to regularly
skip meals because they are too poor to buy food. By skipping a
meal and sending the money we would have spent on that meal to a
needy person, we use our wealth unselfishly. Who cares the most for
the poor? Jesus!
3. Fasting produces revelation.

...then your light will break forth like the dawn... If you
need Gods help in a dark situation, fasting will reveal the light at
the end of the tunnel! Who is the Light of the world? Jesus!
4. Fasting brings healing.

...and your healing will quickly appear... If you are believing for a healing, fasting puts you in direct contact with Gods
healing power. Who is the healer? Jesus! (Note: Make sure you ask
your doctor before going on a fast, especially if you are sick).
5. Fasting is a sign of righteousness.

...then your righteousness will go before you... God makes
us righteous because of our faith in Jesus, but faith without works
is dead. Fasting is a physical indication of a desire to be more righteous. As we fast, God sees our sacrifice and answers our prayers.
Who is our Righteousness? Jesus!
6. Fasting allows you to experience the glory of God.

...and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard... If
you want Gods glory to follow you everywhere you go, fasting is a
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great way to press into the presence of God. After Moses fasted on
the mountain for forty days, he was forced to cover his face when
he spoke with the Israelites because Gods glory on his face was
too strong for them to look at him. Once you have spent time in the
throne room, Gods glory will follow you. Who is the Glory of God?
Jesus!
7. Fasting gets prayers answered.

...then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry
for help, and He will say: Here am I... When you call on God, He
will answer you. When you ask Him for help, He provides the answer. When you cry out, who will answer? Jesus!
8. Fasting helps us focus on solutions instead of pointing at problems.

...if you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf
of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed... All too often, we point fingers and gossip instead of helping. Fasting allows
you to be part of the solution instead of being part of the problem.
Who shows us how to love others? Jesus!
9. Fasting provides guidance.

...then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night
will become like the noonday... the Lord will guide you always...
When you do not know which way to turn, fasting provides direction. As you have time to listen to Gods voice, you receive the guidance you need. Who guides us? Jesus!
10. Fasting releases provision.

...the Lord will satisfy your needs in a sunscorched land...
We serve Jehovah Jireh, the God who provides. Who is our Provider? Jesus!
11. Fasting gives you strength.

...the Lord will strengthen your frame... Fasting initially
makes you physically weak, but ultimately you will be stronger,
both spiritually and physically. Who makes us strong? Jesus!
12. Fasting unlocks spiritual refreshment.

...you will be like a wellwatered garden, like a spring
whose waters never fail... Fasting helps you sink deep roots that
allow you to tap into rivers of living water. Who is the Living Water? Jesus!
13. Fasting leads to restoration of what has been lost

and to a new period of building.

...your people will rebuild the ancient ruins and will raise
up the ageold foundations; you will be called Repairer of Broken
Walls, Restorer of Streets with Dwellings. Fasting closes the doorways of the past and releases new vision for the future. Who redeems the past and gives us a brand-new beginning? Jesus!
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Question 5
Ten Reasons You Should Fast

1. To Meet with God
2. To Seek Direction
3. To Appeal for Protection
4. To Increase Spiritual Strength
5. To Repent
6. To Obey Jesus
7. To Defeat the Devil
8. To Overcome Temptation
9. To Humble Ourselves
10. To Petition for Help
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Reason 1
To Meet with God

The first purpose for fasting is to fellowship and spend time
with God. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, it is often difficult to set aside quality time with our Creator. During the daily
grind there are people to see, places to go, and things to do. An
amazing amount of time is spent doing mundane things like cooking and eating. By fasting, we carve out extra time in our schedules
to read the Bible, pray, and to worship God. This directly enhances
our spiritual life by putting us in contact with the Heavenly Father.
The best steaks are marinated for hours in seasoning sauces. A fast
allows you to spend time soaking in Gods presence.

Here are three examples of how fasting allowed Biblical
characters to meet God:

1. When Moses fasted for forty days on top of the mountain,
he experienced the tangible glory of God. For forty days he met with
God and never even thought about eating. When he came back down
the mountain, his face was radiant because of the presence of God
(Exodus 34:29). Fasting allows us to spend time in Gods presence
and to experience the glory of God.

2. Anna the prophetess prayed and fasted regularly for
eighty-four years. She never left the temple but worshiped day and
night. Simeon the prophet was righteous and devout. Together, these

two elderly people looked for the coming of the Messiah. God told
Simeon he would not die until after he laid eyes on the One who
would save Israel. For many years, they fasted and prayed for the
opportunity to see the Christ, until the day Mary and Joseph arrived
at the temple with the baby Jesus. Simeon, led by the Spirit of God,
recognized Him and praised God that he had seen the Salvation of
the world. When Anna saw the baby, she also gave thanks to God
(Luke 2:25-39).

What were these elderly people praying for? They wanted to
see the Messiah. Because of their prayers, they had the opportunity
to meet Jesus. Spending time in fasting and prayer is also a way for
you to meet God.

3. Cornelius was a Roman centurion, a Gentile, who wanted
to meet the God of Israel in a time when only Jews were allowed to
know God. Cornelius and his family were known to be devout and
God-fearing. Because he wanted to meet God he regularly fasted,
prayed, and gave money to the poor.

One day, at about three oclock in the afternoon, an angel
appeared to him and said, Cornelius, your prayers and your giving
have come to Gods attention. Send for the Apostle Peter who is
staying in Joppa. The angel proceeded to give precise instructions
where to find Peter. Cornelius immediately sent his servants to find
Peter.

Meanwhile, God showed Peter a vision to convince him
Gentiles could receive salvation. When the servant arrived, Peter
returned with them to visit the centurion. Cornelius had gathered all
his friends and relatives to listen to Peter. When Peter began preaching to them, they were all filled with the Holy Spirit. They were the
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first Gentiles in history to be saved (Acts 10:1-48). The centurions

combination of fasting, prayer, and giving impressed God and allowed him to become the first Gentile to meet God. Your fasting will
help you meet God too.
Reason 2
To Seek Direction

Have you ever wondered what Gods will is for your life?
Every day we ask ourselves questions like: Who should I marry?
What school should I go to? Should I become a missionary or get a
secular job? Where should I live? What is the next step for my life?
A fast can help bring clarity when making these decisions.

One of my friends was trying to decide if he should romantically pursue a particular girl. He decided to go on a three-day fast in
order to seek Gods counsel. While God did not speak to him audibly, he did feel peace at the end of the fast about dating her. When
I asked him why he felt he needed to fast, my friend explained, I
needed to hear from God. I did not know how to hear Gods voice
and I knew I needed to have a few days of quiet so I could become
sensitive to what He was saying.

One Old Testament occasion when fasting was used to seek
direction was when the Israelites were at war. For two days, they
had battled and lost thousands of lives. Now they are wondering if

they should turn and run or stay to fight one more day. Then the
Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening...And the
Israelites inquired of the LORD...They asked, Shall we go up again
to battle...? The LORD responded, Go, for tomorrow I will give
them into your hands (Judges 20:26-28). On the third day, the Israelites completely defeated the enemy. Perhaps you have suffered a
defeat or a setback in your business or job and you are wondering if
you should throw in the towel or keep trying. A fast can help answer
your questions.

A similar situation occurred when ...Jehoshaphat resolved
to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast... (2 Chronicles
20:3-4). In response to this fast, God gave King Jehoshaphat precise
instructions on how to win the war he was facing. A time of quiet before God will silence the conflicting voices in our heads and amplify
Gods voice. This makes Gods will easier to discover and follow.
God often speaks during times of fasting.

For example, in the fifth year of the reign of Jehoiakim, a
day of fasting was proclaimed for Judah. Throughout the fast, the
people came to the temple with their petitions for God. It was during
this time of fasting that Jeremiah the prophet finished dictating the
word of the Lord to his scribe Baruch and sent him to read the divine
revelation in the temple. Jeremiah told him, ...go to the house of
the Lord on a day of fasting and read to the people from the scroll
the words of the Lord that you wrote as I dictated (Jeremiah 36:6).
The day of fasting was the day God chose to reveal His will. Unfortunately, neither the king nor the people listened to what God was
saying. They fasted and came to the temple with prayer requests, but
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when God began to speak, they did not listen. Sometimes God may
say what we do not want to hear, but before embarking on a fast we
should make a commitment to hear and obey what God says.

For over a decade I have made a habit of setting aside time
in January to fast. This gives me the opportunity to seek direction
for the new year and it serves as a first-fruits offering of my time
to God.
Reason 3
To Appeal
for Protection

The world is not a safe place. On the news every night, we
see stories of kidnapping, murder, theft, and rape. In modern times
we need Gods protection like never before. Fasting is one way to
ask God for protection.

After Ezra rebuilt the temple when the seventy-year captivity of the Jews ended, Artaxerxes, the king of Babylon, decided to
honor God by giving Ezra tens of thousands of dollars worth of gold
and silver to provide for the temples needs. Ezra faced a problem.
In between Babylon and Jerusalem were many bandits and enemies
who would be delighted to steal the gold. Ezra did not want to ask
the king to provide soldiers for defense because he had explained to
the king how God protects His children.

So, Ezra decided to fast in order to ask God for protection
during his journey. In his own words, There, by the Ahava Canal,
I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our
God and ask Him for a safe journey for us and our children, with
all our possessions. I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and
horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had
told the king, The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who
looks to Him, but His great anger is against all who forsake Him.
So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He answered
our prayer (Ezra 8:2123). During the journey, God protected them
and they arrived in Jerusalem safely.

When I travel overseas, I often face unsafe conditions. I visit
countries where Christians are hated, where theft is common, and
where sickness is a constant threat. Before I go, I do my best to
make sure I am spiritually prepared to face the challenges. Often I
spend time fasting, praying, and confessing Psalm 91 over my life.
It is a great comfort to know Gods angels are watching over me.

Behind the scenes of everyday normal life, there is a huge
spiritual battle being fought. As Paul said, ...our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). Our prayer
and fasting can make the difference between spiritual victory and
spiritual defeat.

Prayer and fasting on this earth has tremendous effect on
the spiritual battlefield. Jesus said,I tell you the truth, whatever
you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose
on earth will be loosed in heaven (Matthew 18:18). Martin Luther
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said, None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able
to effect, but those who have learned it by experience. Even if we
do not see the effects of our prayers, we can be assured that our
prayers are helping win the victory.

Five minutes of prayer is like a hand grenade launched in the
devils direction. An hour of prayer is like an artillery shell aimed at
satans camp. But, fasting is our top-secret weapon for defeating the
enemy. Bill Bright said, [Fasting] is the spiritual atomic bomb that
our Lord has given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in
a great revival and spiritual harvest around the world.
Reason 4
To Increase
Spiritual Strength

During a crusade in Africa I was approached by the chairman of the prayer and fasting committee. He told me, The fasting
committee refuses to pray for your crusade unless you pay us each
one dollar every day. In that particular country, one dollar is a large
sum of money. I was taken aback by the demand and I explained that
they should be praying, not because I was paying them, but because
they were believers who wanted the lost to be saved. God is not impressed with purchased prayer.

I asked the chairman, Why does the fasting committee want
to be paid? He explained they needed money in order to buy food
to eat. I responded, But you are the fasting committee; you are not
supposed to be eating food when you fast. He did not have much of
an answer. Fasting is not something to be done casually; it is a tool
for shaking the heavens and increasing your spiritual authority.

The first thing Paul did after meeting Jesus on the road to
Damascus was to go on a three-day fast (Acts 9:9). Later, before
the Antioch church ordained Paul and Barnabas as ministers, they
all fasted and prayed. After they heard Gods voice, they laid hands
on them and sent them out as missionaries. So after they had fasted
and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off
(Acts 13:3). As Paul traveled to churches, he followed the same pattern before ordaining elders (Acts 14:23).

Here are Pauls instructions to ministers, But in all things
approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in
afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, In stripes, in imprisonments,
in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings; By pureness, by
knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by
love unfeigned (2 Corinthians 6:46).

Paul also said, ...when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). Fasting makes us physically weak, but this causes
us to lean on God for strength. When we are physically weak, we
become spiritually strong! When fasting is added to prayer, spiritual
power increases!

God will turn your physical fast into a spiritual feast. This
is what the LORD Almighty says: The fasts of the fourth, fifth, sev-
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enth and tenth months will become joyful and glad occasions and
happy festivals for Judah (Zechariah 8:19).
Reason 5
To Repent

At times, it may feel like your prayers are bouncing off the
gates of heaven. No matter how much you pray, sometimes it seems
God is not listening. One possible reason for this situation is hidden
sin in your life that is acting like ear wax to block the sound of Gods
voice.

Sin is rooted in the desire to please oneself rather than to
please heaven. Gods first command to Adam and Eve was to fast
from the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. The
first sin in the history of mankind was their refusal to fast from the
forbidden fruit. By eating, the first man and woman became slaves
to their own desires. Sin entered the world when Eve took and ate
(Genesis 3:6). Salvation came when Jesus said Take, eat, this is my
body (Mark 14:22). When we fast, we deny our physical desires in
order to have communion with God. Fasting is a symbol of our hope
to re-enter paradise.

God is perfect and it is impossible for Him to tolerate sin
in any form. Because of our sinful condition, it is unacceptable for
us to approach the throne room of God Almighty based on our own
merits. Our best efforts are flawed, imperfect, and dirty in the sight
of God. The only way for us to enter Gods presence is by having
our imperfections covered by the blood of Jesus. Therefore, before
we can intimately connect with God, we need to repent.

As long as we keep unconfessed sin hidden in our hearts, all
fasting and prayer will be ineffective. Here are some verses which
illustrate this truth.

If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have
listened (Psalm 66:18).

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor
His ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from
your God; your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He will
not hear (Isaiah 59:1-2).

We know that God does not listen to sinners. He listens to
the godly man who does His will (John 9:31).

During your fast, the Holy Spirit will prompt you to repent
of various sins and sinful tendencies.
Facts about repentance

1. Repentance is a process. It is like peeling an onion. After
you repent of one layer of sin, the Holy Spirit will reveal another
layer and then another layer. Each layer is scrubbed away by apply-
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ing the blood of Jesus. This deep cleansing process continues until
you are left squeaky clean.

2. Repentance is a glorious time of purification. At first it
will be painful as the Holy Spirit delves into the deepest corners of
your soul and asks you to repent of your human failings, but as you
rip out the tentacles of sin, you will feel a tremendous freedom.

3. Repentance is often accompanied by tears. Weeping serves
as a therapeutic cleansing of your soul.

4. Repentance is not a process of condemnation, but of liberation. The Holy Spirit is not trying to make you feel bad for all the
things you have done wrong, instead He desires to heal your scars.
When a nurse cleans a wound, she carefully removes all foreign
debris, pours on antiseptic to kill the germs, and carefully sews the
injury shut. This process of cleaning may be painful, but it is essential for the long-term health of the patient. If you have a thorn in
your foot, you want the thorn removed even if the process is painful.
In the same way, you want sin pulled from your heart, because the
long-term benefits outweigh the short-term discomfort of your flesh.
The good news is that once the spiritual pus is cleaned from your
wound, you will be free from the pain of that sin. If the Son sets you
free, you will be free indeed (John 8:36).

Here are some Biblical examples of people who repented
while fasting.
1. Fasting for Repentance on the Day of Atonement

The Day of Atonement (also known as Yom Kippur) was the most
important day in the life of the Israelites. The word atonement means

to cover over, to purge, to cleanse, and to make reconciliation.
The Day of Atonement was a consecrated time of asking God for
forgiveness. Only on this day was the High Priest allowed to enter
the Holy of Holies. All the Israelites were commanded to fast as a
sign of their repentance.

The LORD said to Moses, The tenth day of this seventh
month is the Day of Atonement. Hold a sacred assembly and deny
yourselves and fast, and present an offering made to the LORD by
fire. Do no work on that day, because it is the Day of Atonement,
when atonement is made for you before the LORD your God. Anyone who does not deny himself and fast on that day must be cut off
from his people...It is a Sabbath of rest for you, and you must deny
yourselves and fast. From the evening of the ninth day of the month
until the following evening you are to observe your Sabbath (Leviticus 23:26-32).

Let us watch the Israelites as they solemnly celebrate the
Day of Atonement. (Read Leviticus 16). Since the night before,
the entire nation has been fasting. At the break of dawn, thousands
gather around the Tabernacle as the High Priest prepares to atone for
their sins for another year.

The High Priest begins the day by washing himself. Then
he dresses in a plain white robe. Normally, he wears luxurious blue
robes embroidered in beautiful colors, a jeweled breastplate, and a
golden headpiece, but on this day, he puts on the simplest of clothing. When he is ready, the priest sacrifices a bull as a sin offering for
his own sin. Before he can represent the nation, he must offer atonement for his own mistakes.
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He carries some of the blood from the bull and enters the
holiest place where God dwells. He passes the Holy Place (which
contains the golden candlestick, the table of shewbread, and the altar
of incense) and enters the Holy of Holies that only contains the Ark
of the Covenant. This is a small chest with a lid made of solid gold.
This lid is called The Mercy Seat or Throne of Mercy. Attached
to the lid are golden statues of two cherubim angels.

Hovering above the Mercy Seat is the tangible presence of
the living God. The priest sprinkles the blood on the mercy seat
seven times to make atonement for his sins. If God forgives him, he
can walk out a clean man but if God refuses to accept his atonement
he will drop dead where he stands. A long rope is tied to his ankle
in case his dead body needs to be pulled from the tabernacle for
burial.

After he finishes atoning for his own sins, the priest prepares
to atone for the sins of the entire nation. Two goats are chosen to
provide a sin offering for the people. The priest places his hands on
the head of one of the goats (symbolically transferring the sins of the
nation onto the goat) then he kills the goat. The blood is taken into
the Holy Place and sprinkled on the Mercy Seat.

Underneath the Mercy Seat are the Ten Commandments that
God gave to Moses. These are the commandments the people have
broken. God sees their sin and His justice demands punishment. The
priest sprinkles the blood of a substitute, innocent sacrifice in order
to cover the sins of the people. Now, God does not see their sin,
instead He sees the blood of the sacrifice which was killed in their
place. On this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you.
Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins

(Leviticus 16:30). The second goat is set free in the wilderness symbolizing another year of freedom from Gods wrath for the nation
of Israel.

All of this was a foreshadow of Christs work on the cross.
Every human being has sinned and Gods justice demands payment.
Jesus served as a substitute, as an innocent sacrifice when He died
on the cross. He became our High Priest when He sprinkled His
own blood once and for all time on the Mercy Seat. Now, our Day
of Atonement comes when we accept Jesus as our Savior.

How does this ancient day and its rituals relate to our lives
today? We still sin and we still need our flaws covered by the blood
of Jesus. On the Day of Atonement the people fasted as a symbol
of their humbleness before God as they waited for their sins to be
forgiven. Fasting serves as a powerful sign of our dependence upon
Christ for the forgiveness of sins. So, if there is a sin in your life
that you want to repent for, fasting helps prepare your heart for the
process

I recommend a personal day of atonement. Set aside a day
to fast specifically to celebrate the work Jesus did on the cross. Ask
the Holy Spirit to reveal any hidden sins in your heart. This can be a
wonderful time of release and cleansing.
2. Samuel led Israel in a day of repentance. When they
had assembled...they fasted and there they confessed, We have

sinned against the LORD. And Samuel was leader... (1 Samuel
7:6).
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3. King Ahab adverted judgment because of his fast.
When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth
and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly. Then the
word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: Have you noticed
how Ahab has humbled himself before Me? Because he has humbled
himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day... (1 Kings 21:2729).
4. The Ninevites repented because of Jonahs preaching. After Jonah preached to the evil city of Nineveh, the King of
the Ninevites declared one of the greatest fasts in history. Not only
did he command his people to fast, he also decreed that every animal (dogs, cats, sheep, horses, oxen) should fast (Jonah 3:7). The
purpose of the fast was to repent of the citys wickedness. From the
least to the greatest in the city, everyone put on sackcloth and ashes
and stopped eating in order to cry out in repentance for all of their
sins. God heard their cries and forgave the entire city.
5. Jeremiah encouraged people to repent while they

were fasting (Jeremiah 36:6-10).
6. The prophet Joel encouraged the sinful nation to fast
and repent. Even now, declares the Lord, return to Me with
all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning...Blow the
trumpet in Zion, declare a holy fast, call a sacred assembly. (Joel
2:12,15).
7. Daniel fasted for the sins of his people. Daniel turned to
the Lord God and pleaded with Him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes. [Daniel] prayed to the Lord...God
and confessed: O Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps
His covenant of love with all who love Him and obey His commands,
we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have
rebelled; we have turned away from your commands and laws...O
Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive!...while Daniel was still in prayer,
Gabriel...came to him in swift flight about the time of the evening
sacrifice. He said, Daniel, I have now come to give you insight
and understanding. As soon as you began to pray, an answer was
given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed
(Daniel 9:3-23). When we fast and repent, God listens, forgives, and
answers our prayers!
8. Ezra fasted because the people had been unfaithful.

...Ezra withdrew from before the house of God...he ate no food and
drank no water, because he continued to mourn over the unfaithfulness of the exiles (Ezra 10:6).
9. Nehemiah confessed the sins of Israel while fasting.

He says, ...I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and
fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: O LORD,
God of heaven, the great and awesome God, who keeps His covenant of love with those who love Him and obey His commands, let
Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open to hear the prayer your
servant is praying before You day and night for Your servants, the
people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself
and my fathers house, have committed against You. We have acted
very wickedly toward You. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws You gave Your servant Moses (Nehemiah 1:4-7).
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Reason 6
To Obey Jesus

In the middle of the famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
teaches about three foundational truths for the believer: giving,
praying, and fasting. Many churches preach about the first two, but
neglect the third truth. Twice in the sermon, Jesus told the disciples,
When you fast... (Matthew 6:16, 17). Jesus assumed all His disciples would fast.

Jesus did not say to His disciples, If you fast..., instead He
said, When you fast... Obviously, He expected us to fast. If Jesus
appeared in your bedroom and gave you an instruction, would you
obey Him? Of course I would, I can hear you saying. Well, Jesus
specifically said His followers would fast after He returned to heaven; why do so few believers follow His command? Thousands in the
church casually wear WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) jewelry, but
when it comes to fasting not many follow His example.

Jesus fasted at the beginning of His ministry for forty days.
It is probable that He continued to fast regularly during His stay on
earth because He casts out demons which He says only come out
through fasting and prayer (Matthew 17:21). Jesus also promised to
continue a partial fast by not drinking the fruit of the vine until His
return (Luke 22:18).

Since Jesus fasted, we should fast. Jesus said, No servant is
greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who
sent him (John 13:16). If Jesus used fasting to prepare for ministry,
we should use fasting to prepare for ministry.

When Jesus was on earth, the disciples did not fast like the
religious people did. Some people came and asked Jesus, How is it
that Johns disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting,
but yours are not? Jesus answered, How can the guests of the
bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they
have him with them. But the time will come when the bridegroom will
be taken from them, and on that day they will fast (Mark 2:1820).
In this story, Jesus clearly indicates to His disciples and their critics that after His ascension to heaven, fasting would be part of the
normative experience of every Christian. We should continue to fast
until our Bridegroom returns in bodily form. After the marriage supper of the Lamb, we will never need to fast again because we will be
physically present with our Bridegroom for all of eternity.

Right after I graduated from college, I decided to fast for
forty days as a way to launch into ministry. My main motivation for
doing this was because I wanted to be like Jesus. I figured if fasting
was a good idea for Him, it was a good idea for me. It was my way
of showing myself I was serious about going into the ministry. Those
forty days were extremely difficult. I felt like giving up hundreds of
times. I expected the days to be full of glory, instead I was weak
and hungry. But, I successfully completed the fast. Since then, as is
common for every minister, problems and difficulties have tempted
me frequently to quit the ministry. But, every time I am tempted to
give in, I remember the lessons I learned during my first forty day
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fast. I will not give up. I must obey Gods call on my life to bring the
Gospel to the nations.
Reason 7
To Defeat
the Devil

In India, during the most intense part of my sermon, a woman started manifesting a demon. Her tongue flicked in and out her
mouth, she hissed, and started to sway like a cobra. The whole audience became distracted by the disturbance. I continued to preach
and as the translator was repeating my words, I began to pray under
my breath, You foul demon, in the Name of Jesus, come out of
her. With a loud screech, the demon left and the woman gave her
life to Jesus that night. Fasting and prayer had helped prepare me for
this confrontation.

In Nicaragua, a crowd of fifty thousand people filled the
field. In the front row a woman started screaming, her face a grimace
of ugliness. I got the attention of my friend Emmanuel and pointed
to the lady as if to say, Take care of it. He took a running leap
off the front of the stage, put his hands on either side of her head
and spoke directly to the demon, Shut up! Shut up in the Name
of Jesus! Immediately, the demon was silent. We took the woman

around the back of the stage, cast the demons out of her, and led her
to Jesus. When she returned to testify she had a beautiful smile on
her face. Emmanuel knew the power of Jesus was much greater than
the power of any demon.

When Jesus was on top of the Mount of Transfiguration, a
man brought his demon-possessed son to the disciples. Because of
their lack of faith, they were unable to cast out the demon. When
Jesus returned, He cast out the demon and rebuked the disciples.
Then He gave them a secret weapon that would help them cast out
demonic powers. Jesus said, This kind [of demon] does not go out
except by prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21).

Have you heard about the evangelist who misunderstood this
instruction? God spoke to him, I want you to fast and pray. But the
evangelist thought God said, I want you to pray fast. You should
have seen him trying to cast out demons. His prayers were faster
than lightning. He laid his hands on fifty people in two minutes, spitting a dozen prayers out of his mouth every few seconds.

Jesus tapped into the power of fasting during His forty-day
fast. When Jesus finished fasting He ...returned to Galilee in the
power of the Spirit (Luke 4:14). No demon was able to resist Him.
There are some spiritual tasks that can only be accomplished through
fasting.

Satan is like a roaring lion seeking prey to devour. If you
pray not, you will be preyed on. Fasting produces the necessary faith
to defeat every attack of Satan. Fasting is actually one of the most
powerful tools we have available in our spiritual war.
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Nevertheless, we can defeat the devil even without fasting
because Jesus lives inside of us. A preacher was ministering in Africa and a man in one of his services began to manifest a demon.
When the minister tried to cast the demon out, the devil began to
mock him, Im the type of demon that cometh not out but by fasting and prayer.

Oh, no, thought the man, I ate breakfast this morning; I
cant cast out this demon. He started to feel condemnation for not
having fasted.

Then the Holy Spirit rose up inside him and reminded him
that believers do nothing from their own strength but only through
the grace of God. The preacher spoke to the demon, You evil spirit,
I have not fasted recently, but I know Someone who fasted for forty
days and nights and in Nis Name, the Name of Jesus, I command you
to come out! The demon-possessed man was instantly set free.
Reason 8
To Overcome
Temptation

When Jesus fasted, Satan came to Him and said, Turn those
stones into bread. For my fast, the devil was a little less confident
in my level of faith; he figured I would have laughed at him if he had
suggested that I eat rocks. So, he tried a different approach. As I was
driving down the road, I saw a fast food sign. The devil tempted me,
Daniel, turn those dollar bills into hamburgers. When I fast, I find
that not only do I become more sensitive to Gods voice, but I am
also able to recognize the devils voice more clearly.

Temptation is something everyone faces. Things that cause
people to sin are bound to come (Luke 17:1). Being tempted is not
a sin; the sin occurs when we give into temptation. Fortunately, God
has given us the tool of fasting to help us resist temptation.

Temptation is nothing but a gaudy ornament painted with
fools gold. It promises much and delivers little. Paul wrote, If you
think you are standing firm, be careful that you dont fall! No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is
faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.
But when you are tempted He will also provide a way out so that you
can stand up under it (1 Corinthians 10:12-13). The way out will
often be revealed to you when you are fasting.

When Jesus was in the desert on His forty-day fast, the devil
tempted Him with the same three temptations he had used on Adam;
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the lust of the flesh (turn these stones into bread), the lust of the eyes
(jump from the temple), and the pride of life (bow to me and I will
give you the world). Jesus may have been weak physically, but the
fast made Him strong spiritually. Satan never had a chance because
Jesus was powered up after spending so much time with His Father.

Here are some verses that will help you resist temptation.

...live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of
the sinful nature (Galatians 5:16).

...do not give the devil a foothold (Ephesians 4:27).

Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your
stand against the devils schemes (Ephesians 6:11).

When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me.
For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone; but
each one is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged
away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth
to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death (James
1:13-15).

Through these He has given us His great and precious
promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires
(2 Peter 1:4)

My worst bout with Satan came at the end of my first forty-day fast. Throughout the forty days, I had worked diligently on
writing my book Healing Power. For hours every day I searched
the scriptures for promises about Gods ability to heal. I studied the
books and videos of great healing evangelists. I memorized scrip-

tures about healing. Finally the book was completed just as my fast
came to an end.

Unfortunately, I made an unwise decision when breaking
my fast. Instead of recovering slowly by sipping broth, I visited a
waffle restaurant. My stomach had shrunk. I took only two bites of
a waffle, a sip of milk, a sliver of egg, but it was too much for my
body to handle. Three hours later, the most severe pain I have ever
experienced in my life hit my stomach. I could barely breathe. I
curled up in a ball racked with pain.

For seven days, I laid on my bed in misery and suffered. The
entire time, satan was shouting in my ear, Healer, heal yourself.
You wrote a book on healing, but you cant even get yourself healed.
Gods Word does not work. Your healing ministry is over before it
even began. Give up. God cannot heal you.

I knew the devil was a liar, but it was so hard to ignore him.
I rocked back and forth in pain, and confessed healing scriptures.
I squeezed each word out of my mouth in between groans, I...
aaaa...am....ohhh...the God....owwww...that heals.....you. Satan just
laughed at me.

I faced intense temptation during this time. You think thoughts
when you are in pain that you would never think when healthy. I was
wondering if God is real, if He does miracles, if I should even be in
ministry, if I should kill myself to stop the pain? But, I kept quoting
scripture, just like Jesus did when He was faced with temptation and
I came through victorious!

I was hesitant to share this story with you because I do not
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ing your fast, there is no reason you should get sick like I did. The
point is that fasting will give you strength to overcome temptation.
Reason 9
To Humble Ourselves

D.L. Moody said, Be humble or youll stumble. One of the
greatest dangers for believers is spiritual pride. I continually check
my motives, thoughts, and attitudes in order to beat down the ugly
head of the dragon called ego. Pride slinks in subtlety. Before you
know it you can become proud of how humble you are. Fasting is
the greatest spiritual weapon for curing the spirit of pride.

Fasting humbles you fast. Seven days without food makes
one weak. Suddenly, you cannot rely on your own strength and you
are forced to rely on heaven for strength.

Fasting is a vote for God against your flesh. Your spirit and
your flesh are at war with each other over which will control your
life. The mind screams, Eat, sleep, and procreate, while your spirit
quietly whispers Spend time with God. Fasting weakens the voice
of your flesh and increases your sensitivity to the voice of God.
When Gods Spirit controls your spirit, you have the strength to con-

trol your emotions and physical desires. Disciplining the body helps
discipline the soul.

King David become so puffed up during the middle of his
reign that he committed adultery with another mans wife, and then
had the man killed. But, when Nathan the prophet pointed out his
sin, David immediately became contrite before God. Remembering
this event, he sings, ...I wept and chastened my soul with fasting...
(Psalm 69:10). In another psalm, David writes, [I] humbled myself
with fasting (Psalm 35:13).

Because of Davids humility, God forgave him. He promises
to forgive and heal us too, If My people, who are called by My
name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn
from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land (2 Chronicles 7:14).

The Bible says, God gives grace to the humble (Proverbs 3:34). God loves the humble, but He opposes the proud. The
Lord says, This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at My Word (Isaiah 66:2), and again,
The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground
(Psalm 147:6). Ultimately you will be humbled. The choice is yours.
Will you humble yourself or wait to be humbled forcefully?

Imagine a proud servant who enters the presence of a king
and refuses to bow. What will the king do? He will order the guards
to arrest the man and throw him into the dungeon until he learns
some manners. But a humble servant bows down and prostrates
himself before the king. The ruler takes his hand and lifts him up,
exalting him in front of the whole kingdom. James said, Humble
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yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up (James 4:10).
Peter repeats this idea, Humble yourselves, therefore, under Gods
mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time (1 Peter 5:6).

Jesus also taught this concept. He said, For whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matthew 23:12). One time Jesus used a child as an object
lesson. The disciples felt they were far more important than little
children, but Jesus said, ...whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 18:4). Do you
want to be great? Then humble yourself!
Reason 10
To Petition
for Help

Are you facing a crisis in your life? Is there a problem in
your family? In your country? Is there a crisis in your financial situation or in your physical body? Do you desperately need wisdom?

Years ago, my father faced a physical crisis. His body began
to show symptoms of diabetes, a hereditary disease. He decided to
petition God for healing by fasting for three days. At the end of the
fast, he vomited a foul substance. It was a symbol of the demonic

power that was attacking him. After the fast, he was completely
healed and has never struggled with diabetes again.

Fasting during a time of crisis shows God you are serious
about getting your prayers answered. Here are some examples of
people who fasted during times of crisis in the Bible.

1. Hannah was barren. She could not have children. She
fasted and prayed for a child (1 Samuel 1:7) and God answered her
prayer. In gratitude, she dedicated her son to the Lord. Her son grew
up to be Samuel, one of the most significant prophets of the Old
Testament.

2. When Saul and Jonathan were killed in battle, Israel fasted
in mourning (1 Samuel 31:15; 2 Samuel 1:12; 1 Chronicles 10:12).

3. When Davids baby son was sick, he fasted and prayed for
God to heal the boy (2 Samuel 12:16).

4. King Jehoshaphat was faced with three armies coming to
attack him. In response, he declared a fast (2 Chronicles 20:14).
God heard the prayers of the people and all three of the invading
armies were miraculously destroyed.

5. The Holocaust was not the first time Satan tried to wipe
out the Jews. Five centuries before Christ, evil Haman tried to kill
every Jew. He tricked the king into signing a death warrant for all
of Gods chosen people. When Queen Esther, a Jewess, heard about
the murderous plot, she asked all the Jews to fast and pray for three
days. She sent a message to her uncle Mordecai, Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or
drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do.
When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the
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law. And if I perish, I perish (Esther 4:1516). Queen Esther risked

her life by approaching the king to ask for clemency for the Jews,
but because of the fasting and prayer, she had favor with the king
and God saved the lives of her people.
Fasting during
a time of crisis
shows God you are
serious about getting
your prayers answered.
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Allow the Holy Spirit

to guide you
as you decide
what type of fast
to embark on.
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Question 6
What are the

Different Types
of Fasts?

There are no specific rules about fasting. There are as many
different ways of fasting as there are people. Allow the Holy Spirit
to guide you as you decide what type of fast to embark on. Here are
some different examples of fasts:
The Complete Fast

In a Complete Fast, you do not eat any food or drink any
water. However, you should never do a complete fast for longer than
seventy-two hours or you will face serious health risks. This type of
fast should be extremely rare. It is found in Deuteronomy 9:9, 18,
Ezra 8:21; 10:6, Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9, and Acts 27:33.
The Typical Fast

In a Typical Fast, you stop eating food for a period of time
and drink nothing but water. This type of fast is mentioned many
times in the Bible. In a variation of the food fast, you continue
to drink liquids like fruit juices and clear broths, but eat no solid
foods.
The Partial Fast

During a Partial Fast, you limit the type of food you eat for
a period of time. The prophet Daniel went on this type of fast when
he only ate vegetables and drank water, abstaining from all pleasant meat. Daniel refused to eat meat because it had been sacrificed
to false idols. At first his Babylonian guard did not want to change
Daniels diet, but Daniel asked the guard to test him for ten days by
feeding him only vegetables to eat and water to drink. Daniel said,
Then compare our appearance with that of the other young men
who eat the royal food. At the end of the ten days Daniel and his
friends looked healthier and better nourished than everyone who ate
the royal food. ...So the guard took away their choice food and the
wine they were to drink and gave them vegetables instead (Daniel
1:16). This type of fast is typically called the Daniel Fast.

God honors a Daniel Fast just as much as He honors a
total fast. This fast is good for those who fight a physical condition
like anemia, hypoglycemia, or diabetes. It is also realistic for those
who engage in a lot of physical labor in their jobs. Other partial fasts
include Elijahs partial fast of meal and oil cakes in 1 Kings 17, and
John the Baptists fast of nothing but locusts and honey (Matthew
3:4).
The Media Fast

In a Media Fast, you fast from things other than food that
distract you from God. In todays sight and sound generation, life
often happens at the speed of light. Television, music, internet, texting, and e-mail can become overwhelming. A break from these distractions can strengthen our relationship with heaven.
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You can tailor a Media Fast to specifically fit your needs.
For example, when I was a teenager my family was spending too
much time in front of the television. My Dad decreed we were going
to fast from television for one month. The plug was pulled and the
TVwas turned to face the wall. Perhaps you could fast from listening to secular music, surfing the Internet, reading romance novels,
watching the news, playing video games, or stop doing other activities which have the tendency to inadvertently replace God in your
life.
The Specialized Fast

In a Specialized Fast, you take something you enjoy and
sacrifice it on the altar to God. You can fast from chocolate, meat,
sweets, coffee, soda, or other non-essentials. By omitting a few
items from your normal diet, you are reminded of your fast each
time you crave those items. This will prompt you to pray instead of
eating. Use your belly as a spiritual alarm clock.

Many believers do this every year as they celebrate Lent, a
reenactment of Christs forty-day fast. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and continues until Easter. During this time it is customary to
give up meat, dairy products, or other luxury foods. The tradition
goes back to the early church who used the fast as a time to prepare
for the celebration of Christs resurrection on Easter morning. Lent
is a time for repentance, reflection, and rededication.

My sister, Esther, has been fasting from soda for over three
years. She decided to go on this specialized fast because she read
that the sugar in soda can harm the body in the long run. In the middle of the second year of her fast, I tricked her into breaking her fast

by replacing the water in her glass with lime soda when she was not
looking. Mad as a hornet, she spit all the soda out of her mouth the
moment she took a sip. She did not think my joke was funny. Now,
she watches me closely to make sure I stay away from her cup.
The Fasted Lifestyle

A Fasted Lifestyle is when you maintain disciplined eating
habits over a long period of time. If you do not rule your appetite,
your appetite will rule you. Eating a few hundred calories less each
day will result in long-term weight loss over the course of a year.
Since your body is Gods temple, you should keep it in as good
shape as possible.

The Nazarites lived a fasted lifestyle. They dedicated their
lives to God by committing to a restricted diet and made a vow to
never drink wine or eat anything made of grapes (Numbers 6:4).
You can maintain a fasted lifestyle through self-discipline by taking smaller portions, not finishing everything on your plate, eating
healthy foods, exercising regularly, and avoiding unhealthy, fatfilled, high cholesterol foods.

I think they should call fasting Christian anorexia. When
I fasted for forty days, I lost thirty-five pounds of unwanted weight!
What a wonderful diet! Do you want to lose weight? Stop eating!
Guaranteed to work or your money back! Actually fasting is not a
good way to maintain weight loss. It is possible to lose large amounts
of weight quickly when you fast, but your metabolism goes into
starvation mode and when you start eating again your body stores
fat in order to prepare for another period of famine. This is similar
to the yo-yo effect many experience when going on diets. They lose
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lots of weight and quickly regain it when the diet is over. The answer
to this problem is a fasted lifestyle.
The Corporate Fast

A Corporate Fast is when an entire congregation or group of
people or even an entire nation fast at the same time. There are many
examples of corporate fasting in the Bible: Samuel declared a corporate fast of repentance for worshiping false idols (1 Samuel 7:5-6),
King Jehoshophat called all of Judea to a fast when enemies were
approaching (2 Chronicles 20:3-4), Esther asked her uncle Mordecai to have all the Jews in Suza fast (Esther 4:1516), Ezra asked the
people to fast for protection before going on a long journey (Ezra
8:21-23), the returned exiles fasted and repented after hearing the
Word of God read (Nehemiah 9:1-3), Joel encourages the nation to
declare a corporate fast of repentance (Joel 1:14, 2:15-15), Nineveh
went on a corporate fast after Jonah prophesied to them (Jonah 3:7),
all the prisoners, sailors, and soldiers on Pauls ship fasted for deliverance from the storm (Acts 27:33-37).

Recently, my friend, Pastor Billy Allen asked his entire
church to fast and pray for one week. No one was forced to fast and
each person made private commitments to God concerning which
days he or she fasted. The pastor reported that almost the entire
congregation participated and that the church received tremendous
spiritual blessing in the weeks that followed the fast.

Another friend asked his church to fast for a period of forty
days. Each member of the church was asked to give up something
during that time. One church member called the pastor and reported, Pastor, this fast has been really good for me. I decided to stop

drinking alcohol during the forty days. Surprised that one of his
congregation drank alcohol, the pastor could just say, Well, good
for you.

There are many benefits of a corporate fast. First, corporate
fasting helps unify a church for a common purpose. Those who pray
together stay together. Second, corporate fasting facilitates corporate repentance for corporate sins. Third, a corporate fast releases
a corporate anointing. Fourth, there is an element of positive peer
pressure during a corporate fast. Fifth, everyone who fasts in a corporate fast shares the blessing of the whole. In Matthew 10, Jesus
told the story of the laborers in the fields. The ones who worked all
day received the same payment as those who only worked one hour.
In a corporate fast, some may fast many days and others may fast
only a few meals but they will all share alike in the benefits of fasting together.
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Question 7
How Long
Should I Fast?

You should fast as long as God tells you to but use wisdom
not to fast beyond your strength. Here are some options for different
lengths of fasting.
One-Meal Fast

Fasting for one meal is easy. Instead of eating at a regularly
scheduled mealtime, use the time to pray and read your Bible. During a designated mealtime, sit down at your dining room table and
open up your Bible rather than piling your plate with food.

Fasting for one meal is easy enough that even children can
do it. Since kids have growing bodies, they should never go on an
extended fast, but if they want to spend a special time with God, a
one-meal fast is a feasible option.

Some mission experts recommend setting aside one meal
every week to pray for an unreached people group, or a particular
country. One of my friends has committed to fasting every Monday
during lunchtime in order to pray for the country of Afghanistan.
One-Day Fast

A twenty-four hour fast is a good length for your first experiment with fasting. If you have never fasted before, please do not

stop eating for forty days for your first fast. It is best to start small
and build up toward a longer fast.

My father used to fast from midnight to midnight, but he
found himself staying up until after midnight in order to break the
fast, so now he fasts from noon to noon. This is easier and perhaps a
healthier way to fast.
Examples of One-Day Fasts in the Bible:

1. During the time of the Judges, the Israelites were fighting
and they declared a one-day fast in order to seek Gods wisdom.
The Israelites, all the people, went up to Bethel, and there they sat
weeping before the LORD. They fasted that day until evening and
presented burnt offerings and fellowship offerings to the LORD
(Judges 20:26). Subsequently, God gave them complete victory.

2. The Israelites needed relief from the oppression of the
Philistines so the prophet Samuel urged them to forsake their false
gods and to dedicate their lives to the Lord. When they had all assembled together at Mizpah, Samuel began to intercede on their behalf. On that day they fasted and there they confessed, We have
sinned against the LORD (1 Samuel 7:6). When the Philistines attacked, God used thunder to vanquish Israels enemies. This victory
was the beginning of a period of Israelite supremacy that lasted during the rest of Samuels life.

3. Saul commanded his soldiers not to eat one day while
fighting the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:24).

4. David proclaimed a one-day fast of mourning when Saul
and Jonathan were killed in battle (2 Samuel 1:12).
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5. Later David declared another fast when Abner was killed
(2 Samuel 3:35).
Three-Day Fast

The first three days of a fast are often the most difficult. A
three-day fast is a real sacrifice that allows you to have time to develop a deeper relationship with God.

1. When the Jews were in danger of being exterminated by
Hamans evil decree, Queen Esther asked all her people to fast for
three days. Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and
fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and
my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king,
even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish. (Esther
4:16). The purpose of this fast was to gain favor with the king in
order to save the Jewish people.

2. Saul was on his way to Damascus to persecute Christians
when a bright light from heaven blinded him. He fell to the ground
and heard the voice of God. For three days after this encounter with
the presence of God, Saul fasted (Acts 9:9, 17-19). The humbleness
he demonstrated through his fasting was a key element in the restoration of his sight.
Seven-Day Fast

If you are seeking Gods will in a particular matter or if you
want extra time to study Gods Word intensely, this is the type of fast
I recommend.

1. After King Saul was buried, his men declared a seven-day
fast as they mourned for him (1 Samuel 31:13).

2. King David fasted for seven days when his child was sick
(2 Samuel 12:16-23).
Fourteen-Day Fast

The men on the Apostle Pauls boat fasted for fourteen days
in the middle of a storm (Acts 27:33-34). Even though this fast was
more because they were seasick than because they were spiritual, it
is instructive to read about how Paul broke the fast. He took some
bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it
and began to eat (Acts 27:35).
Twenty-One Day Fast

Daniel fasted in order to gain understanding and to humble
himself. He wrote, I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no
choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions
at all until the three weeks were over (Daniel 10:2-3). At the end of
the twenty-one day period, an angel appeared to Daniel. The angel
was sent from God at the beginning of Daniels fast but because of
spiritual opposition, it took him three weeks to deliver Gods message.
Forty-Day Fast

This length of fast was observed by Moses twice (Exodus
24:18; 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9, 18, 25-29; 10:10), Elijah (1 King
19:8), and Jesus (Matthew 4:2; Mark 1:13; Luke 4:2). I would not
recommend this type of fast unless you are serious about seeking
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Gods face. Expect to be weak and tired after finishing. Because of

spiritual pride or natural folly, some have made the mistake of trying
to fast for longer than is physically wise. They have suffered health
problems and in some cases have even died. It is best to begin by
fasting for shorter amounts of time and work your way up to longer
fasts.
Set a goal
for your fast.
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Question 8
What Should
I Expect
While Fasting?
What Should I Expect Before My Fast?

1. Ask your doctor for advice before going on an extended
fast. This advice is particularly important for those who fight diseases like diabetes or who take prescription medicine. Women who
are pregnant or nursing should consult their physician. Some should
not fast without professional guidance.

2. Do not hasten into your fast. You can prepare your body
by eating lighter meals without foods that are high in fat or sugar.
Eating fruits and vegetable for several days before the fast will make
the fast easier on your body.

3. Set a goal for your fast. Why are you going on a fast?
Do you need spiritual guidance or renewal? Are you looking for a
solution to a problem? Do you need healing? Are you praying for
a revival? What is the specific purpose of your fast? By prayerfully
setting a definite goal for your fast, you will be able to focus on a
particular spiritual outcome.

4. Make a commitment before God. I know my physical
body will desperately tell me it needs food, so before my fast begins,
I made a promise to God by praying, God, by Your grace, and with
Your help, I will not allow food to enter my mouth until my fast is
over. Then, I write my commitment down on a 3x5 card and sign

it. I carry this card with me and when I become hungry, I pull it out
of my pocket and pray the prayer again. This written contract with
God helps give me the mental strength and focus to complete my
fast, even when food is tantalizing my sense of smell.

5. Decide how long you will fast and what type of fast you
will go on. Will you fast for one meal, one day, several days, one
week, or forty days? Will you drink water, juice, or go on a vegetable fast? Use wisdom in deciding what kind of fast to go on. During
my forty-day fast, I drank nothing but water for the first twenty-one
days, then I began to drink juice and clear soup. The reason I did this
was to maintain my strength because directly after the fast, I was
scheduled to minister for two months on the mission field. I believe
it is important to respect your body and not to push the limits of your
strength.

6. Start with a shorter fast and then go on longer fasts. Start
with a one-day fast, then do a three-day fast, then as the Lord leads
you, go on seven to ten to twenty-one to forty-day fasts.

7. Do not get discouraged if you are unable to complete your
first fast. Keep trying until you are successful. God will honor your
efforts. After you know what to expect it will be easier to make it
through a second or third fast.
What Should I Expect During My Fast?

1. From a physical standpoint, doctors believe short-term
fasts are beneficial for the body. By fasting food for one meal or
one day, the body is given a well-deserved rest from digesting food.
A longer period of fasting (3-7 days), gives the digestive system
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a chance to clean itself out. During this time the colon, kidneys,
and intestines are able to expel poisons that have accumulated. After
your bowels eliminate toxins you become more regular. The cleansing process is aided by drinking lots of distilled water during the
fast.

2. Limit your physical activity during the fast. You can exercise moderately by going on walks.

3. Be prepared to rest more than normal. You may be physically uncomfortable with symptoms like fatigue, hunger pangs,
weakness, or sleeplessness. Withdrawing from food that contains
sugar and caffeine may cause headaches.

4. Rest as much as your schedule allows.

5. You may lose weight. Generally, you may lose an average
of one pound for every day you fast, perhaps a little more during a
shorter fast.

6. During the cleansing process, the tongue releases toxins.
This often causes bad breath. Because of this, I allow myself to use
breath mints. Just because I am suffering does not mean the people
around me need to suffer.

7. Fasting can help you defeat bad habits like smoking and
drinking and will help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol
level. Fasting gives the body time to heal itself. Skin diseases like
acne and excema will be lessened. Your heart, circulation, and blood
vessels are all given a rest. You will feel less stress. PMS and hot
flashes will decrease. Your joints and muscles will function better.
Allergies will not bother you as much.

8. Your brain will function better. Fasting will improve your
memory and concentration. Have you ever wondered why everyone takes a nap on Thanksgiving afternoon after the big meal? The
stomach needs lots of blood to help it digest food, so after eating, the
brain does not have the blood it needs to function at full-speed. This
is why we get sleepy after eating a heavy meal. During a fast, the
brain can actually function better than normal because blood flows
freely to the head.

9. Fasting will save you time. Taking time to eat food can be
a mental distraction. If you really want to focus your energy, skipping meal times can help you concentrate. It is amazing how much
time is wasted preparing, eating, and cleaning up meals.

10. Fasting will save you money. For the drunkard and the
glutton will come to poverty... (Proverbs 23:21).

11. Paul gives instructions to married couples concerning
abstaining from sexual activity while fasting in 1 Corinthians 7:35,
The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise
the wife to her husband. The wifes body does not belong to her
alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husbands body
does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive
each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may
devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan
will not tempt you because of your lack of selfcontrol.
What Should I Expect During an Extended Fast?

The Psalmist said, My knees give way from fasting; my
body is thin and gaunt (Psalm 109:24). For any fast over ten days,
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the body begins to compensate for the lack of food by using the fat
that is stored in the body. Eventually, the body begins to feel weak
and tired. This is why it is important to approach a fast wisely.

Every person will react differently to a fast, but here is a
general guideline of what to expect from a fast.

Day 1-3: The first three days of the fast are the most challenging. At your normal meal times, you will feel hungry. This is
just your stomach complaining about what you are trying to do. Ignore it. As you feel hunger pangs in your stomach, increase your
fluid intake.

Day 4-10: You may feel weak for a time, but eventually your
body will hit a plateau. Your stomach will shrink and you will stop
feeling hungry.

Day 11-30: You will feel great during this period of your
fast. It is not wise to engage in any strenuous physical activity, but
you will feel good as long as you get plenty of sleep and water.

Day 31-40: The first ten days and the last ten days are the
most difficult part of the fast. This is when your body runs out of fat
to consume and you may begin to feel deep hunger pains of starvation. You will really need to rely on God for strength during this
period. Some optional fruit juice will give you strength to continue.
What Should I Expect After My Fast?

1. You will be hungry after the fast. After Jesus completed
His forty-day fast, the Bible says, ...He was hungry (Matthew
4:2). This wins an award for the understatement of the Bible. But,
despite your hunger, it is best to break a fast slowly and carefully.

2. Immediately after the fast, drink a fruit juice that has been
diluted with water. Apple juice helps slowly reawaken your food
absorption cells. But do not drink milk products, or citrus fruit juices, because both diary and citrus are hard on your stomach.

3. Break the fast gradually. Never try to eat a huge meal directly after a fast. Your stomach shrinks during long periods of fasting. One of my friends broke his three-day fast by eating a twentyfour ounce steak dinner. Needless to say, he experienced a lot of
discomfort and spent the night running back and forth to the bathroom.

4. Good foods to eat as you finish the fast include: yogurt,
fresh fruit like apple slices, vegetables, tomato juice, salads, coleslaw, and clear soup broths.

5. Slowly work your way back to eating normally. A general guideline to remember is that it will take you as many days to
recover as the amount of time you fasted. If you fast for one day,
within a day you will be eating the same as before your fast, but after
a ten-day fast, give yourself ten days to fully recoup your strength.

6. After your fast, maintain your spiritual breakthroughs by
continuing to seek the presence of God. Spiritual maturity is not
dependent upon a one-time event like a fast but on a continuous
relationship with God.

7. After your fast, do not look down on others who have not
fasted. This attitude is spiritual pride. The whole point of fasting is
to humble yourself before God, not to puff yourself up in comparison to others.
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Question 9
What Activities
Should I Do
During my Fast?
Do:

Spend time in Praise and Worship. I will sing to the
LORD, for He has been good to me (Psalm 13:6).

Read the Bible (on your knees). Confess Gods Word.
Meditate on Gods Word. Memorize scripture (Try to memorize a
chapter, a whole book, or thirty scriptures on a specific subject).
Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate
on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful (Joshua 1:8).

Pray. Speak in Tongues. ... pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind,
be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (Ephesians
6:18).

Engage in Spiritual Warfare. For our struggle is not
against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12).

Repent of Sin. Repentance is the cornerstone of a fast. Ask
the Holy Spirit to help you make a list of your sins and confess
them to God. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will

forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness (1 John
1:9).

List Everything You are Thankful For. Give thanks to
the LORD, for he is good (Psalm 118:1).

Forgive Those Who Have Hurt You. Make restitution to
those you have hurt.

...when you stand praying, if you hold anything against
anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you
your sins (Mark 11:25).

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins
against us... (Luke 11:4).

...If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive
him. If he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times
comes back to you and says, I repent, forgive him (Luke 17:3-4).

Pray the Lords Prayer. Jesus taught us to pray by saying, Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your kingdom
come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today
our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our
debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil
one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.
Amen (Matthew 6:9-13).

Surrender Your Life Completely to God. Therefore, I
urge you, brothers, in view of Gods mercy, to offer your bodies as
living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act
of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world,
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be
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able to test and approve what Gods will is, His good, pleasing and
perfect will (Romans 12:1-2).

Meditate on the Attributes of God. As you think about His
love, grace, holiness, compassion, goodness, mercy, kindness, sovereignty, power, wisdom, and His faithfulness, you will draw ever
closer to your Heavenly Father. Read through the Psalms for inspiration. ...Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits,
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems
your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who
satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed
like the eagles. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all
the oppressed...The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to
anger, abounding in love ...For as high as the heavens are above the
earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him; as far as the east
is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him (Psalm 103:1-8, 11-13).

Document the Miracles God has Performed in Your Life.
Joshua asked the Israelites to make a large pile of stones as an altar
and a memorial of the miracle of crossing the Jordan river (Joshua
4:7-8). We can build a similar memorial in our memory by making
a list of all the all the wonderful miracles God has performed on our
behalf.

Ask God to Use You. Ask Him to reveal His plans for your
life. Invite God to give you visions of your future. Ask God to show
you how to impact the lives of those around you, your family members, your community, your church, your city, your country, and the
world. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD,

plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope
and a future (Jeremiah 29:11).

Expect fresh spiritual insights. Expect to be mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. Expect to gain new confidence and
faith in God. Expect your prayers to be answered.

Keep a Journal. The LORD said to me, Take a large
scroll and write on it with an ordinary pen (Isaiah 8:1).

Document Your Discoveries About God. As I listen to the
sermons of my favorite preachers, I often make notes in the margins
of my Bible. One day I was overseas and accidentally lost my Bible.
My heart sank as I remembered the thousands of discoveries I had
documented within its pages. Fortunately, my Bible was returned
to me. Immediately I decided to type up a record of all my notes in
case I ever lost my Bible again. I set aside a time of fasting in order
to complete the project. With nothing on my desk but my laptop and
my Bible, I went from Genesis to Revelation and typed up every
sermon note in my Bible. This process was one of my spiritual highs
as I reviewed thousands of wonderful truths God had revealed to
me over the years. Now, I have a document on my computer full of
every secret I know about Gods Word. Every year I continue to add
it it.
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Question 10
What Activities
Should I Avoid
During my Fast?
Dont:

Watch television.
Be distracted.
Physically exert yourself.
Give into the temptation to break your fast early.
Boast about your fast to others.
Go where you can smell food being prepared.
Dont: Try to Manipulate God.

The motive of your heart is more important than the length
of your fast. Fasting is not a way to manipulate God into blessing
you. God is good; He wants to bless you whether you fast or not.
You cannot use fasting to twist Gods arm or to gain brownie points.
You fast because you want to get closer to God, not because you are
trying to get something from Him.

Fasting, in and of itself, is not what impresses God. Rather, it
is the heart attitude that we cultivate during fasting that blesses God.

If you fast with the wrong motives, you are better off not fasting at
all. Here are some examples of people who fasted uselessly.

1. Ahab and his evil wife Jezebel proclaimed a fast as part of
a plot to kill a man named Naboth because they wanted to steal his
vineyard (1 Kings 21:12). After the murder, Elijah confronted Ahab
and prophesied that Ahabs family would be wiped out and his blood
would be spilt on that same plot of land. Ahab immediately put on
sackcloth and ashes and fasted as a sign of his repentance (1 Kings
21:27). Because of his humble response to the word of the Lord, the
fulfillment of the prophecy was delayed until after Ahabs death,
but once he died, his body was dumped on the land he had stolen (2
Kings 9:26).

2. In Isaiahs day, the people fasted as an outward sign of following God, but inwardly they were hypocrites. They would quarrel,
fight, mistreat their employees, and hit each other in the middle of
the fast. Then they wondered why God did not answer their prayers.
Why have we fasted, they say, and You have not seen it? Why
have we humbled ourselves, and You have not noticed? Yet on the
day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each
other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect
your voice to be heard on high (Isaiah 58:3-4).

3. After seventy years of captivity, Zechariah asked the Jews
and the priests, When you fasted and mourned in the fifth and seventh months for the past seventy years, was it really for [God] that
you fasted? (Zechariah 7:5).
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4. Jesus told a parable about a Pharisee and a tax collector.
The Pharisee boasted, I fast twice a week... (Luke 18:12), but
Jesus was not impressed. In the story, the tax collector who asks for
mercy from God is justified, not the religious person who is proud
of his fasting.

Jesus thought that fasting had become a hypocritical exercise
for the religious leaders of his day. The Talmud tells us the Pharisees fasted every second and fifth day of the week, Mondays and
Thursdays. Why did they fast on those days? According to them, it
was because when Moses went up the mountain to get the Ten Commandments, he left on the fifth day of the week and returned on the
second.

But there may have been another reason for their fasts. In
Jerusalem, market day was on Monday and Thursday. The people
were out on the streets on the days the Pharisees chose to fast, and
the religious leaders made sure everyone knew they were fasting.
They would dishevel their hair, put on old clothes, cover themselves
with dirt and ashes, and actually put white chalk makeup on their
cheeks in order to look pale. Then they would walk through the
market places with pained, hungry looks on their faces so everyone
could see how spiritual they were.

The words of Jesus addressing this type of hypocrisy were
quite severe. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you
hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful
on the outside but on the inside are full of dead mens bones and
everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to
people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and
wickedness (Matthew 23:27-28).

This is why Jesus told His disciples, When you fast, do not
look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to
show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received
their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and
wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are
fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father,
who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew 6:15).
Fasting is not for impressing men, but for deepening your relationship with God.

5. Jewish religious leaders made a pact not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. ...the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound
themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed
Paul. More than forty men were involved in this plot. They went to
the chief priests and elders and said, We have taken a solemn oath
not to eat anything until we have killed Paul (Acts 23:12-14). But,
because their hunger strike was in opposition to Gods will, they
failed.
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Question 11
How Should I
Pray During
My Fast?

This book is primarily focused on fasting, but what would a
fast be without prayer? Here are sixty-seven ways for you to pray
during your fast.

1. Pray with Confidence Therefore, since we have a great
High Priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of
God...Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so
that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of
need (Hebrews 4:14, 16).

2. Pray with Love I urge you, brothers, by our Lord Jesus
Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by
praying to God for me (Romans 15:30).

3. Pray with Fervency ...The effective, fervent prayer of a
righteous man avails much (James 5:16).

4. Pray with Thankfulness ...let us be thankful... (Hebrews 12:28).

5. Pray with Faith ...Have faith in God (Mark 11:22).

6. Pray without Doubt I tell you the truth, if anyone says
to this mountain, Go, throw yourself into the sea, and does not
doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will
be done for him (Mark 11:23).

7. Pray Believing you Receive ...whatever you ask for in
prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours (Mark
11:24).

8. Pray with Devotion Devote yourselves to prayer, being
watchful and thankful (Colossians 4:2).

9. Pray with Humbleness Yes, Lord, she said, but even
the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters table. Then
Jesus answered, Woman, you have great faith! Your request is
granted (Matthew 15:27-28).

10. Pray in Secret ...when you pray, go into your room,
close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your
Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you (Matthew
6:6).

11. Pray in the Name of Jesus ...I will do whatever you
ask in My Name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You
may ask me for anything in My Name, and I will do it (John 14:1314).

12. Pray like a Child Asking His Father for Bread Which
of you fathers, if your son asks for bread will give him a stone...If
you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your
children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy
Spirit to those who ask Him! (Luke 11:11-13).

13. Pray in the Spirit ...pray in the Holy Spirit (Jude
1:20).

14. Pray with Understanding ... I will also pray with the
understanding... (1 Corinthians 14:15).
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15. Pray with Groans of Intercession In the same way,
the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought
to pray for, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans that
words cannot express (Romans 8:26).

16. Pray as a Watchman I have posted watchmen on your
walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night... (Isaiah
62:6).

17. Pray to Stand in the Gap I looked for a man among
them who would build up the wall and stand before Me in the gap on
behalf of the land so I would not have to destroy it, but I found none
(Ezekiel 22:30).

18. Pray with Specific Requests What do you want Me to
do for you? Lord, I want to see, he replied (Luke 18:41).

19. Pray without Ceasing pray continually (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

20. Pray Expecting God to be Faithful Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful
(Hebrews 10:23).

21. Pray Expecting an Answer Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not
know (Jeremiah 33:3).

22. Pray Desiring Gods Presence Come near to God and
He will come near to you... (James 4:8).

23. Pray to Light your Life on Fire ...Fan into flame the
gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands (2
Timothy 1:6).

24. Pray for a Harvest of Souls The harvest is plentiful
but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest to send forth
laborers into His harvest field (Matthew 9:37).

25. Pray like Jesus Prayed And when He had sent them
away, He departed to the mountain to pray (Mark 6:46).

26. Pray for People to the Saved We will stand before
this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple),
and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save (2
Chronicles 20:9).

27. Pray for the Impossible Is anything too hard for the
LORD?... (Genesis 18:14).

28. Pray without Limiting God Ah, Sovereign LORD, You
have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too hard for You (Jeremiah 32:17).

29. Pray on Behalf of Others Isaac prayed to the LORD
on behalf of his wife, because she was barren (Genesis 25:21).

30. Pray the Word For the word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).

31. Pray the Lords Prayer Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your Name, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on
earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us
our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not
into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen (Matthew
6:916).
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32. Pray to be Saved from your Enemies I will call upon
the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my
enemies (2 Samuel 22:4).

33. Pray for Salvation And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved (Acts 2:21).

34. Pray Day and Night Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again... (1 Thessalonians 3:10).

35. Pray without Falling Asleep Then [Jesus] returned
to His disciples and found them sleeping. Could you men not keep
watch with Me for one hour? He asked Peter (Matthew 26:40).

36. Pray Expecting God to Answer ...The LORD answered his prayer... (Genesis 25:21).

37. Pray for Healing Pray for one another, that you may
be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails
much (James 5:16).

38. Pray for Grace Now therefore, I pray, if I have found
grace in Your sight, show me now Your way, that I may know You
and that I may find grace in Your sight. And consider that this nation
is Your people (Exodus 33:13).

39. Pray with Tears Return and tell Hezekiah the leader
of My people, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father:
I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will heal
you. On the third day you shall go up to the house of the Lord (2
Kings 20:5).

40. Pray for your Children For this child I prayed, and
the Lord has granted me my petition which I asked of Him (1
Samuel 1:27).

41. Pray to Encourage Yourself When my soul fainted
within me,I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You,
Into Your holy temple (Jonah 2:7).

42. Pray the Prayer of Jabez And Jabez called on the God
of Israel saying, Oh, that You would bless me indeed, and enlarge
my territory, that Your hand would be with me, and that You would
keep me from evil, that I may not cause pain! So God granted him
what he requested (1 Chronicles 4:10).

43. Pray with Watchfulness Continue earnestly in prayer,
being vigilant in it with thanksgiving (Colossians 4:2).

44. Pray until the Holy Spirit Falls And when they had
prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken;
and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word
of God with boldness (Acts 4:31).

45. Pray Before Going to Battle When Your people go out
to battle against their enemy, wherever You send them, and when
they pray to the Lord toward the city which You have chosen and the
temple which I have built for Your name, then hear in heaven their
prayer and their supplication, and maintain their cause (1 Kings
8:44-45).

46. Pray with an Offering in your Hand Cornelius, your
prayer has been heard, and your alms are remembered in the sight
of God (Acts 10:31).
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47. Pray for Gods Power And now, I pray, let the power
of my Lord be great, just as You have spoken (Numbers 14:17).

48. Pray for Help And I will pray the Father, and He will
give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever (John
14:16).

49. Pray Habitually rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer (Romans 12:12).

50. Pray Knowing God is Listening For the eyes of the
Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers.But
the face of the Lord is against those who do evil. (1 Peter 3:12).

51. Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem Pray for the peace
of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you (Psalm 122:6).

52. Pray in Gods House Even them I will bring to My
holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their
burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations
(Isaiah 56:7).

53. Pray to Avoid Temptation Watch and pray, lest you
enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is
weak (Matthew 26:41).

54. Pray with Fasting When you fast... (Matthew 6:16).

55. Pray for Wisdom If any of you lacks wisdom, let him
ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it
will be given to him (James 1:5).

56. Pray to Confess your Sins Now while I was speaking, praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel,
and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy
mountain of my God (Daniel 9:20).

57. Pray without Worry Be anxious for nothing, but in
everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God (Philippians 4:6).

58. Pray in the Secret Place So He Himself often withdrew
into the wilderness and prayed (Luke 5:16).

59. Pray with Obedience One who turns away his ear
from hearing the law,Even his prayer is an abomination (Proverbs
28:9).

60. Pray Expecting Gods Goodness The Lord is good to
those who wait for Him, To the soul who seeks Him (Lamentations
3:25).
61. Pray with Purity my prayer is pure (Job 16:17).

62. Pray to Bury Your Past They buried the bones of Saul
and Jonathan his son in the country of Benjamin in Zelah, in the
tomb of Kish his father. So they performed all that the king commanded. And after that God heeded the prayer for the land (2 Samuel 21:14).

63. Pray with Rejoicing always in every prayer of mine
making request for you all with joy (Philippians 1:4).

64. Pray with the Right Timing But as for me, my prayer
is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time (Psalm 69:13).
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65. Pray to Fill Heaven with Sweet Smelling Incense
Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the
altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all
the saints, on the golden altar before the throne. The smoke of the
incense, together with the prayers of the saints, went up before God
from the angels hand (Revelations 8:3-4).

66. Pray without Condemnation Dear friends, if our
hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands
and do what pleases Him (1 John 3:21-22).

67. Pray with your Whole Heart ...I call with all my heart;
answer me, O LORD... (Psalm 119:145).
About the Author

Daniel King and his wife Jessica met in the middle of Africa
while they were both on a mission trip. They are in high
demand as speakers at churches and conferences all over North
America. Their passion, energy, and enthusiasm are enjoyed
by audiences everywhere they go.
They are international missionary evangelists who do massive
soul-winning festivals in countries around the world. Their
passion for the lost has taken them to over fifty nations
preaching the gospel to crowds that often exceed 50,000
people.
Daniel was called into the ministry when he was five years
old and began to preach when he was six. His parents became
missionaries to Mexico when he was ten. When he was
fourteen he started a childrens ministry that gave him the
opportunity to minister in some of Americas largest churches
while still a teenager.
At the age of fifteen, Daniel read a book where the author
encouraged young people to set a goal to earn $1,000,000.
Daniel reinterpreted the message and determined to win
1,000,000 people to Christ every year.
Daniel has authored fifteen books including his bestsellers
Healing Power, The Secret of Obed-Edom, and Fire Power.
His book Welcome to the Kingdom has been given away to
tens of thousands of new believers.
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Daniel King
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The vision of King Ministries is to lead 1,000,000 people to

Jesus every year and to train believers to become leaders.
To contact Daniel & Jessica King:
Write:
King Ministries International
PO Box 701113
Tulsa, OK 74170 USA
King Ministries Canada
PO Box 3401
Morinville, Alberta T8R 1S3 Canada
Call toll-free:
1-877-431-4276
Visit us online:
www.kingministries.com
E-Mail:
daniel@kingministries.com

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Who Fasted in the Bible?

Who Fasted Throughout Church History?

What are the Spiritual Benefits of Fasting?

Why Should I Fast?

1. To Meet with God

3. To Appeal for Protection

4. To Increase Spiritual Strength

7. To Defeat the Devil

10. To Petition for Help

The Power of Fasting

What are Different Types of Fasts?

How Long Should I Fast?

What Should I Expect Before My Fast?

What Should I Expect During My Fast?

What Should I Expect During an Extended Fast?

What Should I Expect After My Fast?

What Activities Should I Do During My Fast?

What Activities Should I Avoid During My Fast?

How Should I Pray During My Fast?

The Power of Fasting

The Power of Fasting

A fast is any length

The Power of Fasting

The Eliezer Fast...to Complete a Task

The Moses Fast...to Receive Instructions

The Wave Offering Fast...for Giving to God

The Day of Atonement Fast...for Repentance

The Nazirite Fast...to Fulfill a Vow

The Hannah Fast...for Answer to Prayer

The Samuel Fast...for Confession of Sins

The David Fast...to Humble Yourself (Psalm

The Power of Fasting

The Widows Fast...as a Seed Toward Your

The Elijah Fast...to Cure Depression and

The Jehoshaphat Fast...for Deliverance From

The Esther Fast...for the Salvation of a

The Ezra Fast...for Protection (Ezra 8:2123)

The Nehemiah Fast...to Prepare for Rebuilding (Nehemiah 1:4)

The Isaiah Fast...Gods Chosen Fast

The Jeremiah Fast...to Hear Gods Word

The Daniel Fast...to Obey Gods Law

The Gabriel Fast...for Spiritual Breakthrough (Daniel 9:3, 21)

The Joel Fast...to Turn to God With All Your

The Jonah Fast...for the Repentance of a Nation (Jonah 3:5-9)

The Zechariah Fast...during Times of

The Anna Fast...the Fasted Lifestyle

The John the Baptist Fast...to Prepare the

The Jesus Fast...for Consecration

The Disciples Fast...to Cast Out Demons

The Pharisee Fast...to Impress People rather

The Wedding Partys Fast...to Wait for the

The Saul Fast...for Light in the Midst of

The Cornelius Fast...to Catch Gods Attention (Acts 10:30)

The Paul and Barnabas Fast...for Ordination

The Paul Fast...during Times of Hardship

The Power of Fasting