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If my people, who are
called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my
face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from
heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2
Chronicles 7:14)
Christmas is fast approaching and people, churches, companies
are all talking about parties and celebrations. Every city seems
to have decked itself up for the Christmas season. The sad truth
is that Christmas has become a CHRISTLESS festival.
Today marks the start of the Nativity Fast in the Indian
Orthodox Church. We have to believe the power of fasting as it
relates to prayer is the spiritual weapon that our Lord has
given us to destroy the strongholds of evil and usher in a great
revival and spiritual harvest around the world. At first we
question the need of fasting and prayer “Is this truly God’s
call for me?” But with each passing day, His call will grow
stronger and clearer. Finally, we will be convinced that God has
called us to fast, and He would not make such a call without a
specific reason or purpose. With this conviction, enter the
Nativity fast with excitement and expectancy mounting in our
hearts, praying, Lord, what do you want us to do?”
As we begin to fast, our confidence in the Lord will help us.
Each day His presence will encouraged us to continue. The longer
we fast, the more we sense the presence of the Lord. The Holy
Spirit refreshes our soul and spirit, and we experience the joy
of the Lord as seldom before. Biblical truths leap at us from
the pages of God’s Word. Our faith soars as we humble ourselves
and cry out to God and rejoice in His presence. Fasting calls on
the Holy Spirit and brings us to repentance, prayer and
almsgiving. |
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We youths need to revive
our commitment to fasting and prayer and the rest of the church
will respond to this call. Spent time in reading God’s word and
make your time with the Lord more spiritually rewarding. There
is no point in fasting and prayer until it equips you for
spiritual awakening. Hope this Nativity Fast will not slip by
without having made a genuine effort to prepare ourselves for
the incarnation of Jesus Christ our Saviour.
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.
Make Your Commitment
Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake. How long you
will fast - one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, twenty
-five days (Beginners should start slowly, building up to longer
fasts.) 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.
Prepare Yourself Spiritually
The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance.
Un-confessed sin will hinder your prayers. 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.
Begin your time of fasting and prayer with an expectant heart
(Hebrews 11:6). Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan
sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit
(Galatians 5:16,17). Go for confession and receive the Holy
Mysteries.
Prepare Yourself Physically
Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Consult your physician
first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a
chronic ailment. Some persons should never fast without
professional supervision. Do not rush into your fast. Prepare
your body. Eat smaller meals before starting a fast. Avoid
high-fat and sugary foods. Limit your activity. Exercise only
moderately. Rest as much as your schedule will permit. Prepare
yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience,
crankiness, and anxiety. The first two or three days are usually
the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience
a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually.
Prepare For Prayer
For maximum spiritual benefit set aside ample time for prayer.
The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast
will be. Begin your day in praise and worship. Read and meditate
on God’s Word. At noon return to God’s Word and prayer. Try to
spend time praying for all those that need our prayers. In the
evening be alone and make time for personal prayer. If there are
others fasting, meet and pray together. Avoid television or any
other distraction that might dampen our focus. When your
designated time for fasting is finished, you will begin to eat
again. But how you break your fast is extremely important for
your physical and spiritual well-being.
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray,
and seek God’s face; if you consistently meditate on His Word,
you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John
14:21). The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights.
Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will
feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. A single
fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need
fresh infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new
times of fasting before God. It takes time to build your
spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your
first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast
too long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your
understanding and resolve. God will honor you for your
faithfulness. I encourage you to fast and pray from tomorrow in
our homes, our churches, our nation, and throughout the world.
+Tenny Thomas |
