2024 Church Fast

We will begin our church wide fast on January 1st. I am asking that you participate in this fast to grow closer to God, renew your mind, purify your heart, and prepare for what God is going to do. Everyone (including kids) can fast. What is fasting? Biblically it is abstaining from food for a specific period of time and taking that time to read the Bible and Pray. Again, it is not eating and then spend that time you are hungry to fill up on the things that are spiritual. Here are a few ways to fast. 

Complete Fast

A complete fast is when you do not eat or drink anything but water and take your meal times to pray, read, and meditate on God. 

Daniel Fast

On a Daniel fast you abstain from meat, bread, all animal products (eggs, milk, cheese), caffeine and sugar. You can eat vegetables, fruits, nuts, water and juices. Some people turn this into a juice fast where they only drink juices from vegetables and fruit. Make sure that there is extra time set apart for God. 

Time Fast

With this kind of fast you set aside a certain slot of time in which you won’t eat (ex. 10am-2pm or sunrise to sundown) and spend your time during the allotment on prayer and reading your Bible. 

Specific Fast

A specific fast is where one or a few things are chosen to abstain from. People will choose not to eat or drink sugary and caffeinated foods/drinks or not eat meat but still do animal products (so it isn’t a Daniel fast). They then go and spend more time with God throughout the day. 

As you begin your fast you may choose one of the above or you may start with one for an allotted time and then change to the another. If you work a physical job and/or are medication use wisdom in the type of fast you do. Many times people quit a fast because they don’t “feel” spiritual when they are fasting. Fasting is not about feelings. Your flesh will not be happy and will let you know. Fasting crucifies the flesh and lets it know your Spirit man will rule in this upcoming year. This year challenge yourself to fast and complete the fast well. Go into this fast with the mindset of I am going to grow in the Spirit and see my carnal nature submit to the things of God. If that is not your desire then that should be the focus of your fast. I look forward to seeing how God is going to move in your life and the church in 2024!

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

I Peter 4:1-2