Friday January 16th ....A Time of Prayer and Fasting.

Dear Friends,

If you feel led of God would you like to join me in a time of prayer and fasting this Friday. I will be in prayer for my family and all of your families .

As well as several specific family prayer requests I have from friends IRL as well.

I am fasting "food" from early am this Friday January 16th until 5:00 p.m. on Friday January 16th.

Some of my family are also fasting and are doing 1/2 a day fast .

Some are able to fast a meal. Some fast until 5:00 pm but will have fruit juices.

If you feel lead of God to join in that is awesome.

Praying for God's Protection, Provision and Direction for our family in these uncertain times. God is Faithful.

I often, while in fasting am more aware of God's presence . I am aware that I am fasting for a specific reason and in obedience to God's Word.

There can be several reasons why we fast and this is in no way an complete study on the subject of "Fasting". But is just my personal opinion and thoughts on the matter.

I have been a Christian for close to thirty years and never realized the importance of fasting.

And had never seen the results I had seen in my prayer life until our Pastor did an extensive study on it in January of 1998.

At that time our Church was in a "corporate fast ", the entire Body of believers that were able .
For up to eight days as each member was lead and able. As a church we were fasting seeking God's face for our nation , our church , the Church leadership and for our evangelistic efforts in the coming year.

The results were incredible. And I became persuaded of the power of God through prayer and fasting.

There are several reasons we may fast, We fast in obedience to God's Word.

Joel:2:12: Therefore also now, saith the LORD, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning:
2Co:6:4: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,2Co:6:5: In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
2Co:6:6: By pureness, by knowledge, by longsuffering, by kindness, by the Holy Ghost, by love unfeigned,
M't:9:15: And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.We fast to humble ourselves before God and obtain His grace and power .

We fast in times of crisis:Es:4:15: Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer,Es:4:16: Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish.

We fast seeking God's direction.Ezr:8:21: Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river of Ahava, that we might afflict ourselves before our God, to seek of him a right way for us, and for our little ones, and for all our substance.Ezr:8:22: For I was ashamed to require of the king a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way: because we had spoken unto the king, saying, The hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek him; but his power and his wrath is against all them that forsake him. Ezr:8:23: So we fasted and besought our God for this: and he was intreated of us. We fast for understanding and revelation .Jer:36:6: Therefore go thou, and read in the roll, which thou hast written from my mouth, the words of the LORD in the ears of the people in the LORD's house upon the fasting day: and also thou shalt read them in the ears of all Judah that come out of their cities.

So there are many reasons to fast. What quicken in my spirit to ask you all to join me in a one day fast or whatever you feel led to do by the Spirit of God, was the amount of prayer requests regarding our family situations. Knowing that God is a rewarder of those that diligently seek Him, I felt led in my heart to fast and pray for our families this Friday. I am a member of a Christian Woman's Forum as "Corporately" several of us fasted in August of 2008 for our families, our nation and our future. The results were wonderful.

Respecting our Bodies in a Fast
Dear Friends ,
Just a word about respecting our bodies during a fast.

If you are pregnant or nursing or have a medical condition that would prevent you from not having "solid" food. Use common sense and respect your body.

In general, most people can go one day or 1/2 a day without food , if they are having water, fruit juice or vegetable juices to supplement.If you must eat "solids" , perhaps you could commit to limiting your food intake to salad or vegetables.

These are all pleasing to the Lord as we are looking to Glorify God , putting the Lord first and our appetite second.Also remember if during the fast you become extremely nauseous, light headed or dizzy to please get something to eat and/or drink.

Friends if you have a prayer request, spoken or unspoken and you would like us to pray. Friday is also the day of the week we come together for our Home Bible Study and we would be happy to pray for your needs. Just leave a comment it does not need to contain much detail. God knows who you are.

Hugs & Prayers, GG