2012 Fasting Guide

8/3/2019 2012 Fasting Guide

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2/19

DearFriend,

Wearesogladyouhavedecidedtoparticipateinanextendedtimeofprayer,fastingandpersonal

devotion.Therereallyisnobetterwaytoresetourspiritualcompassandbringaboutrefreshingin

everyareaofourlivesthanthroughprayerandfasting.

Awakeningwasintentionallydesignedtobeflexiblesothatyoucanparticipateatanylevel.Whether

youhavedoneatwenty-one-dayseasonofprayerandfastingbefore,orifthisisyourfirsttime,you

canstartwhereyouareandexperiencewhatGodhasinstoreforyouinapowerfulway.

Thetoolsprovidedinthisguideareapracticalguidelinetohelpyounavigatethroughyourpersonal

twenty-one-dayjourney.Asyoureadovertheinformation,pleaseconsiderhowitappliestoyouand

yourpersonalcircumstancesandconvictions.

WepraythatyouwillexperiencethepresenceandpowerofGodinanextraordinarywayasyou

commityourselftoHimoverthenexttwenty-onedays.MayGodcontinuetoblessyouandenlarge

youasyouseekHimfirst!

Butthedayswillcomewhenthebridegroomwillbetakenawayfromthem,andthentheywillfast.

Matthew9:15bNKJV


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TABLEOFCONTENTS

Prayer.........

2

Fasting......... 31.StartWhereYouAre... 32.FindYourFastZone. 4

3.ChooseYourTypeofFast.. 5

DifferentTypesofFasts..... 6 SpecificFoodorActivityFast...... 6

DanielFast..

6

JuiceFast... 7

WaterFast.... 7

TotalFast... 8

FastingWhileNursingorPregnant... 9

FastingandEatingDisorders.. 9

4.BeginandBreaktheFastWell...... 10

5.CreatingYourPersonalFastingMenu....

10

6.FinalFastingTips.... 11

SampleFastingMenus..... 12

PersonalDevotion...... 13

1.ReadConsistently... 13

2.ReadPrayerfully..... 13

3.ReadExpectantly. 14

4.TheS.O.A.P.Method.... 14

TheNext21Days...... 16


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PRAYER

Asyouprepareforthenexttwenty-onedays,itcanbetemptingtostartthinkingofalaundrylistof

prayersyoudlovetoseeanswered.Butwereallywanttoencourageyoutokeepthissimple.Think

aboutthetoptwoorthreethingsmostpressingonyourheartandzoneinonthosewithGod.Write

thesedowninthespaceprovidedbelow,andbeopentohearingwhatGodwantstoshowyouin

thoseareas.Thebreakthroughs,miracles,andanswerstoyourprayerswillbeby-productsof

drawingclosertoJesus.

Whenpraying,makeyourprimarygoaltoknowJesusmoreandexperienceHim.Prayprayersoftotal

surrender,andaimtoglorifyGodwithyourlife.FocusfirstonwhatsrightaboutHim,suchashis

goodnessandHisgreatness,andseeeverythingelsethroughthatfilter.

Andmostsimply,maketimetopraydaily.Dontovercomplicatethis!JusttalktoGod.Havethat

placeandtimewhereyoucanseekHimeveryday.Ifyoudontplantopray,youwont.Ifyoufinditachallengetodisconnectfromthebusynessofyourday,engaginginworshipmusicisagreatwayto

prepareyourheartforprayer.

Duringthisfast,IamprayingandbelievingGodfor:

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FASTING

ImportantNote:Fastingrequiresreasonableprecautions.Ifyouhaveanyhealthconcerns,pleaseconsultyourphysicianpriortobeginningyourfast,especiallyifyouaretakinganymedication,havea

chroniccondition,orarepregnantornursingababy.

Asyoupreparetofast,itisimportanttochooseafastingplanthatworksforyou.Whilethissection

providessomegeneralinformationaboutdifferenttypesoffasts,aswellassomesuggestionson

howtocreateyourownfastingplan,itisimportanttomentionthatthereisnothingmoreinherently

spiritualaboutonetypeoffastasopposedtoanother.Thesearesimplyguidelinesandsuggestions

ondifferentthingsyoucando.

Donotletwhatyoueatordonoteatbecomethefocusofyourfast.Keepthemainthingthemain

thing,whichisdrawingclosertoGod.Remember,thisisatimetodisconnectenoughfromyour

regularpatternsandhabitsinordertoconnectmorecloselytoGod.Hereareafewtipstokeepin

mindbeforegettingstarted:

1.StartWhereYouAre

WeareallatdifferentplacesinourwalkwithGod.Likewiseourjobs,dailyschedules,andhealth

conditionsarealldifferentandplacevariouslevelsofdemandsonourenergy.Somostimportantly,

whetheryouvefastedbeforeorthisisyourfirsttime,startwhereyouare.Yourpersonalfastshouldpresentalevelofchallengetoit,butitsveryimportanttoknowyourownbody,knowyouroptions

and,mostimportantly,seekGodinprayerandfollowwhattheHolySpiritleadsyoutodo.

Remember,thegoaloffastingisnotjusttodowithoutfood.ThegoalistodrawnearertoGod.

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2.FindYourFastZone

Whenmostpeoplestartfasting,thereistypicallysomelevelofdiscomfort.However,itispossibleto

getusedtothefastingroutineprettyquickly.Quitesimply,youmustlearntofastinawaythatworks

foryou.

Whileanytruefastdoesinvolveabstinencefromfoodoratleastcertaintypesoffood,typically,

differentfastingcombinationsworkbetterfordifferentpeople.Thegoaltohavingasuccessfulfastis

allaboutfindingwhatweliketocallyourFastZone,andthatisdifferentforeverybodyandcan

changedependingontheseasonyouarein.

ThebestwaytodescribeyourFastZoneisthatitstheplacewhereyoufeellightandspirituallyin

tune.YourmindiseasilyfocusedonGodandspiritualthings.Youhaveanincreasedspiritualenergy

youcanfeelthefastworking.Justlikerunnersknowwhattheirtargetheartrateistoseethebenefits

oftheirphysicaltraining,theFastZoneissimilarinaspiritualsense.

FindingyourFastZonehelpsyouchooseboththetypeandlengthoffast.Letssayyouchoosetogo

onaDanielfast(onlyfruitsandvegetables).Shouldyoueatbeans?IfyoucaneatbeansandstayinyourFastZone,goahead.Butforsomepeopleeatingbeanstakesthemoutofthezone.Shouldyou

eatpeanutbutter?Probablynot.Peanutbutterismoreofanindulgence,andnotmanypeoplecan

stayinaFastZonewhileenjoyingindulgences.

Shouldyoucompletelycutoutcaffeine?Itdepends.Thegreatthingis,whenyoufast,yourbody

automaticallycraveslesscaffeine.IfyoucanstayinyourFastZonewithalittlecaffeine,great.Ifyou

aregoingonalongerfastandwanttocutitoutofyourdietcompletely,thatsgreattoo.Butease

yourselfoffandmakeityourgoaltobecompletelycaffeinefreeabouttwo-thirdsofthewayinto

yourfast. 4


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Ifyoudrinkcoffeeregularly,oneoftheworstmistakesyoucanmakeistofastforonetothreedaysandcutcaffeineoutabruptlyandcompletely.Pleasedontdothatoryouwillspendthistimegrumpy

andinwithdrawalinsteadofenjoyingGodspresence.

Mixingthingsupabitduringatwenty-one-dayfastiswhattypicallyworksbestforpeople.For

example,doafruitsandvegetablesfastforaweek.Thendoallliquidsforawhile.Maybeevenmixina

fewdaysofonlywaterifyouthinkyouarereadyforthat.Thengobacktofruitsandvegetablesforafewdays.

Thereisntoneapproachthatworksthesameforeveryone.

FollowtheHolySpirit,mixitup,findwhatworksforyou,andstayinyourFastZone!

SomepeoplecantstayinaFastZoneeatinganytypeofsolidfood,sotheypreferallliquids.With

todaysproteindrinksandjuicingmachines,itissoeasytogetahealthydoseofallyournutritional

needsevenwhiletakinginonlyliquids.Certainpeoplecantdoanythingotherthandrinkonlywater.If

theyeatasaladordrinkaglassofjuice,theygetoutoftheirzone.Oriftheyallowthemselvestoeat

cantaloupe,theywillendupeatingtwentycantaloupesaday!

3.ChooseYourTypeofFast

Whilepreparingforyourfast,itisimportanttochooseaheadoftimewhattypeoffast,orwhat

combination,youwillpursue.Notonlywillthishelpwithmakingthenecessarypreparationsto

implementyourplan,butasyoucommittoaspecificfastaheadoftimeandknowhowyouregoingto

doit,youwillpositionyourselftofinishstrong.

Onthefollowingpageswevelistedsomeoptionsandvariationsoffastsyoucanchoosefrom.Asyoureadovertheinformation,pleaseconsiderhowitmayormaynotapplytoyourpersonalcircumstances

andconvictions. 5


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Youmaychoosetofastalltwenty-onedays.Oryoumaychoosetofastseveraldaysoutofthetwenty-

onedays,suchasthreeorfourdaysaweekthroughoutthetwenty-one-dayperiod.Maybeyouwilldothatanddothreetosevenconsecutivedaysattheend.Thisisyourpersonaldecisionandshouldbeprayerfullyconsideredasitappliestoyourcircumstances.

DifferentTypesofFasts

SpecificFoodorActivityFast

Inthistypeoffastyouomitaspecificitem(s)fromyourmealplans.Forexample,youmay

choosetoeliminateallredmeat,processedorfastfood,orsweets.Mostpeoplecan

incorporatethistypeoffastrelativelyeasily.Itcanalsoprovetobeagreatsolutionforpeople

withspecificdietaryneedsormedicalconditionsthatmaycausecertainlimitations.

Whilefastingtypicallyreferstorefrainingfromspecificfooditems,youmayalsofindit

extremelybeneficialtofastfromaregularactivityorhabit.Thismightincludethingssuchas

television,socialmedia,andthelike.

PrayerandfastingarenotjustaboutconnectingtoGodbutalsoaboutdisconnectingfromtheworld.Trytotuneoutsomeoftheregulardistractionsfromyourdayasmuchaspossible.

Replacethattimewiththingsthatwillnourishyouspiritually.DanielFast

TheDanielfastisagreatmodeltofollowandonethatisextremelyeffectiveforspiritualfocus,

bodilydiscipline,andpurificationofthebodyandsoul.Itisprobablyoneofthemostcommonly

referred-tofasts;however,withintheDanielfastthereisroomforbroadinterpretation.

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InthebookofDanielwefindtwodifferenttimeswheretheprophetDanielfasted.Daniel1

statesthatheonlyatevegetablesandwater,andinDaniel10,whilethepassagedoesnotgiveaspecificlistoffoodsthatDanielate,itdoesstatethatheatenorich(orchoice)foods,aswellasnomeatorwine.Sobasedonthesetwoverses,wecanseethateitherofthese,or

combinationsofthetwo,constituteaDanielfast.

Again,itisimportanttomentionthatthereisnothinginherentlyspiritualaboutonetypeoffast

asopposedtoanother.ThefoundationoftheDanielfastisfruitsandvegetables.Somestarchy

vegetablesanddairycouldbeincluded,butthatdependsontheindividual.Yourgoalshouldbe

toseekGodinprayeraboutthisandfollowwhattheHolySpiritleadsyoutodo.Justremember:

findyourpersonalFastZone.

JuiceFast

Ajuicefastissimplyconsumingvegetableandfruitjuicesandwaterinsteadofsolidfood.Many

peopleincludewheyproteinintheirliquidplanaswell.Thisisoneofthemostpopularand

effectivefasts.Evenifyouchoosenottomakeyourentirefastliquids-only,substitutingoneor

twomealsforliquidsisagreatalternative.

WaterFast

Awater-onlyfastisthenormalfastreferredtointheBible.ThisishowJesusandtheNew

Testamentchurchfasted.Awaterfastisjustthatnoeatingofanyfoodordrinkingofany

liquidsexceptwater.

Periodicwaterfastscanbeverybeneficial,butextremeprecautionsshouldbetaken.Forsome

peopleitishardtoperformeffectivelyattheirjobsandhaveenergyfortheirfamilieswhile

drinkingonlywater.

(moreonwaterfastingcontinuedonthenextpage) 7


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WaterFast(continued)

Werecommendconsultingyourphysicianfirst,andwaterfastingonlyforadayortwounless

youcangetawayoryourjoballowsyoutoreallydisconnectsoyoucangiveyourbestenergyto

thefast.Remember,whenJesuswentonHisforty-dayfast,HewentbyHimselfoutintothe

wilderness.

Havingsaidallthat,therearesomepeoplewhocanwaterfastandwork,andtheyfunctionfine

withoutmuchfatigueandareabletoworkwell.Youareblessedifyouareoneofthesepeople.

TotalFast

Atotalfastiswherenothingneitherliquid,solidfood,norevenwaterisconsumedforavery

shortperiodoftime.ThereareexamplesofthistypeoffastintheBible.ItwasanOldCovenant

typeoffastassociatedwithmourning,ordeepgrief,suchaswhenDavidengagedinatotalfast

foraweek,hopingthatGodwouldsparethechildhehadwithBathsheba(2Samuel12).

UndertheNewCovenant,wedonotfasttomournortoseekforgiveness.Godhasalready

forgivenus,andwearecommandedtocelebrateJesusbecauseHeisalive.Plus,completeabstinenceoffoodandwatercanbeverydangeroustoourhealth.Attemptingtogowithoutwaterforanyperiodoftimecanbeextremelyharmfultothebody.

Westronglydiscouragethetotalfast.

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FastingWhileNursingorPregnant

Strictfastingwhilepregnantornursingalsoisnotrecommended.Ifyouareinthisincredibleseason

oflifebutwouldliketoparticipateinthetwenty-one-dayplan,herearesomegreatoptionsforyoutoconsiderwiththeapprovalofyourphysician:

amodifiedDanielfastincludingwholegrains,legumes,wheyprotein,calcium,andiron

supplements

fastingsweetsanddesserts

fastingredmeat

fastingcertaindiversions(televisionshows,movies,socialmediasuchasFacebook/Twitter,videogames,andsoon)

Ifyouareapregnantornursingmother,yourpriorityisthehealthandthedevelopmentofthebaby

Godhasentrustedyouwith.Makethatyourguidelineandgofromthere.Andpleaseconsultyour

doctor.

FastingandEatingDisorders

Ifyouhavestruggledwithaneatingdisorder,thissituationisabattleofthemindyoucanwinthroughChrist(Philippians4:13).Remember,fastingisatoolusedtogetclosertoGod,anditactually

shouldkeepusfrombeingpreoccupiedwithfood.Ifyourmethodoffastingisgoingtocauseyouto

obsessaboutwhatyoueatinanyway,youwillneedtochangeeitheryourapproachoryourmindset.

Ifgivingupfoodisastumblingblocktoyou,thenconsiderfastingoftelevision,reading(otherthantheBible,ofcourse),socialmedia,orshopping.Therearemanydistractionsandwaysthatweuseto

stayincontrolthatwecouldeliminatefromourdailyroutine.Wedothesethingstodistract

ourselvesfromtherealissueshurtingus.Ifyoucanidentifysuchotherthings,maybeyoucangivethoseupinsteadoffood.

RememberthatyouarecoveredbyGodsgrace.Godwillshowyouwhattodo.Hisyokeiseasyand

Hisburdenislight(Matt11:30).Hiswaywillbringresttoyoursoul.

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4.BeginandBreaktheFastWell

Dependingonthetypeoffastyouchoose,itisveryimportanttoprepareyourbodyaheadoftime

beforebeginningthefast.Takeaweekorsototransitionintoyourfast;otherwise,youcouldgetsick.Forexample,ifyouwouldliketogoonafruitsandvegetablesorjuicefast,starteliminatingmeat,

whitegrains,andrefinedsugarsfromyourdiettheweekbefore.Alsostarttocutbackquiteabiton

dairyproductsandsomeofyourcaffeineintake.

Thesameprincipleappliestobreakingyourfast.Whenyourfastisover,addfoodsbackinvery

gradually.Pleasedontbreakyourfastwithagreasycheeseburger!Becauseyourbodyissocleansed

anddetoxified,youwillmostlikelygetsickifyoudothat.

Therearealsoseveralsupplementsyoucantakethatwillhelpsupportthedetoxprocessduringyour

fast.Yourhealth-foodstorecangiveyourecommendations.

5.CreatingYourPersonalFastingMenu

Onthefollowingpages,wewillshareafewsimplemenuoptionsforyouruse.Yourplancouldinclude

oneofthesemenuideasorevenavariationofallofthem.Youcouldevenmixitup,doingsomething

differentfood-wiseontheweekendsoroncertaindaysoftheweek.Again,prayaboutthisandfindwhatworksforyou.Tokeepyourenergyupthroughouttheday,itsimportanttoeatordrinkeverytwoandahalftothree

hours.Ifyougolongerthanthat,youcanexperienceanenergylullandbetemptedtooverstuff

yourselfatyournextmeal.Evenifyourefastingonfruitsandvegetables,overstuffingisneverasmart

thingtodo.

Itisveryimportanttodrinklotsofwaterwhilefasting.Drinkingaboutonehundredouncesofwater

perdaywillhelptosupportyourcriticalliverfunction. 10


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Theliveristhefilterforthebody,sowhenyoudontdrinkenoughwater,theliverdoesntfunctionat

itshighestcapacity.

Selectyourfooditemswisely.Wewillnotbelistingspecificingredientsyoushouldorshouldnot

includeinyourplan.Thekeyistoprepareaplanaheadofthefast,tonotgetlegalisticaboutit,andto

choosemenuitemswell.Forexample,ifyoupreferdressingonyoursalads,chooseahealthy,organic

optionwithnaturalingredientsanddontpouragallonofitonyourplate.Ifyouredrinkingfruit

juices,trytogoasnaturalaspossible,anddontdrinkonesheavilyprocessedandladenwithsugar.

Remembertonotletfoodbecomethefocusofyourfast,butmakewiseeatingchoices.

6.FinalFastingTips

Herearesomeotherideasthatcanhelpmakeyourfastingexperiencemorepleasantandhelpful:

~ Asyouselectyourtypeoffast,makeafastingcalendarthatfitsyourplan.Determinewhateach

dayandweekwilllooklike.

~ Keepyourfridgeandpantrystockedwiththeitemsyouneed.Beingunpreparedtofastsetsyou

uptogiveintotemptation.Choosewellwhenselectingproducts,sticktorawfoodasmuchas

youcan,andlimitartificialingredients.

~ Makeitaprioritytoattendchurchduringyourtwenty-one-dayfast.Beingaroundother

believerswillencourageyoutokeepongoingwhenfastinggetsdifficult.

~ Ifyouarefastingwithothers,youmaywanttodoaweeklysmallgroup.UsetheAwakening

SmallGroupDiscussionGuidetohelpfacilitatethis(visitawake21.org).

~ Ifyoumessup,dontgetdiscouraged.Justgetrightbackontrackandkeepgoing.Godsmercies

areneweverymorning(Lamentations3:22 23).Hewantsyoutofinish,andHewillgiveyou

thegraceandstrengthtodoit.

Godbewithyouasyoubeginyourawakeningadventure! 11


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SampleMenu1:Fruits,Vegetables,Juices,andWater

Breakfast

Fruitsmoothiewithwheyprotein

Mid-morningSnack

Freshfruitorfreshvegetables

Lunch

Rawvegetablesaladwithlight,organicdress ingandvegetablebrothsoup

Mid-afternoonSnack

Freshfruitorfreshvegetables

Dinner

Freshsaladwithlight,organicdressingandsteamedorgrilledvegetables

SampleMenu2:LiquidsOnly

Breakfast

Fruitsmoothiewithwheyprotein

Mid-morningSnack

Herbalteaorvegetablebrothsoup

Lunch

Raw,juicedvegetables

Mid-afternoonSnack

Freshfruitjuiceorfruitsmoothiewithwheyprotein

Dinner

Vegetablejuiceorvegetablebrothsoup

SampleMenu3:ModifiedDanielFast

Breakfast

12servingswholegrainsw ithfreshfruitjuice

Mid-morningSnack

Freshfruitorfreshchoppedvegetables

Lunch

12servingswholegrains;freshsaladwithlegumesandlight,organicdressing Mid

-afternoonSnack

Freshfruitjuiceorfruitsmoothiewithwheyprotein

Dinner

12wholegrains;freshsaladwithlegumesandlight,organicdressing


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PERSONALDEVOTION

Justlikeprayerandfasting,readingyourBibleisaboutconnectingtoGodinamorepowerfulway.Itis

notaboutdutybutaboutrelationship.WhenweengageGodthroughreadingHisWord,weengagethe

verypresenceofGod.HisWordislivingandactive!AswereadourBible,wearedrawingclosertoGod

andpositioningourselvestohearfromHiminparticularways.

Onceagain,aswithprayer,choosethetimeandtheplacewhereyouaregoingtoreadyourBibleand

devotionaleverysingleday,andcomepreparedtohearwhatHewantstotellyou.

Herearethreequickthingswedliketosharewithyouabouthowtogetthemostoutofyour

devotionaltimewithGod.

1.ReadConsistently

ItisbettertoreadalittleeverydaythantotryandknockouttwohoursofBiblereadingordevotionsin

onesitting.ItissoimportanttodigesttheWordinabsorbablechunks.IntheAwakening21Day

Devotional(foundatwww.awake21.org)wehaveincludedaBibleReadingPlanthathelpswiththat,as

itleadsyouthroughaboutachapteraday.Dontbiteoffmorethanyoucanchew,andcertainlydont

compareyourperformancewiththatofothers.Ifyoumissafewdays,pickupatthenextreading,

butstaywithitanddontgiveup.

Thekeyistokeepthissimpleandmakeitsustainable.

2.ReadPrayerfully

TalktoGodasyourereading.Dontrushthrough.Ifyoucomeacrosssomethingyoudontunderstand,

pauseforamomentandaskGodaboutit.ReadingprayerfullyismakingspaceandtimetotalktoGod

andgivingHimtimeandspacetotalktoyou.TakingtimetomeditateonGodsWordisjustas

importantasreadingit.

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3.ReadExpectantly

Youareabouttopartakeofthebreadoflife,sofosteranattitudeofexpectancy.BelievethatGodis

goingtospeaktoyouthroughHisWord.Withmeditationontheideasandthoughtsrecordedinyour

journal,bepreparedtodosomethingwithwhatHeshowsyou.Agreat,simplewaytojournalyourdevotionalsistousetheSOAPmethod.

(WayneCordeirohassomegreatmaterialaboutthisthatIhighlyrecommendinhisbook DivineMentor.)

4.SOAPMethod

Scripture Observation Application PrayerTheSOAPmethodisusedlikethis:

~ SforScripture.Readprayerfully.Takenoticeofwhichscripture(s)catchesyourattentionandmarkitinyourBible.Whenyouredone,rereadtheverse(s)youmarkedandlookforonethat

particularlyspeakstoyou.Writeitinyourjournal.

~ OforObservation.Focusingonthatscripture,tuneinandlistentowhatGodissayingtoyouthroughHisWord.Whatisitaboutthisscripturethatspecificallystandsout?WhatdoesGod

wanttorevealtoyouorteachyou?AsktheHolySpirittobeyourguideandshowyouwhatGod

issaying.

~ AforApplication.Thinkofhowthisverse(s)appliestoyourliferightnow.Perhapsitisinstruction,encouragement,revelationofanewpromise,orcorrectionforaparticularareaof

yourlife.Useyourjournaltowritehowthisscriptureappliestoyoutoday.

~ PforPrayer.WrapupyourSOAPtimeinprayer.TalktoGodaboutwhatyouvejustread.ThiscanbeassimpleasthankingHimforrevealingatruthfromthescripture,oritmaybeasking

Himforgreaterinsightorwisdomastohowitappliestoyourlife.Remember,prayerisallabout

relationship.Itsatwo-wayconversation,sobesuretolistentowhatGodhastosay.

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Thatsit!SOAP.Itsassimpleordeepasyouwantittobe.

Ifyouwanttogodeeperinyourstudy,hereareadditionaltips:

~ RereadthedailypassageinadifferentBibletranslationorparaphrase.

~ Utilizeonlineresources,suchasthoseavailablefromwww.crosswalk.com.

~ Utilizeacommentary,suchasthosebyMatthewHenryoronlineatwww.biblegateway.com.

~ Cross-referenceyourdailyreading,usingthefootnotesinyourstudyBible.

~ ResearchwordsintheiroriginallanguageusingaStrongsConcordance.Ourprayerforyouoverthenexttwenty-onedaysisthatyourpassionforGodandHisWordwillbe

ignited,andthatyouwilldevelopahungerforHispresencethatisgreaterthaneverbefore!

Neverbelackinginzeal,

butkeepyourspiritualfervor,servingtheLord.

Romans12:11NIV

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THENEXTTWENTY-ONEDAYS

Wewanttoencourageyoutobejustasintentionalaboutthenexttwenty-onedaysandthetwenty-

onedaysafterthatandsoon.Remember,keepingthefireandzealforGodburninginyourheartis

whatwillkeepyourrelationshipwithHimfreshandnew.Itwillallowyoutocontinueservingand

obeyingHimfromapositionofwantto,andyouwillexperiencethejoyofyoursalvationeveryday

regardlessofwhatlifebringsyourway.

Theprinciplesyouhavepracticedinthesetwenty-onedaysareveryeasytosustainlong-term.Prayer,

fasting,andpersonaldevotionareallquitesimpletoincorporateintoyoureverydaylife.Overthese

lasttwenty-onedays,youvecreatedspaceforGodtofill.Thebestwaytocontinueinthesesame

practicesistokeepthatspaceopenindefinitely.Dontallowittocloseup!Protectthattimeandspace

withGodandmakeityourpriorityeachday.

JustlikereadingyourBible,praying,andattendingchurch,fastingisalsoalifestyle.Weencourageyou

toestablishafrequencyandconsistencyoffastinginyourlife.Remember,thisisnotalegalisticthing.

ThisisanIgettoexperienceGodthing.Itislikegoingintoheavenforatuneup,sowecankeepour

passionforGodandenjoymentofHimatahighlevel.Weencourageyoutodothesame.Figureout

whatworksforyou,committoit,andmakeitapartofyourlife.

EveryJanuary,throughAwakeningwereceivehundredsoftestimoniesfrompeoplewhohave

participatedinthe21DaysofPrayerandFasting.Ifyouhaveapersonalstoryyoudliketoshare,wed

lovetohearfromyouandcelebratewhatGodhasdoneinyourlifethroughAwakening.Visitusonlineatwww.awake21.organdclickonShareYourStoryWithUsDonteversettleforanythinglessthanalifefullofpassionandspiritualzealforGod.KeepthefireforGodburninginyourheartanddowhateverittakestofeedyourspiritualhungerforGod.

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The tendency of fire is to go out;

watch the fire on the altar of your heart.

Anyone who has tended a fireplace

knows that it needs to be stirred up occasionally.

~ William Booth

Documents

2012 Fasting Guide