Day Six: A Sense of Urgency

It seems like when you read about fasting in the Bible, the circumstances are a little different than ours. The King just died (2 Samuel 1:12). Israel is about to be decimated by a war (Judges 20:28). David's child is about to die (2 Samuel 12:16).There's either a great sense of morning or an equally great sense of urgency.

It's easy to pray when there's something terrible about to happen. However, when our lives are good it is easy to forget that we need God. You could say it's like a nation being lulled into apathy while in times of peace. Paul put it like this:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. 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. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

Ephesians 6:10-13

If you did not know, this is a very important year for the HPC El Paso family. We're gearing up for an incredible season, but this is only possible by the grace of God. Let's pray with a sense of urgency these next couple of weeks. Let's not forget there is an enemy ready to destroy us, any chance he gets. Even if life is going great, why don't you "put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground..."

Day Five: Hope

As you pray and fast these 21 one days I would encourage you to do so with the hope that God is going to do something through it.

One of my favorite stories of fasting comes from the book of Esther. Haman was planning to kill all of the Jews and Esther thought that she might be able to stop his plot. So, she asked all of her people in the city to fast and pray with her three days and nights, and on the fourth day she went to her husband, the king, to plead her case. Her words are inspiring.

"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

Her resolute faith is echoed in her words. She hopes that God will move mightily, but even the prospect of death will not shake her belief.

So let's have some prodigious hopes for this coming year and not allow any roadblocks to discourage us. God is here and anything can happen.

Day Four: Agreement

Amos 3:3 Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

In the heart of every believer is the desire to walk closely with God. We know that He too desires a close relationship with each one of us. A key to having a strong level of spiritual intimacy with God is living in agreement with His will for our lives.

In Genesis 5:22, we read of Enoch and see that his life modeled a long journey, walking consistently with God, for it says, “Enoch walked with God 300 years...” Enoch lived a powerful life. He was a man that walked in agreement with God’s will and lived a life pleasing to God. (Hebrews 11:5b)

It is one thing to know God’s will for our lives; it’s another to live in agreement with His will. In order to enjoy the best life that God has for us, we must first understand that God does not change, but we sometimes must. Let’s earnestly seek to know and agree with God’s will for our lives. The level of our agreement with God will determine the degree of closeness in our walk with Him.

Pray today that we can walk in agreement with God and enjoy the life that He desires us to have in Christ.

Day Three: Fasting Removes Unbelief

Matthew 17:18-21
18 And Jesus rebuked the demon, and it came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. 19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not cast it out?” 20 So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, that if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there’, and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you. 21 However, this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”

When we pray and fast, we don’t do so to change God or His will. By praying and fasting, we are the ones changed. Coming into alignment with God helps us curb our doubts and fears. When we pray and fast, the thing that leaves - - the thing that “goes out”-- is our unbelief. It is when we have faith to believe, that we can pray with confidence and know that “nothing will be impossible” as we live to bring glory to God.
Ask God to strengthen our hearts to fully believe Him and believe His word. It is okay to recognize and acknowledge if you struggle with unbelief. It’s the first step in allowing God to strengthen your faith and bring you into alignment with His plan for your life.
What is it that you need faith to believe for? Align yourself with God’s Word and will during this fast. Release your unbelief. Pray with confidence, knowing “nothing will be impossible for you

Day Three: Personal Note

How are you doing on your fasting and prayer? I am doing well, it's amazing to me that every time I stretch myself beyond past expectations, God always shows up. In fact, it's is a promise from His word.

James 4:8
Come near to God and he will come near to you.

So, I encourage you today that if you are "hitting a wall" during this time, press through-He's right on the other side. My faith has been built already during these 21 days of fasting. I have gone beyond previous limits and found, once again, that God keeps getting richer. Thank you Lord for increasing my faith and coming close to me as I come close to you. I pray that more people can experience You in an initmate way.

Tip: Push through "realistic" barriers and human analytical thought. You can't fit an infinite God into your finite brain. :)

I am thankful to share this journey with you!

Day Two: Tune In

John 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”

Have you ever been searching for a radio station only to be frustrated by finding static rather than music? You then focus to fine tune the dial again, and suddenly you hear a clear signal. The fact is, the signal always existed on the airwaves; the only difference is that now you have adjusted your tuner to the right frequency.

In our hectic lives, there are so many signals bombarding our senses that it can become difficult to distinguish God’s voice from the deafening “static noise” of life. Fasting enables us to tune out the world’s distractions and tune in to God. As we fast, we deny our flesh. When we deny our flesh, we become more in tune to the Holy Spirit and can hear God’s voice more clearly. If you truly listen for God’s voice, you will hear it. When you hear it, it will build faith within you.
If you desire to tune out the static of life and really tune into the voice of God, come to Him first and foremost with ears that are willing to listen and a heart that is ready to obey what he says. (Psalm 34:18, Isaiah 66:2) The more we practice being in His presence, the clearer and more recognizable His voice becomes.

In this time of fasting, what is your mind tuned to? What distractions do you need to remove so that you can focus on God? Prepare your heart to hear the voice of God, and ask God to help you remove distractions that keep you from focusing on Him and hearing Him clearly.

Day One: Types of Fasts

While preparing for your fast, it is important to choose ahead of time what type of fast you will participate in. Not only will this help with making the necessary preparations to implement your plan, but as you commit to a specific fast ahead of time, and know how you’re going to do it, you will position yourself to finish strong.

Choosing your fasting plan is a very personal decision. We are all at different places in our walk with God and our spirituality should never be a cause for comparison or competition. There is nothing more “inherently spiritual” about one type of fast as opposed to another. Your personal fast should present a level of challenge to it, but know your body, know your options, and most importantly, seek God in prayer about this and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. It’s also important to not let what you eat or do not eat become the focus of your fast. This is a time to disconnect enough with your regular patterns and habits in order to connect closer to God.

Listed below, are some options and variations of different types of fasts you can choose to engage in. As you read over the information provided here, please consider how it applies to your circumstances and convictions. Fasting does require reasonable precautions. If you have any health concerns, please consult your physician prior to beginning your fast – especially if you are taking medication, have a chronic condition, or if you are pregnant or nursing.

Specific Food or Activity Fast

This type of fast refers to omitting a specific item(s), activity or habit from your time of prayer and fasting. For example, you may choose to eliminate red meat, processed or fast food, or sweets. It could also involve fasting from an activity or habit, such as television watching, or social media.

Daniel Fast

The Daniel fast is a great model to follow that proves to be extremely effective for spiritual focus, bodily discipline and purification in the body and soul. It is probably one of the most commonly referred to types of fasts, however within the term “Daniel Fast”, there is room for broad interpretation. In the book of Daniel, we find two different times where Daniel fasted, once in Daniel 1 and again in Daniel 10. Daniel 1 states that he ate vegetables and water, and in Daniel 10, while the passage does not give a specific list of foods that Daniel ate, it does state that Daniel ate no rich (or choice) foods as well as no meat or wine. So based on these two verses, we can see that either of these, or any variations in between constitutes a fast. Again, there is nothing “inherently spiritual” about one type of fast as opposed to another. It is important to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

Juice Fast

A juice fast is when no solid food is consumed and instead involves the intake of vegetable juices, fruit juices and water.

Water Fast

A water fast is eating no foods and drinking no liquids except water for a period of time. Extreme precautions should be taken with a water fast and should be done under the direction supervision and monitoring of your physician.

Total Fast

A total fast is where nothing – neither liquid, solid food or even water is consumed for a period of time. We do not recommend total fasting as this can be very dangerous to your health. Attempting to go without water especially, for any period of time can be extremely harmful to the body.

Duration and Extent of Your Fast

The 21 day fasting period is intentionally designed to be flexible. As with choosing what type of fast you will be undertaking, it is important to also decide ahead of time how long you will be fasting and to what extent you will be fasting. Some people may choose to fast at one level all 21 days or culminate with a special 3 day fast at the end. Others choose to fast one week out of the 21 days, or even fast once or twice a week throughout the 21 day period. This is a personal decision and one that should be prayerfully considered.