There is no greater way to start a New Year than by seeking God through a time of Prayer and Fasting. Join us for 14 days as we disconnect from the things of this world and lean into God for 2023!
WHAT IS FASTING?
SIMPLY STATED, BIBLICAL FASTING IS REFRAINING FROM FOOD FOR A SPIRITUAL PURPOSE.
As Christians, we grow closer to the Lord as we block out the everyday noise of the world and lean in closer to the voice of the Father. We block out these daily distractions by doing as Jesus called each of us to do in Luke 9:23, “And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” By taking up our cross daily, we are putting down the heavy things of this world that act as distractions, picking up what God has actually called us to bear, and following where He leads. It can be easy to fall into the trap of distraction as we go from day to day. Whether it’s work, school, kids, stress, social media, finances, relational challenges, or unexpected dilemmas or delays that pop up throughout the day – it can all become so overwhelming and completely time and thought consuming.
Every now and then in our walk with Christ, we can greatly benefit from hitting the refresh button in our spiritual lives. The best way to reset and refresh our spiritual lives and relationship with God is through fasting and prayer.
Fasting is an integral spiritual discipline that is meant to help us as believers take our focus off of something for a period of time and focus our time, attention, and hearts fully on Jesus.
By fasting, we are setting aside distractions, even necessities, such as food, in order to stir up a deeper hunger for the Lord. The purpose of fasting is not to lose something, but to gain something; a deeper, more intimate relationship with God.
Join us January 11th – 25th for 14 days of prayer and fasting. You can find helpful resources below.
resources
FASTING HOW-TO’S
Pray.
Be expectant for God move, speak to you and bring breakthrough in your life! Fasting is more than simply going without something. It is supplementing the absence of something that feeds your flesh with prayer in order to feed your spirit.
Commit.
Commit to a type of fast. Do not decide on a day-to-day basis. Commit before your fast begins and stay determined. Fasting options may include:
• Water only
• Liquid only
• The Daniel Fast (Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables.)
• One meal only per day
• Traditional fasts (sun-up to sun-down, Monday through Friday)
• Other kinds of fasts (i.e. no TV, no social media, no discretionary spending)
Prepare.
Prepare your body gradually for the fast. Start eating smaller portions and meals made of raw fruits and vegetables two days before you begin. Avoid food that is high in sugar and fat.
Spend time in the Bible.
Lean into God intentionally by reading the Word. Follow along with our Wellspring Bible Reading Plan for scriptures focused on Prayer & Fasting!
Plan Your Calendar.
Limit physical and social activities during the fast, conserve energy, and spend more time in prayer, worship, and reading the Bible.
Partner with Others.
Join your Wellspring family and embrace community during your fast! Join our Facebook Group for weekly discussion and encouragement!
Decide How Long.
You may fast as long as you like. Most may choose to fast for 14 days, beginning and ending with our Revival Nights, but you may feel the grace to only fast 10 days or even continue on for 21. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
Remember.
For 14 days only we are denying ourselves the comforts of some foods so that our flesh takes the back seat and our spirit is in the driver’s seat. Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him, not just obedience, to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God richly bless you as you fast!
PARENT’S FASTING GUIDE FOR KIDS
We believe God wants to work in the hearts of kids through prayer and fasting, just like he does for adults. And we’ve found that kids will respond and grow spiritually when we teach them and give them the opportunity to participate. We also believe that when a child fasts, it should come under the guidance and direction of his or her parents/guardians.
The following points will help us teach our kids why we fast:
- Fasting = Giving up something for God to get closer to Him.
- Fasting helps us focus on God instead of our comforts and conveniences. • Fasting reminds us that God provides every good and perfect gift.
- Fasting helps us open our hearts to hear from God, no matter our age.
Here are some practical ways to fast with kids:
- Make different food choices. We do not recommend that children skip meals or drastically reduce their food intake, but a modification of their diet might prove to be an easy place to start. Fasting from specific items such as sweets, fried foods, sodas, or even meat and bread is a great way for children to participate in a safe and healthy way. Choose healthy foods for
snacking. Please note, you should always check with your child’s pediatrician before beginning any food fasting with your children. - A digital fast. Another great way to fast is by reducing some of the time and energy spent watching TV, playing video games, or using the computer or phone. Instead, encourage them to spend time praying, reading their Bible, or serving others. This could be as simple as not using the DVD player in the car or as advanced as a complete abstinence for 10 days.
- The important thing is for the kids to recognize the value behind personal sacrifice. By setting aside special times to disconnect from some of the extra-curricular activities and treats they enjoy on a regular basis, they learn how to connect to God in a closer way.
- Write down a few prayer requests and pray together for those things throughout the fast. Remind your child each time they want “that thing” they’re fasting from, they should use their desire as a reminder to pray and spend time focusing on God and telling him how much they love him. Seek God, pray big prayers, pray for people to come to Christ, and ask God for breakthroughs for ourselves and others. We believe we will see God do some amazing things during these 10 days.