Important information about 14 Days of Prayer and Fasting

As we prepare for our first extended fast (2 weeks) of the year, we must prepare ourselves adequately so that the fast can honour God and fulfill its purpose. Here are some items to help and encourage you.

Determine in your heart that you will be committed to completing the fast, and pray and ask God for faith and endurance. During this 14 Days of Prayer and Fasting, we are committing to a Daniel Fast which is a “no meats and sweets” fast. We also recommend a “soul detox”, that we abstain from or limit the use of electronic media (TV, gaming, social media, etc) for spiritual purposes. Replacing the time we normally spend on electronic media for prayer and Bible-reading are the benefits of this soul detox.

Seek advice and permission before the fast. Seek medical advice before the fast, especially if you have any existing medical concerns or conditions. If you are under 18 years of age, discuss your desire to fast with your parents and get their permission because spiritual covering, submission and unity are important factors when fasting. Remember, fasting is an attitude of the heart!

Fast and pray in order to humble yourself and purify our walk with God. In fasting we are not trying to get something from the Father, but rather seeking to realign our hearts' affections with His. In fasting we can more readily say, "We love you Lord, more than anything in the world." Lust of any kind is perverted worship, but fasting enables us to cleanse the sanctuary of our hearts from every other rival.

Don't boast about your fast. Let people know you won't be eating, if you need to (Matthew 6:16-18).

Do the fast as a family. Two are better than one! We encourage parents and kids to consider fasting together. Several generations fasting together has a powerful impact!

Have a clear target for prayer focus. Without a vision (a clear, prophetic prayer goal) the people perish. Make sure you familiarize yourself with our church’s prayer focus during this time by attending the All In Church Prayer Meetings. Also, make sure you write down your personal vision for this fast, so you can run with it (Habakkuk 2:2).

Prepare physically. Two days before you fast, limit your intake of meats and sweets. Fruit is a natural cleanser and easy to digest. Try to stop or limit drinking coffee before the fast. Drink lots of water to help your body detoxify. Prepare yourself for mental discomforts such as impatience, crankiness and anxiety. Expect physical discomforts. You may experience dizziness, headaches and different kinds of pains. The headaches are not a sign to stop fasting. Your body is working to cleanse itself of impurities.

Take time to pray and read the Word. This may seem obvious, but busyness and distractions can keep you from devotions. Reading books with testimonies of victories gained through fasting will encourage you. Head over to Koorong or Amazon and find a book that will build you up spiritually during the 14 days.

Prepare for opposition. On the day of your fast you can bet donuts will be at your workplace or in class. Someone will suddenly be inspired to cook your favourite meals. Press through. Many times, you may feel more tension build at home. Satan tempted Jesus on the fast, and we must expect the same. Discouragement may come in like a flood, but recognize the source and take your stand on the victory of Christ.

If you fail, don't give in to condemnation. The "to fast or not to fast" dilemma can be a major tool of the enemy. Even though you may fail several times, God always extends grace.

Feel free to rest a lot and continue to exercise with supervision.

Breakthroughs often come after a fast, not during it. Do not listen to the lie that nothing is happening. Every fast done in faith will be rewarded.

Break the fast slowly. Re-introduce meats and sweets slowly into your diet. Don’t make the mistake of over-eating meats and sweets to make up for the time lost during the fast. If possible, take the opportunity that the physical re-set a fast gives to your body to incorporate new and healthy food habits.