The Lord's House Community Church

TLHCC 2024 PRAYER & FASTING INSTRUCTIONS

January 7, 2024 – January 27, 2024

 

Greetings to you in the Matchless Name of Jesus!

Why Everyone Should Fast

If you have never fasted, now is the best time, as this is a joint venture! In the New Testament Jesus, made mention of “when we fast” (not ‘if’), telling us that this should be a regular discipline in our lives.

 

Type of Fast

God has led us to practice “The Daniel Fast” – a diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, water, broth, soup and juice made from fruits and vegetables are allowed. When this vision came to me, I, Daniel, had been in mourning for three weeks. All that time I had eaten no rich food or meat, had drunk no wine, and had used no fragrant oils. ~ Daniel 10:2-3 (NLT) Other ways to participate include fasting from television, radio, Internet or anything that you recognize as having control over your life.

 

This link will also help you with better understanding of the Daniel Fast along with great food recipes:   http://daniel-fast.com

 

If You Must Eat a Meal that is not included in Fast

 This period of prayer and fasting is not legalistic or ritualistic. It is a voluntary act of Consecration and Sanctification for God to prepare you/us to know His will and do the work that He is calling you/us to do. As such, we urge you and your family to walk in unity and agreement with your brothers and sisters in Christ during this period and always. If you are required to eat a meal that contains foods that are not part of this Fast, please do so prayerfully.

 

About Fasting

It is much easier to fast while active. Fasting will cause hunger pangs initially, but you will get the energy you need from stored fat in the body. If you are under the care of a Physician, please seek his/her advice regarding the level of participation that is best suited to your physical condition. During the period of Prayer and Fasting, please continue to take required medications, vitamins, minerals and physical therapy.

 

Why Fast?

Fasting is the most powerful spiritual discipline of all those discussed in the Bible. Though

fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit can transform your life and produce incredible results. Prayer alone is mighty, but when combined with fasting, it produces a powerful force which hell cannot prevail against.

 

Filling Ourselves with God’s Presence during the Fast

The secret to being filled with the Holy Spirit is first to empty ourselves. Through fasting, we empty ourselves of food and other routine pleasures so that God can fill us with His Spirit. Food and other indulgences are man’s greatest carnal impulses. Fasting helps you to “master” these lusts, cravings and compulsions. When you can control the strongest appetite, you can gain control of the other carnal appetites as well. Your appetite acts as a prayer alarm. Instead of eating, watching TV or surfing the Internet, you pray and read The Word of God. This keeps you focused all day long. We replace pleasures of the flesh with spiritual pleasure. Psalm 34:8 says, “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him!” When you taste the Lord through fasting and prayer, it triggers righteous reactions and desires in your heart.

 

Abstaining from other Routine Habits is an extended way to Draw Closer to God

 Reducing Internet surfing and gaming, video gaming, TV watching, music/radio listening, and other forms of daily entertainment is also a powerful way to draw closer to God during the period of consecration, prayer and fasting. These and other daily activities consume large amounts of our time each day and greatly influence our thoughts and attitudes. In fact, we often become addicted to these things to the extent that our time with God is limited to or scheduled around our ‘favorite daily activities’. Will you give God the opportunity to use the time that you normally spend on these activities to draw you nearer to Him! You will be pleasantly surprised by the CHANGES in your thoughts, actions, priorities and time management that will result from giving God this time!

 

  

WHAT GOD WILL DO DURING AND AFTER THE NEXT 21 DAYS

Fasting Creates a New Hunger for God, for His Will, His Word, His power to be released in your life, your family, and in the Church… Your hunger for physical food is soon replaced with a hunger for more of God’s presence and power in your life. There comes a greater willingness to          surrender to God and the lordship of Jesus Christ in areas where you need answers and guidance.

 

            “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and he answered in prayer.” ~ Ezra 8:32

 

Fasting Increases Sensitivity to God’s voice and His presence

 “There was also a prophetess, Anna … she never left the temple but worshipped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem”                                                                                         ~ Luke 2:36-38

From this account of the widow woman, Anna, we can see that fasting and prayer had developed such a keen sensitivity in her that she perceived the Christ child at only a few days old. She could hear clearly, what God was saying

 

Fasting Works Humility

 Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth and humbled myself with fasting. When my    prayers returned to me unanswered…”                                                                         ~ Psalm 35:13

 When we fast, we deny ourselves food; we often feel our natural strength waning. In our weakness, we find ourselves more dependent upon God. It is a confrontation with the flesh; a time when we deny it satisfaction and provision. It is a time of turning aside from what we can provide, and turning toward what God alone can give. This is often the setting for a             confrontation between the spirit and the flesh.  Read Matthew 4:4.

 

 

 

Fasting Chastens or Disciplines

 

“When I wept and chastened my soul with fasting that became my reproach.”

                                                                                                                          ~ Psalm 69:10

 

David maintained his spiritual life by means of bring his body into subjection. Through self-inflicted chastening, we steady and strengthen our spiritual walk.

 

Fasting Brings Answers to Prayer

            “Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say:

            Here am I!”                                                                                         ~ Isaiah 58:9

 

 

 A godly fast will bring answered prayer. It is the atmosphere for answers to questions, directions, help and the revelation of God. It is a time when He says, “Here I am… I’m over here. Come to Me.” This revelation may come through His Word, or as a still small voice, or by a strong confirmation of what He has previously shown us.

 

Fasting Leads to Healing

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear.”                                                                                                  

~ Isaiah 58:8

 God set up the fast as a manner of healing His people—a time when the darkness or oppression, depression or infirmity is dispelled by light, such as the dawn. When this light breaks forth, healing soon follows. This could mean many things. It could be a revelation of sin, which, when repented of, allows healing to spring forth. It could mean a revelation of His will or Word, which brings healing and freedom where there was once darkness or ignorance. This healing could be physical, mental or spiritual.

 

Fasting Opens the Door to God’s Protection & Provision

“Then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be our rear guard.”                                                                                                            ~ Isaiah 58:8

 

God promised to be a guard before us and behind us. A fast renews your righteousness and sends it on before you. Then, as you give God the glory, He returns righteousness as your rear guard.

 

Fasting Looses Chains of Injustice

“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to lose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke…”                                                                                    ~ Isaiah 58:6

 

The kind of fast God leads us into has the power to lose any unjust chains that binds us. It also unties the cords tethering us to any yoke. This application is not limiting merely to a personal liberation for us—it represents God’s desire to see us reach out and loose the ties that binds others and remove the chains of oppression.

 

Fasting Frees the Oppressed & Breaks Every Yoke

A fast is a time when we take our eyes off our own needs, and ourselves and look around at the oppression and pain for others. In response, we learn to reach out in compassion and help —becoming agents of healing. Jesus said that His yoke was easy and His burden was light. When we are carrying a burden other than His; it is cumbersome, awkward and heavy. There is nothing more frustrating than feeling responsible for something over which you have no authority. It will weigh you down with hopelessness and frustration. During a fast, God checks these areas in lives and exposes the yoke of fear, worry, stress and turmoil. He removes them and readjusts His yoke for our life, the one that keeps us dependent upon Him. If you’re feeling weighted down perhaps you are carrying too much.

Remember, the purpose of the fast is to draw closer to God. When fasting, be sure to turn away from distractions and spend quality time in prayer. During your fast you will want to focus your time with God for a specific purpose or to gain His advice, intervention or direction in your life.

It may be beneficial to think of 2-3 things/persons most pressing on your heart and make that your focal point. You may want to write them down and be prepared to hear God speak to your heart, as He draws you closer to him.

 

Suggested Food Guide

 

The only beverage intake is water and 100% natural juices. The primary foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. There are no sweeteners on the fast, no processed foods or chemicals.

 

COMPLIANT FOODS:

Whole Grains & Nuts: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley, Legumes, Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon.

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Gingerroot, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts.

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices.

 

FOODS/DRINKS TO AVOID:
Meat, Fish, White Rice, Fried Foods, Caffeine, Carbonated Beverages, Foods Containing Preservatives, or Additives, Refined Sugar, Sugar Substitutes, White Flour, and All Products Using Margarine, Butter, Shortening, or High in Fat Products.

 

OTHER SUGGESTIONS