The Daniel Fast

ALL ABOUT PRAYER AND FASTING

Fasting and prayer is praying without eating any solid food. This could be just skipping one mean or for a whole day or several days depending on the situation. The Daniel Fast is a little different as you have already seen in the initial pages of this book. This is fasting without eating meat but vegetables and fruits only.

Purified water is highly recommended during fasting. Most people can fast without food and water for three days.

Today we hear of some talking of TV fasting meaning you do not watch TV for a day or few days. There is nothing wrong with these fasts I it helps some to overcome the addiction of watching TV etc. But in the strict Biblical sense of the word, fasting means not eating any solid food.

In our earthly life, we encounter many problems. Life without any problems is very boring and impossible indeed!! When we overcome the problems there is the sweet exhilaration of victory. This we can see even in nature. Many problems in our life can be conquered by regular systematic prayer based on God’s promises. But there comes a time in our life, after praying for a considerable amount of time and we feel that the answer should come from God, but somehow it is not coming and we wonder why after we have checked ourselves for any sin,  We now find out where the short circuit is coming from. So what are we supposed to do?  Jesus said on one occasion that  “this kind (meaning a particular type of demon) will not come out except by prayer and fasting.” So obviously Jesus must have been fasting prior to casting out this demon. Same with us today. There are some problems, situations and issues in life which cannot be solved except by prayer and fasting.

In the Bible we see fasting and prayer is mentioned many times. One outstanding example we can see is in the Book of Esther, how God miraculously delivered the Jewish people from total annihilation because of fasting and prayer for 3 days.

Jesus himself accomplished forty days of fasting and prayer before beginning His ministry, but also I believe to defeat Satan who had a plan to ruin His ministry by tempting  him. Jesus defeated Satan in all three temptations.

The early church observed regular fasting and prayer, every week on Wednesdays and Fridays. I understand on Wednesdays individuals fasted and prayed and on Fridays the church fasted and prayed. That was the source of their awesome power to defeat the mighty Roman Empire, which tried to crush Christianity. Is the church still under attack today? Are we fasting and praying enough like the early church?

Fasting and prayer are the ULTIMATE WEAPON! We have learned that there are certain Blessings, Spiritual Gifts, Special Anointing for the ministry, Victory over certain temptations, Solutions to certain problems and Crises that can ONLY be obtained through fasting and prayer.

Today, we, too, can solve many hard problems, individually and as a church, if we employ this Ultimate Weapon effectively in our prayer life. Many marriages can be saved. Many financial problems, both in our personal and business lives, can be solved. Many dreadful sicknesses and diseases, can be healed. Churches can experience great revival, fill empty pews, and transform the community around them. We can rid the community and the nation of all evil forces of drugs, alcohol, nightclubs, strip tease joints, terrorists, pimps, prostitution and other evil forces, and bring God’s blessings and saving grace to our communities.

Fasting and praying also has its great physical benefits. It increases health and vitality, as proved by medical science. When your stomach takes rest from its constant grinding and digesting of the food, which we dump into it all the time, it renews itself and becomes healthier . The healthier the stomach the healthier you feel.

Your prayer life is strengthened by fasting and prayer> Your faith in God becomes stronger. You will enjoy a happy married life if you are married. Through fasting and prayer, you can protect your children from becoming prey to pimps, gangs, drugs, alcohol, bad friends, etc. If they are already victims, they will be delivered by fasting and prayer.

Fasting actually begins in your mind, not in your stomach. When you make up your mind to fast, God enables you.

Warning: The moment you decide to fast and pray, something will happen to prevent you from doing it. This is always the devil’s trick. You MUST  make up your mind, no matter what happens you will do it.

During this session of 21 days, have one, two or a maximum of three important things to pray for. You can fast and pray several times in a year or during your

other regular prayer times for the other needs. Do not pray for a whole lot of things.

Fasting and prayer is focused, concentrated power to overcome obstacles. REMEMBER THIS ALWAYS.

If you do not get an answer after this session, still thank God for the answer. God has prepared an answer for you through someone or somewhere. If you feel a great peace after this session, you can be sure that God has answered your prayer. If not, continue until God answers. For some situations it takes more than one session of fasting and prayer.  Don’t give up! For example, you are praying for your son to be delivered from the gang. You may have to fast and pray for several weeks or even months because you are fighting very strong demons. But, remember, every time you fast and pray, the demons are loosing their grip on your son! You are literally weakening the demonic powers. THE DEVIL AND ALL HIS HOSTS TREMBLE WHEN THE WEAKEST CHILD O GOD FASTS AND PRAYS! Give the devil a nervous breakdown!