ONLINE WORLDWIDE SACRED ASSEMBLY- Day 4 FASTING AND PRAYER FOR REVIVAL: A BLUEPRINT FOR SUCCESS “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 I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chron 7:14). Fasting and prayer is a sign of humility that has long been used by God’s people in times of national distress as they seek to conform to 2 Chronicles 7:14. We need to follow God’s instructions is we want Him to look with favor on us and bless our lands. We must fast and pray like Samuel whose nation was filled with lawlessness. Mature saints will heed this call. However, novices who have never tried to fast, or who have tried and failed may not. The thought of withholding food for any length of time can be frightening to a novice. Other obedient souls may try to fast and fail miserably because the type of fast they choose is simply too difficult for their level of spiritual maturity. This writing is for those novices who have never fasted, and are willing to try and for those who have failed, and are willing to try again. Even a novice can fast successfully! Fasts are frightening if your frame of reference is a diet, especially if you have failed at dieting (and who hasn’t). If you understand the differences between a diet and a fast, it will be clearer why fasts are far more successful than diets: 1. Fasting relies on God’s power. Dieting relies on man’s willpower. Man’s power is limited. God’s power is unlimited. When you begin a fast, prayerfully tell God your purpose, and ask for His power to complete it. 2. During a fast, one’s focus is on God. During a diet, one’s focus is usually on hunger. When fasting, the devil tempted Jesus who was saying, “Command these stones to be made bread.” Jesus said, “Man does not live by bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt 4:3,4). Focusing on hunger is focusing on flesh, while focusing on God drowns out hunger. While fasting, deal with hunger by praying, “Father God, I want to crave you with the same intensity that I crave food.” This refocuses your attention from flesh to God. 3. The main activities while fasting are spiritual, such as prayer, Bible reading, and edifying biographies. The main activity while dieting is temporal, such as the affairs of the day. As was just stated, focusing on spiritual matters drowns out hunger. Therefore, it is optimal if one can remain focused on spiritual matters for the entire day. However, there are those who must work during a fast and only have time for prayer and Scripture during breaks, but this is much more difficult. A fast that is focused on God, relies on His power, and is centered on spiritual matters and is done for a purpose that is pleasing to God is a blueprint for success! There are several types of fasts that have been used by God’s people. For beginners, prayerfully choose the fast that has the greatest chance of success. When you have succeeded at one fast, you may add a level of difficulty. 1. ABSOLUTE FAST: During Moses’ fast, he ate no food and drank no water for forty days. This fast should only be done for a short period of time. This is not a beginner’s fast. 2. PARTIAL FAST: This fast limits the amount of meals eaten, the type of food eaten, or the number of calories ingested. Daniel ate only vegetables and drank only water, refusing the King’s food. In 1859, businessmen skipped their noon time meal, and instead, spent their lunch time in church praying for a heaven sent revival. God heard their heart cry and sent the “1859 Businessmen’s Prayer Revival” that spread like wildfire across the USA. This fast is an option for the beginner. However, there is one that is easier. 3. COMMON FAST: This fast omits only solid food for a definite period of time. Some people drink juice and water, while others drink only water. For the novice, I suggest a 24 hour fast with about 500 calories of juice and water. Drink the juice very slowly over a 12 hour period. To make this juice and water beverage, put about 500 calories of juice into a container then add enough water to make a total of 24 ounces. Then drink two ounces of this diluted juice per hour for 12 hours. You could start at 8 AM and finish at 8 PM. Drink lots of plain water as well. Plan this fast on a day that you can stay focused on God. Whenever possible, fill your day with spiritual matters such as prayer, Bible study, and spiritual reading. When you feel a hunger pang, remember to pray, “Father God, I want to crave you with the same intensity that I crave food.” Even YOU can fast! During the “ELEVEN DAYS ABLAZE” of our WORLDWIDE SACRED ASSEMBLY” let us pray about how the Holy Spirit would have us fast so that God will hear from heaven and heal our lands. Let us pray: “Father God, You promised that when Your people humbled themselves and prayed, and sought Your face, and turned from their wicked ways, that YOU WOULD HEAR from heaven, forgive their sin and heal their land. You are a promise keeping God. We are seeking Your face. We have examined our lives for sin. Show us whatever changes we must make. Help us to humble ourselves in a solemn fast. We need You desperately, Lord to take over our lives and our lands. Hear our heart cry, dear Father. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.” God bless you dear prayer warriors! You are World Changers! Dr. Cheryl Rickards President, Warrior Bride International
Posted on: Thu, 05 Sep 2013 01:32:29 +0000
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