Types of fast and what they require. Broad Types
1. Corporate: This is a called fast done by the Pastor or Leader of a church or group of people. (see 1 Kings 21:9, Ezra 8:21, Ester 4:16) This type of fast requires that the people are on one accord about the fast and will be in compliance to what the Pastor or Leader, by the leading of Holy Spirit has called them to do.
2. Private: This is a personal fast for an individual or husband and wife; lead by the Lord. (see Matthew 6:18)
Specific Types
There are many kinds of fasts. Here are a few suggestions. I will leave it to your discretion on the kind that works best with your daily routine but I recommend the Daniel Fast. Two things are important. Denying the flesh and Prayer for 21 days.
1. Daniel Fast: No meat, sweet foods, or strong drinks (see Daniel 10:2-3). This can be done for an extended period of time, this could also be considered a vegetarian diet because there is no meat intake. This is the Fasting the Wood Chapel is encouraging the body to prayerfully consider doing this year.
2.Partial Fast: This would be not eating one main meal you
would usually eat on a daily routine, such as breakfast, or lunch, or dinner. This meal would be skipped until the fast was over.
3. Half-Day: Fast until 3 P.M. (ninth hour). This is the fast John Wesley participated in. (see Acts 10:30-31)
4. Complete Fast: This would require you to abstain from all solid foods, liquids only. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, “After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.” This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty. (see Luke 4:1-2)
5. Total Fast: This is a full and complete fast, no food or drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16. This type of fast should be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.
6. Juice Fast: This is a fast where only fresh fruits and vegetables are juiced in a juicer. If you can’t juice your own fruits or veggies try buying juices without sugar or additives. When using fruits that are acidic, such as lemons, oranges, and even tomatoes dilute them with water for your stomachs sake.
Lengths of Fast
Half-Day: see Judges 20:26, Acts 10:30
One Day
Three Days: see Acts 9:9, Esther 4:15-16
Seven Days: see 1 Samuel 31:13 5.FourteenDays: seeActs27:33
Twenty One Days: see Daniel 10:3
Forty Days: see 1 Kings 19:8, Luke 4:1-2
NOTE: The length of the fast should be dependent on three factors –
Your health,
God’s leading, and
Type of fast
USING WISDOM IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT IN FASTING.
Other activities to commitment to Fasting
Although not mentioned in the Bible we as Christians today can also commit to fasting from other activities:
a.Electronics
b. Computers
d. Video games
e. Limited cell phone use if possible.
f. Try to give up some entertainment like sports and movies and focus more on
prayer and studying the Word of God during the times we do some of the mentioned
activities.
Daniel Fast: foods to avoid
Basically, you want to avoid the King's food. Some might sum it up to say that you shouldn't have the King's Burgers or fries. You should probably avoid the golden arches as well. However, many fast food restaurants now have good salads.
To avoid the king's food means that we are definitely avoiding all those things that the Jews couldn't eat. We're also avoiding foods that only royalty in ancient days could afford. It wasn't until recent history that most Americans could afford to eat meat or poultry. Today, in most of the world, very few people can afford to eat any kind of meat or processed foods, like the foods in this list.
Meat, because Daniel didn't want to take the chance of eating non-kosher meat and/or meat that was offered to idols.
white flour and all products using it
white rice, white bread, hominy and pasta
fried foods
caffeine
carbonated beverages, including diet sodas
Wine or any other alcoholic drinks
foods containing preservatives or additives
refined sugar
high fructose corn syrup
chemical sugar substitutes
margarine, shortening, animal fat, high fat products
Daniel Fast: foods to eat
Daniel seemed to eat only things planted for harvest and drank only water. You may want to keep it simple and eat only vegetables and drink only water.
Whole Grains: brown rice, oats, rolled oats, oatmeal, barley, corn, popcorn, wheat
Legumes: dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, green beans, green peas, peanuts, etc. Grain legumes include beans, lentils, lupins, peas and peanuts.
Fruits: apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, breadfruit, cantaloupe, cherries, coconuts, cranberries, dates, figs, grapefruit, grapes, grenadine, guava, honeydew melons, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, mulberry, nectarines, oats, olives, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon, etc.
Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, gingerroot, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, any peppers, any potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, etc.
Seeds: all nuts, natural peanut butter, natural almond butter, sprouts, ground flax, etc
Liquids: spring water, distilled water, filtered water, 100% all natural fruit or vegetable juices
Other Food items to Avoid during Your Fast
Avoid caffeinated drinks.
Avoid chewing gum and mints even if your breath is bad. Drink decaffeinated mint tea to assist with your breath.
*These items stimulate digestive action in your stomach and may make you feel hungry.
Why Pray?
Praying to our Heavenly Father, in the Name of Jesus Christ, using God's Holy Word (scripture) in prayer is the most powerful thing we can do for ourselves and others. The heart of prayer is the will of our Heavenly Father. Part of that will is simply coming to Him. He desires us, as His dear children to know Him. He desires your love, your attention, your fellowship (more than just being related to Him through Jesus), He also desires a time of communion, an intimate time of personal exchange and involvement, and finally a release of His will and manifest Presence in the earth through prayer.
As you pray for your needs and the needs of others, you are actually becoming a prayer warrior, an intercessor, just as Jesus was and is today for each of us. Jesus is constantly interceding for us to our Heavenly Father. It is written that Jesus was sent to destroy the works of the devil, 1 John 3:8. We are to do the same. We have the power and authority through Jesus Christ. All we have to do is live in the promise of the Word of God and to use His precious Name.
The most powerful weapons we have are the Name of Jesus Christ and God's Holy Word against satan and his foul wicked demons. No power of darkness can stand against the Word of God in the Name of Jesus Christ, and through the Blood of Jesus Christ.
The importance of confessing our sins and worshipping God, according to the Word of God:
"If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me." Psalms 66:18.
"We know that God does not listen to sinners: but if anyone is God-fearing and a worshipper of Him and does His will, He listens to him." John 9:31.
Prayerlessness is a sin according to 1 Sam. 12:23.
Each day during your fast, we encourage you to keep a daily journal. Write any revelations that God gives you about yourself and about life in general.
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