2016 Prayer and Fasting Guide January 10th-31st “Giving up something good for something better.”

2016 is an important year for our church! We’ll begin the year giving our attention to God through prayer and fasting from January 10th through 31st. Beginning the year with a corporate fast invites God to connect with us in a very unique and special way. His presence grows greater and greater with each day of the fast. Without fail, He makes His presence known! By fasting in January, we hope that God will order our steps for the rest of the year and beyond. The concept is much the same as praying in the morning to set our mind for the entire day. If we will pray, seek God, and give Him our best at the year's onset, He will undoubtedly bless our ENTIRE year: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these will be given to you as well.” (Matthew 6:33). Fasting is a principle that God intended for everyone to implement. It's not a punishment; it's a privilege! By making fasting a way of life, you can get closer to God and grow in your spiritual walk like never before. Fasting is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us for our daily lives. Through fasting, you can experience a release from the bondage of sin, restoration in your relationships, 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

financial victories, spiritual renewal, healing and so much more! Spiritual fasts are always motivated by intimacy with God, not losing weight. It’s not a time to be focused on the scale. In fact, it’s recommend to refrain from using a scale to measure your weight during a fast. Another reward of fasting has to do with your future. God has great plans for your life. While fasting, you can clear up lines of communication with God to help you pursue that dream. As you fast, pray for God's direction and guidance. Focus your faith on Him delivering wisdom for your journey. When you fast, pray and focus on righteousness you will see amazing results from God. You will see godly changes in your home/family, prayers answered in incredible ways, wisdom gained regarding hard issues. It's all about putting Him first, and letting our Him lead the way all year long. Without a doubt, fasting sets you on a great course every year. Ps 37:23 says, "The steps of a man are established by the LORD, And He delights in his way" (NASB). Below you’ll find information on: • WHAT TO EXPECT ON A FAST • TYPES OF FAST • LENGTHS OF A FAST • OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES TO AVOID WHILE FASTING • DANIEL FAST: FOODS TO AVOID • DANIEL FAST: FOODS TO EAT • FOOD ITEMS TO AVOID DURING YOUR FAST • RESOURCES • SCRIPTURES & LESSONS ON FASTING 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

WHAT TO EXPECT Many people believe the first week is the hardest during a fast. Symptoms like grumpiness, sleepiness, headaches, and cravings are all normal because your body is detoxing. The detox part can last for as few as 3 days, but it normally takes a week to feel refreshed (and stronger than ever). What's the easiest thing about it? You can make your healthy food, like bean soups and snacks for the week ahead. Because you are eating so fresh, your meals and snacks can easily be prepared ahead of time. By the time your first week is up, you will be used to leaving your house with healthy food. Once your body detoxes, smells that come from places like fast-food restaurants can even become gruesome instead of desirable. We don’t expect that everyone will be able to join us in our fast. If you can’t please follow along by reading through the 21-Day quiet times below. So if you can't fast, you can still join, with equal impact, by praying for God's grace and strength for those who do! James 4:8 says, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you." He has amazing things in store for us, and we are excited about our next chapter.

2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

TYPES OF FAST 1. Corporate: This is a called fast done by the leader of a church or group of people. (see 1 Kings 21:9, Ezra 8:21, Ester 4:16) 2. Private: This is a personal fast for an individual or husband and wife; lead by the Lord. (see Matthew 6:18) 3. Partial Fast: Refraining from eating one main meal you
 would usually eat on a daily routine, such as breakfast, or lunch, or dinner. This meal would be skipped until the fast was over. 4. Half-Day: Fasting until 3 P.M. (ninth hour). See Acts 10:30-31. 5. Complete Fast: This would require you to abstain from all solid foods, liquids only. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, “After fasting forty days and forty nights, He was hungry.” This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty. (see Luke 4:1-2) 6. Total Fast: This is a full and complete fast, no food or drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus. Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16. Total fast should be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time. 7. Juice Fast: When only fresh fruits and vegetables are juiced in a juicer. If you can’t juice your own fruits or veggies try buying juices without sugar or additives. When using fruits that are acidic, such as lemons, oranges, and even tomatoes dilute them with water for your stomachs sake. 8. Daniel Fast: No meat, sweet foods, or strong drinks (see Daniel 10:2-3). This can be done for an extended period of time, this 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

could also be considered a vegetarian diet because there is no meat intake.

LENGTHS OF A FAST 1. Half-Day: see Judges 20:26, Acts 10:30 2. One Day 3. Three Days: see Acts 9:9, Esther 4:15-16 4. Seven Days: see 1 Samuel 31:13 5. Fourteen Days: see Acts27:33 6. Twenty One Days: see Daniel 10:3 7. Forty Days: see 1 Kings 19:8, Luke 4:1-2

NOTE: The length of the fast should be dependent on three factors – 1. Your health, 2) God’s leading, and 3) Type of fast. USING WISDOM IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT IN FASTING.

OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES TO AVOID WHILE FASTING Authentic fasts involve abstaining from food. There are also other activities and items that you can refrain from in an effort to help maintain a spiritual focus. A few include: a. Electronics (Computers, TV, Video games, etc) 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

b. Limited cell phone use if possible. c. Entertainment (Sports, Movies, TV shows, etc) d. News and Social Media (CNN, FOX, Facebook, Twitter, etc)

DANIEL FAST: FOODS TO AVOID 
 Basically, you want to avoid the King's food. Some might sum it up to say that you shouldn't have the King's Burgers or fries. You should probably avoid the golden arches as well. However, many fast food restaurants now have good salads.
 To avoid the king's food means that we are definitely avoiding all those things that the Jews couldn't eat. We're also avoiding foods that only royalty in ancient days could afford. It wasn't until recent history that most Americans could afford to eat meat or poultry. Today, in most of the world, very few people can afford to eat any kind of meat or processed foods, like the foods in this list. •

Meat, because Daniel didn't want to take the chance of eating non-kosher meat and/or meat that was offered to idols. 


•

White

flour and all products using it 


•

White

rice, white bread, hominy and pasta 


•

Fried

foods 


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•

Caffeine 


•

Carbonated

•

Wine or any other alcoholic drinks 


•

Foods

•

Refined

•

High

•

Chemical sugar substitutes Margarine, shortening, animal

•

beverages, including diet sodas 


containing preservatives or additives 
 sugar 


fructose corn syrup 
 fat, high fat products 


DANIEL FAST: FOODS TO EAT 


Daniel seemed to eat only things planted for harvest and drank only water. You may want to keep it simple and eat only vegetables and drink only water.

• Whole Grains: brown rice, oats, rolled oats, oatmeal, barley, corn, popcorn, wheat

• Legumes: dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, green beans, green peas, peanuts, etc. Grain legumes include beans, lentils, lupins, peas and peanuts.

• Fruits: apples, apricots, avocados, bananas, berries, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, breadfruit, cantaloupe, cherries, coconuts, cranberries, dates, figs, grapefruit, grapes, grenadine, guava, honeydew melons, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, melons, mulberry, nectarines, oats, olives, oranges, papayas, 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, watermelon, etc.,

• Vegetables: artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, brussel

sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, any peppers, any potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, etc.

• Seeds: all nuts, natural peanut butter, natural almond butter, sprouts, ground flax, etc.

• Liquids: spring water, distilled water, filtered water, 100% all natural fruit or vegetable juices

OTHER FOOD ITEMS TO AVOID DURING YOUR FAST a. Avoid caffeinated drinks. b. Avoid chewing gum and mints even if your breath is bad. Drink decaffeinated mint tea to assist with your breath. *These items stimulate digestive action in your stomach and may make you feel hungry.

RESOURCES 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

There are several websites and resources available on the website that you will find useful during your 21 Day Fast. 1. “Daniel Fast” by Susan Gregory. Susan Gregory is all about teaching this delightful discipline, and she shares a very informative Bible-based insight on Daniel fasting. You will also be able to receive more valuable resources, like prayers, recipes & scriptures for your fast, etc.) The e-book which she offers is for free on her website. Susan Gregory's website is:http://daniel-fast.com/. 2. There are various websites to give you tips and helps like: A. The Daniel Fast website: http://Daniel-Fast.com B. The Daniel Fast Blog: http://DanielFast.WordPress.com C. Jentezen Franklin Ministries: www.JentezenFranklin.org D. The Fasting Movement: www.TheFastingMovement.com

SCRIPTURES & LESSONS ON FASTING 2 Sa 12:16-23 [16] David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. [17] The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. [18] On the seventh day the child died. David's servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to

2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” [19] David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” [20] Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. Then he went to his own house, and at his request they served him food, and he ate. [21] His servants asked him, “Why are you acting this way? While the child was alive, you fasted and wept, but now that the child is dead, you get up and eat!” [22] He answered, “While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, ‘Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.’ [23] But now that he is dead, why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me.” - David uses the fast as a desperate plea & request to God for a specific task. - Fasting doesn’t make God say, "Yes". - Don't doubt the power of prayer or fasting if God's answer is "No" for the moment; Don’t give up on fasting. 2 Ch 20:3 Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the LORD, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. - All of Judah fasts to inquire of the Lord; they ask for wisdom and salvation from their enemies. 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

- God's answer is "Yes". - There is power in fasting together. Ezr 8:21-23 [21] There, by the Ahava Canal, I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions. [22] I was ashamed to ask the king for soldiers and horsemen to protect us from enemies on the road, because we had told the king, “The gracious hand of our God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake him.” [23] So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered our prayer. - There is power when a group of people unite in prayer & fasting. - Fasting is a way of humbling ourselves before God. Ester 4:15-16  Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” - Esther remains open to the will of God. Isaiah 58:2-11 (NIV) 
 2 For day after day they seek me out; they seem eager to know my ways, as if they were a nation that does what is right and has not forsaken the commands of its God. They ask me for just decisions and seem eager for God to come near them. 
 3 'Why have we fasted,' they say, 'and you have not seen it? Why 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

have we humbled ourselves, and you have not noticed?' "Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please and exploit all your workers. 
 4 Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife, and in striking each other with wicked fists. You cannot fast as you do today and expect your voice to be heard on high. 
 5 Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the LORD? 
 6 "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? 
 7 Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter-- when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood? 
 8 Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard. 
 9 Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. "If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, 
 10 and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday. 
 11 The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail. Je 14:11-12

2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

[11] Then the LORD said to me, “Do not pray for the well-being of this people. [12] Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.” - Group fasting had no effect here. - Fasting must be accompanied by acts of righteousness. Joel 1:13-14 (NIV) 13 Put on sackcloth, O priests, and mourn; wail, you who minister before the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, you who minister before my God; for the grain offerings and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God. 14 Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD. - This fast is an expression of repentance and a desperate plea. Joel 2:12-14 (NIV) 12 'Even now,' declares the LORD, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.' 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity. 14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing-- grain offerings and drink offerings for the LORD your God. Mt 9:14-15 2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

[14]Then John's disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” [15] Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fast. - Fasting is an expression of mourning. [1Sa 31:13] Then they took their bones and buried them under a tamarisk tree at Jabesh, and they fasted seven days. Acts 13:1-3 (NIV) 1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. With the launch of missionary journey Acts 14:21-23 (NIV) 21 They preached the good news in that city and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said.

2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide

23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. For appointing elders Various biblical examples and reasons for fasting: Hannah- infertility David- Absalom death Repentance: Jonah 3:4-5 (NIV) 4 On the first day, Jonah started into the city. He proclaimed: "Forty more days and Nineveh will be overturned." 5 The Ninevites believed God. They declared a fast, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

2016 Fasting & Prayer Guide