How To Fast In 2012

pastorrobbiejones — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 02:30:48 +0000

Every January it seems to be the same question as we approach our annual fast: “pastor, how should we fast”? In the past we have emailed and blogged about what is acceptable and what is not acceptable to eat during our 21 Day Fast. We have published menus and recipes gathered from the internet, books and magazines to make sure everyone stayed on course.

There is no doubt that God has honored our efforts and the desire to complete the 21 Day Fast, but as I look back I cannot help but to wonder if we could not have heard the voice of God more clearly if our focus had been more on Him than on what we could and could not eat. I certainly don’t feel a spirit of condemnation because for many of us, me included, we were just learning the importance of and how to fast. I Corinthians 13:11 says “when I was a child, I talked like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”

As I have said before, I believe that God is calling PCC to a greater anointing which requires a new level of maturity. It is all going to start with our 21 Day Fast. So, how should we fast in 2012? Here are a few of my own personal thoughts as I approach this year’s fast:

Be determined to find a “Fasting Zone” which is the place where the voice of God can be heard clearly. This starts with having a pure heart (read previous post). There is no doubt that a biblical fast is a place of sacrifice and denying the flesh, but no one hears the voice of the Spirit when they are in a place where they are frustrated and miserable.
Decide what you can and want to do during the fast, and write it down so that you can be accountable. Don’t compare yourself to others because that is not what fasting is about; it is about positioning yourself to walk in the revelation and power of the Holy Spirit not just during the fast, but throughout 2012 and the rest of your life.
Instead of worrying about menus of what can and cannot eaten, make a list of things that you plan to give up for the 21 days of the fast. In 2012, for my personal fast I have decided that I am not going to eat anything fried, sweet (desserts), beef or pork, bread and only drink water. Then, 3 out of the 21 days I plan to do a “water only fast.”
Now that you know what your fast is going to look like, then you can focus on what a true fast is supposed to be about; hearing the voice of God through his Word, through prayer and a personal time of praise.

It is your turn to plan and prepare for an amazing encounter with God. If you will take the time to prepare, then the next 21 Days will be filled with excitement and expectation instead of “can I eat this or are we supposed to eat that”? Set some personal guidelines for your fast and you will discover a liberty and joy that comes with fasting.

Next time I will be sharing some tools needed during your 21 Day Fast.

The heart of our 21 Day Fast

pastorrobbiejones — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 05:05:45 +0000

For the last five years our congregation at Parkway Christian Center has approached the new year with a 21 Day Fast. Looking back at how we have seen the hand of God work supernaturally, I am convinced that beginning each year with a time of rededication and consecration has made a significant impact on the favor we have witnessed at PCC.

However, with that being said I want to stress an important biblical principle to those who have been a part of our ministry and fasting for years, as well as to those who are new to PCC and this is your very first fast. In no way do we believe that fasting is a way of manipulating God. God will never be manipulated and that is certainly not the purpose of a true biblical fast. It cannot be an attitude of “if we do this, then maybe God will do something for us”. God just doesn’t work that way. Jesus did everything he was going to do on the cross, and the purpose of him restoring the “keys of the kingdom” to us is so that we can live in the authority that he has provided.

So why do we fast? For me the key essential truth about fasting is to realize that it is all about the heart. Have you ever noticed how many scriptures reference the heart and how it is the underlying theme concerning the relationship between God and man?

…man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. I Samuel 16:7
I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you; I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel 36:26
…out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Matthew 12:34

So fasting never has to do with changing God because He is perfect and unchangeable. A true biblical fast, and the fast that we are calling PCC to is about changing us. More notably it is about changing our hearts into one that is pure and obedient. Why? Because Matthew 5:8 says “blessed are the pure in heart for they will see God”. I realize that for many they believe that Jesus is talking about when we get to heaven, but for us I believe Jesus is talking about a belief that we will see signs and wonders that can only be attributed to a mighty and powerful God that is working in and through us.

So, why am I calling PCC to a 21 Day Fast? Because I want those who are connected to the vision of Parkway Christian Center to see God. I want us to see Him working mightily in our personal lives, within our families, our church and most important within our community. We often forget that signs and wonders are not for those who believe, but for those who do not believe.So as we approach January 16th and our 21 Day Fast at PCC, let me encourage you to prepare your heart. I want to emphasize the need to get in your “FASTING ZONE”. You are probably asking what is a Fasting Zone? It is the place during our 21 Days of fasting where we become familiar and hear the voice of God. I will write about this later in the week, but for now it is all about having the right heart as we approach our fast.

Until next time!

Pastor Robbie's Blog

How To Fast In 2012

The heart of our 21 Day Fast