BCC "Year of Accelerated Grace" Vol.1 | Page 22

Check website for more information at bccint.org (Excerpt)  7  Basic  Steps  to  Fasting  and  Prayer  by   Bill  Bright  of  Campus  Crusade  for  Christ   How  to  Begin  Your  Fast   How  you  begin  and  conduct  your  fast  will  largely  determine   your  success.  By  following  these  seven  basic  steps  to  fasting,   you  will  make  your  time  with  the  Lord  more  meaningful  and   spiritually  rewarding.     STEP  1:  Set  Your  Objective   Why  are  you  fasting?  Is  it  for  spiritual  renewal,  for  guidance,   for  healing,  for  the  resolution  of  problems,  for  special  grace   to  handle  a  difficult  situation?  Ask  the  Holy  Spirit  to  clarify   His  leading  and  objectives  for  your  prayer  fast.  This  will   enable  you  to  pray  more  specifically  and  strategically.   Through  fasting  and  prayer  we  humble  ourselves  before  God   so  the  Holy  Spirit  will  stir  our  souls,  awaken  our  churches,   and  heal  our  land  according  to  2  Chronicles  7:14.  Make  this  a   priority  in  your  fasting.     STEP  2:  Make  Your  Commitment   Pray  about  the  kind  of  fast  you  should  undertake.  Jesus   implied  that  all  of  His  followers  should  fast  (Matthew  6:16-­‐ 18;  9:14,15)  For  Him  it  was  a  matter  of  when  believers  would   fast,  not  if  they  would  do  it.  Before  you  fast,  decide  the   following  up  front:*  How  long  you  will  fast  -­‐  one  meal,  one   day,  a  week,  several  weeks,  forty  days  (Beginners  should   start  slowly,  building  up  to  longer  fasts.)     •  The  type  of  fast  God  wants  you  to  undertake  (such  as  water   only,  or  water  and  juices;  what  kinds  of  juices  you  will  drink   and  how  often)   •  What  physical  or  social  activities  you  will  restrict   •  How  much  time  each  day  you  will  devote  to  prayer  and   God’s  Word  Making  these  commitments  ahead  of  time  will   help  you  sustain  your  fast  when  physical  temptations  and   life’s  pressures  tempt  you  to  abandon  it.     STEP  3:  Prepare  Yourself  Spiritually   The  very  foundation  of  fasting  and  prayer  is  repentance.   Unconfessed  sin  will  hinder  your  prayers.  Here  are  several   things  you  can  do  to  prepare  your  heart:   •  Ask  God  to  help  you  make  a  comprehensive  list  of  your  sins.   •  Confess  every  sin  that  the  Holy  Spirit  calls  to  your   remembrance  and  accept  God’s  forgiveness  (1  John  1:9).   •  Seek  forgiveness  from  all  whom  you  have  offended,  and   forgive  all  who  have  hurt  you  (Mark  11:25;  Luke  11:4;   17:3,4).   •  Make  restitution  as  the  Holy  Spirit  leads  you.   •  Ask  God  to  fill  you  with  His  Holy  Spirit  according  to  His   command  in  Ephesians  5:18  and  His  promise  in  1  John   5:14,15.   •  Surrender  your  life  fully  to  Jesus  Christ  as  your  Lord  and   Master;  refuse  to  obey  your  worldly  nature  (Romans  12:1,2).   •  Meditate  on  the  attributes  of  God,  His  love,  sovereignty,   power,  wisdom,  faithfulness,  grace,  compassion,  and  others   (Psalm  48:9,10;  103:1-­‐8.  11-­‐13).   22