Seeking the Lord
together for guidance, strength and wisdom, with prayer and fasting.
Growing as a body at Bridgetown Church.
Fasting is sacrificing something of value in order to focus our mind toward God, and to increase our heart for Him.
It isn’t about what we give up, but what we get back. It is placing ourselves in position to receive from God alone, allowing our being to be wholly united to Him with dependency, knowing He is always our provider, strength, and life above all else. When we have the urge to go back to what we have chosen to sacrifice, we make the decision to take that moment to lean into Jesus deeper and allow Him to speak to us as we focus our ears towards His voice. The process of prayer is to speak, listen, and repeat. Fasting will not be easy, but it will be worth it.
HOW YOU CAN FAST
7 or 21 DAY LIQUID FAST: refrain from eating solid foods, and only intake liquids. (Consult your physician for any necessary guidance regarding your health limitations)
7 or 21 DAY DANIEL FAST: consume only fruits and vegetables. Please be mindful of health and dietary restrictions. (Consult your physician if you have any general concerns, or if you have medical conditions.)
7 or 21 DAY MEDIA FAST: Abstain from all media, I.E., social media, tv, internet, etc.
7 or 21 DAY LUNCH FAST: refrain from eating lunch every day for 7 or 21 days.
Every fast will look different, so pray and ask God what it is that will have the greatest impact on you for this fast. What might carry the greatest challenge can reap the greatest profit.
KEY SCRIPTURE FOR FASTING
“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.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
Acts 13:2-3
“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.”
Acts 14:23
“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”
Matthew 6:16-18
“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, where for forty days He was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them He was hungry. The devil said to Him, ‘If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone.'"
Luke 4:1-4
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If you truly want to follow me, you should at once completely reject and disown your own life. And you must be willing to share my cross and experience it as your own, as you continually surrender to my ways. For if you choose self-sacrifice and lose your lives for my glory, you will continually discover true life. But if you choose to keep your lives for yourselves, you will forfeit what you try to keep.’”
Matthew 16:24-25
“That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to me now, while there is time. Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning.’”
Joel 2:12