Thank you for taking part of our 7 Day Fast. We pray and believe that God has big things in store for you and you take time to seek Him and align yourself with His heart. Below you will see the heart behind the fast, different types of fasts, along with digital prayer guides for adults and kids.
The goal of fasting is to draw near to God.
It hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out.
As you begin this fast, there are a few things to think about:
REMEMBER WHY YOU ARE DOING THIS: As you begin your fast, your body may start to feel the effects of what you're doing. This can happen physically if you're giving up food or possibly mentally or emotionally as you give up things things like social media, games, and so on. As you go through the fast, remember that you're doing it to bring God's presence into your life and for His hand over the things you're praying for. When it gets tough, remind yourself that you're doing this to humble yourself and get closer to God and seek His will over your life.
FOCUS ON THE GOOD: During a fast, it's easy to focus on what we're giving up and to let our pride and boastfulness overshadow the purpose of the fast. It's also common to start feeling the physical effects of the fast and to let negative thoughts and complaints about those effects slip out of our mouths. Be mindful of this tendency and make an effort to speak positively and give praise to God throughout the entire fast, even when you're feeling fatigued. Remember that the purpose of the fast is to draw closer to God, not to draw attention to ourselves or our struggles.
GIVE GRACE WHERE NEEDED: As you progress through the fast, you may be tempted to "slip up" and give in to your cravings or desires. If this happens, don't let guilt and shame consume you. Instead, pray and ask God for forgiveness, and remember that this experience is an opportunity to see that our flesh is weak but God's grace is strong. Don't let feelings of guilt stop you from seeking God's will during this time of fasting and prayer.
BE MINDFUL OF YOUR BODY: It's normal to experience fatigue and other physical and emotional changes during a fast. However, it's important to listen to your body and not push yourself beyond your limits. If your body is telling you that it needs something, it's okay to give it what it needs. The purpose of the fast is to strengthen your faith, not to cause negative physical harm to yourself. If you have specific dietary needs or concerns, consider taking supplements or vitamins, and consult with a medical professional before starting the fast to ensure that you can safely participate in a way that promotes both spiritual and physical well-being.
COMMON FAST TYPES:
DANIEL FAST: based on the Biblical book of Daniel. It involves a 7 day ad libitum (as much or as often as necessary or desired) food intake period, no animal products and preservatives, and inclusive of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds.
MODIFIED DANIEL FAST: similar to DANIEL FAST listed above; however may be altered in some way. Examples is doing the DANIEL FAST but also including bread or crackers in your diet. Or perhaps eating meat in one meal per day.
ONE MEAL FAST: consists of completely giving up one meal per day to use time to pray and read God's Word. This is best to be done consistently with same meal each day, but can be modified based on the situation.
POSSESSION/ENTERTAINMENT FAST: giving up a particular possession or technology for 21 days. This includes TV, game console, computer technology, social media, etc. During the time you would normally do these activities, take a moment to pray, worship, or read your bible.
SOCIAL MEDIA: fasting from one or all social media accounts during the 21 day fast. If this fast is chosen, it is recommended that you log out of the accounts or hide the apps to remove temptation. It is also recommended that when you feel the desire to scroll on social media, take a few minutes to pray, listen to a worship song, or read from your bible.
As you fast, we are believing that God is going to do some great things in your life. We know that the best is yet to come and we pray you begin to experience it while you seek His will.
Be blessed.