Tag: fasting

What Every Christian Should Know About Fasting

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Fasting is not an option. If you are a Christian, fasting should be part of your Christian walk. If you have never fasted, I highly suggest you do it. However, before your fast, there a few things you should know.

1. Not everyone is ready for 25 days on water.

When I was in my early 20’s, I could fast for three days (water only) with relative ease. But, my diet was also a wreck so I had extra fat reserves. Now that I’m healthier, older, thinner and have a child,  I’m ready to fall on the floor the second day of water fasting. My husband, on the other hand, could fast 25 days on water with ease, but he’s also a superhero which is another story. I felt guilt about my inability to fast for long periods until I watched Marilyn Hickey speak on fasting.  She explained that three day water fasts don’t work out well for her either, so she lives a fasted life. Each day she foregoes a meal or two. I made a commitment to live a fasted life.

2. A fast from television is NOT a Biblical fast.

With that said, everyone should fast from tv and technology because many people (including Christians) are addicted. However, Biblical fasts always involves food – it never involves entertainment.

3. When you fast you should avoid tv commercials.

The only thing that you’ll see on television during fasts are burgers and pizza. Also, people will invite you to birthday parties and dinner parties. A million people will call you at once to invite you to eat. This happens to me every time I fast. Don’t fall for it. Be socially prepared for fasting and prepare to turn invitations down because whatever you are doing for God is more important than what you were going to do with friends or family.

4. The devil will throw the kitchen sink at you when you fast.

My husband and I went on a forty day fast together several months ago, and the spiritual warfare was intense from day one!! It’s not uncommon to encounter spiritual warfare during a fast – be prepared – wear the armor of God. God knows you are fasting for His glory and He will help you.

5. Fasting breaks chains, demolishes strongholds, and it sets people free.

Fasting provides revelation – fasting can give you answers. Fasting is one of the most beautiful and powerful weapons God has given us. Use fasting to your advantage.

Difficult Season for You? Fast!

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Are things going a little crazy in your life? Are you dealing with confusion? Are you mentally or emotionally drained? If you are going through a difficult time – I have one recommendation – fast!

Fasting exposes the enemy.

I know what it’s like to be in a position where you are wondering “Why God?” “Why is this happening to me?” I know what it’s like to feel stuck. But, I also know that fasting brings answers.

Fasting brings revelation. Fasting brings understanding. Fasting opens your eyes and makes you more sensitive.

Whenever you deny something as essential as food to get closer to God, you become more sensitive to spiritual things and the voice of God. You receive revelation because you’re not focused on yourself – you are focused on Him; and when you’re focused on Him, wisdom and understanding come.

True story: my husband and I bought a beautiful bohemian rug for our living area. We spent a lot of time on the rug. We didn’t know that our rug was leaking dye. The skin is your largest organ and absorbs anything that you place on it – in this case, we were absorbing synthetic dye. We didn’t know it. We weren’t aware of what was happening to us.

For some reason, we felt compelled to go on a fast. During the fast, we discovered that the rug was leaking unbeknownst to us. There was a danger in our home that we were completely unaware of, and I am certain that fasting exposed the danger.

Fasting exposes danger, but it also reveals revelation.

I’ve experienced scenarios like this on more than one occasion, and I know that many, many other Christians have experienced the benefits and power of fasting.

Fasting provides direction, revelation and understanding but another key component of fasting is that it exposes the enemy. If you are going through a difficult season, fast and get answers. If you are enduring hardship, then fast, gain clarity, and get free.

Prayer Can Move the Earth… Literally

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Acts 4:31- And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.

An earthquake occurs in the book of Acts – there is no other way to describe what took place in natural, scientific terms other than to refer to it as an earthquake. The Christians were praying, and their prayers shook the earth.

We can speculate for days about why the place shook after they prayed. Perhaps it shook because principalities were being dethroned in the spiritual realm. Perhaps it was shaking because the Holy Spirit was coming to fill those who were praying, and the earth shakes at the presence of God. Perhaps the earthquake was a prophetic sign and symbol of the great shaking that the apostles were about to bring upon the earth as they gained the boldness to preach the Gospel and turn the world upside down.

Or maybe it shook to remind us of the power of prayer.

Prayer is powerful. It’s one of the most powerful weapons that a Christian has in their arsenal. I believe fully and deeply in the power of prayer. I so believe in prayer that I don’t go a single day without it. I’ve even written a book about it.

Prayer is powerful. Prayer can move the earth. Prayer can bring the Holy Spirit into a place. Prayer can produce boldness. Prayer can turn the world upside down.

Let’s not forget to pray.

The Feast of Unleavened Bread

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This week is the Feast of Unleavened Bread. The first year we honored the feast, my husband and I frantically called around trying to find a restaurant where a meal was yeast free…

Grocery shopping was quite the experience. The ingredient list on the back of of nearly every product contained yeast. I can remembering lamenting that “Everything is full of yeast! Yeast is everywhere!”

Sin is everywhere.

That is the point of the feast. The Feast of Unleavened Bread is meant to heighten our spiritual sensitivity to sin. Our first celebration was incredibly enlightening. We all felt a little bit more spiritual by the time the feast was over, and we were thinner too. You can only gain so much weight on Matzah.

Our diets have changed over the last few years. We simply don’t eat as much bread as we used to. Ezekiel bread is the only “bread” brought into our home. So, the feast is less of a challenge now. We have also grown spiritually, which helps.

This week we’ve avoided the croissants from the cozy French baker downstairs.. During the feast, croissants are replaced with prayer and an acknowledgement that the world is full of yeast… and sin.