"Man does not live on bread alone, But on every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)
The purpose of fasting is to lead us into deeper intimacy with, and greater dependence upon, the Lord as we seek His will for our life and His purposes in the world. Fasting is surrendering the flesh to be renewed in the Spirit. Fasting allows us to be emptied of ourselves so we can be filled with God's Word, receiving the necessary fuel, and allowing the Holy Spirit of God to accomplish the will in our lives.
When we fast our focus is not to be on the legalism of sacrificing our food (reference Isaiah 58). Instead, when we come to the Lord in the spirit of fasting, we are separating ourselves from the distractions of this temporal world to allow God the opportunity to speak to us. Fasting affords us the opportunity to hear more clearly as the many distractions of daily life have been set aside for the higher priority of seeking God's purposes, and the cravings for worldly enticements are replaced with a hungering for the things of God. Fasting is all about inquiry and preparation. We have a greater desire to know God's will and are willing to set all else aside, including self, to wait upon His instruction and receive His empowerment for the role we will play in accomplishing His plans.
When we fast we become completely dependent upon the Lord for all our needs, even our most basic necessity, food, so that we recognize the Lord as our most basic necessity. As a result we learn to depend upon Him more fully and we are more willing to receive His direction, strength, and guidance to accomplish the work He has called us to do. The Lord is in the building program and He desires that His children be adequately nourished and strengthened to stand firm in the spiritual battles they face each day; this requires being equipped with the spiritual weapons of His Word and prayer so that we will achieve the victory He has purposed. Fasting puts us in the position of prayer and dependent upon the Word for our sustenance throughout the day.
When we fast we are consecrating ourselves to God. Repentance plays a primary role in the purification process as the Lord washed us with water through the Word (reference Ephesians 5:26), cleansing us from areas of unconfessed sin and unforgiveness that have been hindering our prayer life. Each time we submit to the Lord with prayer and fasting our ears become more in tune and our vision becomes more clear enabling us to discern His voice more clearly and moving us to respond more obediently when He calls.
How To Begin:
It is important to pray and ask the Lord to reveal to you the type of fast, and the duration of the fast, He would like for you to do. Fasting is not something we do in our own strength; it must be Spirit-led to achieve the purposes for which God has purposed for each individual. This ministry recommends the partial or Daniel-type fast (vegetables, water; whole grains, organic foods - eliminating processed foods, caffeine, and sugars). The type of fast the Lord calls us to, as given in Isaiah 58, is a call to obedience and action. Fasting must be properly motivated by the heart, with a desire to hear from the Lord, to achieve the desired results. Fasting is not harmful to the body; if done with the proper motivation, it is beneficial to the body, mind, and spirit. It is recommended that people with certain medical conditions or on medication to first consult their physician before undertaking a fast of any length. Young children and pregnant women are cautioned not to fast. This ministry recommends for those who cannot give up their food to come to the table of the Lord in the spirit of fasting and "feast" upon His Word. Time spent in the Word of God and prayer will achieve the Lord's desired results for all His children who willingly offer the sacrifice of their time to experience greater intimacy with Him. The Lord will show Himself as Sustainer and Provider to all who humbly and obediently seek Him.
It is vital that you do not miss any of your "spiritual" meals as you dine with the Lord these next 40 days. The intended results of this fasting journey are dependent upon seeking the Lord in His Word and in prayer three times a day. It is also recommended that you keep a daily journal to record your journey with the Lord. Begin by recording your prayers, questions and concerns and wait patiently upon Him as He begins to reveal to you, through the pages of His Word, His will and purpose for your life.
There are three types of fasts found in the Bible:
The Normal Fast - In the normal fast no solid food is consumed. Clear liquids are consumed and can include water (highly recommended), clear broth, fruit and vegetable juices. This is the fast that Jesus did (reference Matthew 4:2). A water only fast is considered a normal fast.
The Absolute Fast - This fast is also called the Complete Fast in that no water or food is consumed. This type of fast is rare, because, apart from supernatural guidance the human body cannot be sustained without water for more than 3 days. Moses (Exodus 34:28), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), Ezra (Ezra 10:6), Esther (Esther 4:16), and Saul of Tarsus (Acts 9:9) were led by God to undertake the absolute fast for 1, 3 and even 40 days.
The Partial Fast - This fast emphasizes restricting one's diet by eliminating certain types of foods (such as sweets, caffeine, or fast foods, etc.) or restricting and/or eliminating meals for part of a day, a week, or on a rotational basis. Elijah was fed by ravens and by the widow of Zeraphath (1 Kings 17:6, 15), and the Daniel fast falls under this category (Daniel 1:15; 10:3). This fast, at first, may seem the simplest; but it requires no less self-discipline than the others and can provide the basis for undertaking the normal fast.
Each fasting journey will be unique. If this is your first 40 day fasting journey this ministry offers a preparatory meal-by-meal devotional journey to guide you through your first 40 days. Entitled, EAT at the Table of the King, this devotional guide is available on the Temple side of this website (simply click on the Registration button, creating your user ID and password and LOGIN to begin your journey); or you can download and print out your own free copy by opening the door to the Bridal Chamber under The Year of the Lord's Favor on the website Home Page and click on the EAT icon.
The current Year of the Tithe 40 day fasting journey is entitled, DEBTOR: A Labor of Love. This journey is a daily devotional email journey. If you are not a registered member of the Trumpet and Torch website, simply click on the Registration page and fill out the form to begin your journey. You will receive a daily devotional to guide you through the next 40 days of prayer as you feast on the Word of God and surrender the first 40 days of the New Year to the Lord.
Begin each day in prayer and be willing to adjust your schedule during the next 40 days to carve out intimate time to be with the Lord in His Word and in prayer. You may find yourself weaker at the beginning of your journey, but gaining strength as the week's progress. Weakness and hunger pains are signals to stop and spend time with the Lord. You will be amazed at how opening up His Word and feasting on the portion He gives you will strengthen you and fill you in ways you could never imagine or experience with physical food (reference Lamentations 3:24-25).
The ultimate goal of each of our fasting journeys is to lead us to deeper levels of intimacy with our Lord and establish a more meaningful, abiding, and dependent relationship with our First Love (reference John 15:4-8; Revelation 2:4-5). Believe God for one meal at a time and allow Him to do the necessary stripping and cleansing as His "living and active" Word takes root in your life (reference Hebrews 4:12). If you feel weak and are tempted to stop, press in deeper, and do not give up. If you sense you have failed, simply begin where you left off and allow God to continue the process. This journey is about the Lord working in your life, not you trying to prove something to yourself. "He must become greater; I must become less" (John 3:30). If you sense the Lord desiring for you to go deeper in His Word, consider the daily devotional as a starting point and be willing to go where God guides you. He has so much He wants to reveal to you personally. Keeping a journal will provide a wonderful testimony of places He has taken you during these next 40 days.
Take time to rejoice and give thanks to the Lord for the work He is doing in and through your life (reference Psalm 100). He loves you so much and takes great pleasure in your willingness to surrender this time to seek His face (reference Jeremiah 29:11-12). He delights in you as you delight in Him (reference Luke 10:42)! Be blessed!
"My food,' said Jesus, 'is to do the will of Him Who sent Me and to finish His work." (John 14:34)