Jan 13th 11 Posted by Natalie Nichols in Fasting

Fasting Day 1: Washing and Preparing for a New Season

Fasting is a time of emptying – a time of washing and cleansing. The body is emptied of food and cleansed of toxins and poisons. Our lives are emptied of entertainment and normal routine. Fasting is also a time of preparation for new anointing.

“But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face…and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” – Mt 6:17-18

Cleansing and Emptying

Part of preparing ourselves spiritually for a fast involves allowing God to wash our hearts. The basic foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder our prayers. There are several things we should do to prepare our hearts for a fast:

• Ask the Holy Spirit to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.
• Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your mind.
• Accept God’s forgiveness. (I John 1:9)
• Ask forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17;3,4)
• Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to Ephesians 5:18 (and expect Him to answer, according to His promise in 1 John 5:14-15).
• Surrender fully to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Master, refusing to yield to your worldly nature.

Fasting is a time of cleansing of sin and washing the impurities from our lives. It is a time of emptying.

In 1 Kings 17, Elijah came to a woman during a time of famine. He asked her to bring him water and a piece of bread. (She was gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for herself and her son, that they might eat it and die.) Elijah assured her not to fear – to go home and do as she had said, but first to make a cake of bread for him, and then something for herself and her son.

When she emptied her barrel and gave away what she had, God supernaturally filled her barrel with food for next three and a half years. Fasting is giving away something you love so God can fill your life with Himself.

Fasting is a time for emptying ourselves of soda pop, junk food, time in front of the television — basically, the things we love. But we must also be careful to rid ourselves of things we hate: pride, ego, flesh, unforgiveness, idolatry, carnality – anything unlike God – so that He might supernaturally inhabit our lives in the coming year.

In 2 Kings 4, a woman was facing bankruptcy. Her children could have been enslaved as a result. Elisha told her to gather empty vessels , take one pot of oil and begin to pour. As long as she had empty vessels available before God every vessel in the house was filled. She sold the oil in those vessels, paid her debts and lived off the rest.

God looks for vessels that are empty.

Preparing for Anointing

“But you, when you fast, anoint your head…” (Mt. 6:17).

Fasting is also a time of anointing. Anointing means to put or apply oil. In spiritual terms, it means spiritual renewal – a fresh encounter and filling with the Holy Spirit.

In Mark chapter two, Jesus speaks of new anointing in the context of fasting.

¹⁸ The disciples of John and of the Pharisees were fasting. Then they came and said to Him, “Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?”

¹⁹ And Jesus said to them, “Can the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? As long as they have the bridegroom with them they cannot fast. ²⁰ But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. ²¹ No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. ²² And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”

God cannot put new anointing – new wine – in old wineskins. If we want new wine, new miracles, new closeness, new intimacy with God – it is time to fast and shed our old skin for new!

Fasting is a way to prepare ourselves, like a farmer prepares the soil for new crop. By fasting we are plowing up the ground of our lives and getting ready for a new season! We are positioning ourselves and preparing our heart for what is to come. We become more attentive to God – more sensitive to His voice. When we are willing to seek Him, He will be willing to give.

• “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8).
• “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7).

We don’t fast to obtain merit with God or to rid of sin. Only the blood of Jesus can do this. But fasting brings to the surface areas of compromise. It makes us aware of sin…and instills a hunger for righteousness and the Word of God!

“I… have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread” (Job 23:12).

If you are committed to fasting and prayer here in the month of January, you are setting the course for the entire year! Fasting in January is a similar precept as praying in the morning to establish God’s will for the entire day. If we will pray and seek God and give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year!

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33).

If you are part of this 21-day fasting journey, you aren’t beginning the year casually, with a “whatever happens, happens” attitude. You are aware of the need to be cleansed and prepared for a new season in order for there to be a new season of blessing and anointing.

God will honor your sacrifice and diligent seeking. It is critical that we take God at His word — that we launch this season of fasting and prayer in faith, believing that God keeps His promises to reward!

• “Your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:18).
• “God…is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

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Tweetables

• When you fast… your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. ~ Mt. 6:17-18 > Tweet
• “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.” ~ James 4:8 > Tweet
• “Ask & it will be given to you; seek & you will find; knock & the door will be opened to you.” ~ Mt 7:7  > Tweet
• “Seek first the kingdom of God & His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” ~ Mt 6:33 > Tweet
• Part of preparing ourselves spiritually for a fast involves allowing God to wash our hearts. > Tweet
• Fasting is a way to prepare ourselves, like a farmer prepares the soil for new crop. > Tweet

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Question: Have you had an honest moment of heart cleansing with God?

 

FROM THE FASTING ARCHIVES:

• How Should I Prepare for a Fast?
• Are You Ready To Begin Your Fast?
• Five Essential Questions as You Begin
• Write it Down: What a Difference a Piece of Paper Makes
• Fasting Day 1: Five Questions as You Begin
• Fasting Day 1: Welcome to Pursuit 21
• Fasting Day 1: Drawing Near
• Fasting Day 1: A Moment of Worship
• Fasting Day 1: Washing and Preparing
• Fasting Day 1: Seeking First

 

 
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2 Responses to “Fasting Day 1: Washing and Preparing for a New Season”

1. Dennis marshall says:

   January 9, 2018 at 8:17 pm

   I am on a one meal a day fast. Can I drink milk?

   Reply
   • Natalie Nichols says:

     January 10, 2018 at 12:06 am

     Hi Dennis, to answer your question, what you have on your fast is up to the Holy Spirit. It's a matter of you hearing His voice and letting Him guide you concerning what you are to abstain from on your fast. It will be different for each person. There are two posts you could check out that might help, in terms of giving you an example of how food choices are individual to each person on their fast:

     1) Answering a Fasting FAQ: https://www.shadesofgrace.org/2012/01/16/fasting-d…
     2) 6 Encouraging Reminders (look under point #2 in this post): https://www.shadesofgrace.org/2013/01/12/fasting-d…

     Reply