We are looking for and expecting God to move in a decisive and permanent breakthrough in the issue of abortion in NZ.  For this to occur we must also fast.  We must get serious.  Please seek God’s direction for you personally in this matter of fasting.  Jesus expects us to fast.  Let’s be like David and “humble our soul with fasting”.  (Ps 35:13)

May God extend His grace, favour and protection to you during these 40 days.  Sue Rowe

As you consider this issue of fasting, you could meditate on Isaiah 58, especially v6-12.

Three helpful books: “Shaping History by Prayer and Fasting”.  by Derek Prince

       “God’s Chosen Fast” by Arthur Wallis

       “The Miracle Results of Fasting” by Dave Williams (Christian Living Series)

FASTING will bring greater breakthrough.

As Derek Prince says: “Many of God’s choicest provisions only come through prayer with fasting”. 

I like this definition: Fasting is the voluntary abstinence for spiritual purposes.

Fasting is not my favourite activity!  Leading up to a fast I have to work hard aligning my will with God’s will and praying for the Holy Spirit to prepare me.

Derek Prince:  “We must recognize that the flesh – our carnal nature – opposes the Holy Spirit. They are in direct opposition to one another. If the carnal nature prevails, the Holy Spirit cannot have his way. Fasting is God’s appointed way to bring the carnal nature into subjection. We are saying to our soul, that thing that demands attention and satisfaction, ‘You are not important. What God wants is much more important.’…The Holy Spirit is then free to power us up to do what God desires. Fasting uncovers both our spiritual and physical problems.  When the problem is exposed, don’t blame the problem on the fasting.  Instead, thank God that the fasting has revealed the problem, which was already there, and deal with it.  There is no way to measure the power released by prayer and fasting when practiced with right motives and in accordance with the principles of Scripture. The power thus released can change not only individuals or families, but cities and nations…”

POINTS TO KEEP IN MIND WHEN FASTING:

v      Seek God for the specific day/days you are to fast as part of this 40 day fast, and what you are to fast from. You may feel to fast one day a week, or do some 3 day fasts, or a longer fast, or juice or water for a period of time.  I hope many will fast the whole 40 days in some way; like Jesus did. (Matt 4:2)

v      A “Hebrew fast” is from after dinner one day until dinner the next day. 

v      A “Daniel” fast (Dan 10:2-3) is fruit, veges only, no seasonings, savoury food or sweets. (I usually include nuts, seeds and dried fruit.)

v      If you are not familiar with fasting begin small e.g. miss out snacks between meals, or cut out sugar, desserts, chocs, or miss the last meal of the day and not eat until breakfast, or cut out tea/coffee, alcohol. Then omit two meals.

v      There may be some side effects of extended fasting e.g. headache, stomach ache, coated tongue, bad breath, tiredness, moodiness, weight loss.  There may be opposition e.g. from family, Satan. Pray for grace, healing, whatever you need. Press into God, resist the devil – and your flesh – and continue fasting!!

v      Use common sense and wisdom as you come off your fast.  Avoid large meals, fatty foods, pizza – your body has been on holiday and needs time to wake up.  The longer the fast the more careful you need to be. Self-control is important. Eat small amounts, chew well, begin with fruit and vegetables, and/or juice.

v      If you cannot fast food, then be creative and fast for a period of time e.g. from the internet, TV, magazines, sport, text messaging, or from whatever ‘sin’ you know deep down you need to stop.  Devote the time usually spent on these activities to praying.

v      Set aside some time for self-examination and repentance especially regarding the prayer points. Be honest before God. You could pray Ps 139:23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts…”

The more seriously you are fasting the more necessary it is to arrange for others to be covering you with prayer.  Arrange this before starting.

“Fasting is a ministry, not a misery” – Jack Hayford