Seven Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer Published by

NewLife Publications
A ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ 100 Lake Hart Drive rlando! "L #$%#$&0100 ' 1(()! *ill *ri+ht, All ri+hts reserved, No part of this booklet may be reproduced! stored in a retrieval system! or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior permission in writin+ from the publisher, Desi+n and typesettin+ by -enesis Publications, Printed in the .nited /tates of America, 0/*N 1&)1#((&02#&# Adapted from 3he Comin+ 4evival5 America6s Call to "ast! Pray! and 7/eek -od6s "ace!7 ' 1(()! *ill *ri+ht, Published by NewLife Publications, As a personal policy! *ill *ri+ht has never accepted honorariums or royalties for his personal use, Any royalties from his more than fifty books and thousands of articles are dedicated to helpin+ fulfill the -reat Commission! which has been his special burden for all of his Christian life,

CONTENTS
A Personal Word..................................................5 o! to Begin "our Fast.......................................# /tep 1 /et 8our b9ective,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,( /tep $ :ake 8our Commitment,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,10 /tep # Prepare 8ourself /piritually,,,,,,,,,,,,,,11 /tep ; Prepare 8ourself Physically,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1$ W$ile "ou Fast...................................................%& /tep ) Put 8ourself on a /chedule,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1; Brea'ing "our Fast............................................%# /tep 1 <nd 8our "ast -radually,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,1( A Final !ord.......................................................(% /tep 2 <=pect 4esults,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$1 Appendi).............................................................(& How to <=perience and :aintain Personal 4evival,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$# /i= >ital ?uestions About Prayer,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$)

A P<4/ NAL @ 4D
0 believe the power of fastin+ as it relates to prayer is the spiritual atomic bomb that our Lord has +iven us to destroy the stron+holds of evil and usher in a +reat revival and spiritual harvest around the world, 0ncreasin+ly 0 have been +ripped with a +rowin+ sense of ur+ency to call upon -od to send revival to our beloved country, 0n the sprin+ and summer of 1((;! 0 had a +rowin+ conviction that -od wanted me to fast and pray for forty days for revival in America and for the fulfillment of the -reat Commission in obedience to our Lord6s command, At first 0 Auestioned! 70s this truly -od6s call for meB7 "orty days was a lon+ time to +o without solid food, *ut with each passin+ day! His call +rew stron+er and more clear, "inally! 0 was convinced, -od was callin+ me to fast! and He would not make such a call without a specific reason or purpose, @ith this conviction! 0 entered my fast with e=citement and e=pectancy mountin+ )

in my heart! prayin+! 7Lord! what do 8ou want me to doB7 0 believe such a lon+ fast was a soverei+n call of -od because of the ma+nitude of the sins of America and of the Church, 3he Lord impressed that upon my heart! as well as the ur+ent need to help accelerate the fulfillment of the -reat Commission in this +eneration, As 0 be+an my fast! 0 was not sure 0 could continue for forty days, *ut my confidence was in the Lord to help me, <ach day His presence encoura+ed me to continue, 3he lon+er 0 fasted! the more 0 sensed the presence of the Lord, 3he Holy /pirit refreshed my soul and spirit! and 0 e=perienced the 9oy of the Lord as seldom before, *iblical truths leaped at me from the pa+es of -od6s @ord, :y faith soared as 0 humbled myself and cried out to -od and re9oiced in His presence, 3his proved to be the most important forty days of my life, As 0 waited upon the Lord! the Holy /pirit +ave me the assurance that America and much of the world will! before the end of the year $000! e=perience a +reat spiritual awakenin+, 3his divine visit from heaven will kindle the +reatest spiritual harvest in the history of the 1

Church, *ut before -od comes in revival power! the Holy /pirit will call millions of -od6s people to repent! fast! and pray in the spirit of $ Chronicles 251;5
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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

3he scope of this revival depends on how believers in America and the rest of the world respond to this call, 0 have spent fifty years studyin+ -od6s @ord and listenin+ to His voice! and His messa+e could not have been more clear, 3his handy reference +uide! Seven Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer! will help make your time with the Lord more spiritually rewardin+, 0 encoura+e you to keep it with you durin+ your fast and refer to it often because it +ives easy&to&follow su++estions on how to be+in your fast! what to do while you fast! and how to end your fast properly, Durin+ my forty&day fast! -od impressed me to pray that two million Christians in North America will fast for forty days by the end of the 2

year $000! and pray for national and worldwide revival and for the fulfillment of the -reat Commission, 0 ur+e you to prayerfully consider this challen+e, *efore you fast! 0 encoura+e you to read my book! The oming !evival" #merica$s all to Fast, Pray, and %Seek &od$s Face.% 0t will help eAuip you for the comin+ spiritual awakenin+,

H @ 3 *<-0N 8 .4 "A/3

How you be+in and conduct your fast will lar+ely determine your success, *y followin+ these seven basic steps to fastin+! you will make your time with the Lord more meanin+ful and spiritually rewardin+,

STEP 1 Set "our O*+ective

@hy are you fastin+B 0s it for spiritual renewal! for +uidance! for healin+! for the resolution of problems! for special +race to handle a difficult situationB Ask the Holy /pirit to clarify His leadin+ and ob9ectives for your prayer fast, 3his will enable you to pray more specifically and strate+ically, 3hrou+h fastin+ and prayer we humble ourselves before -od so the Holy /pirit will stir our souls! awaken our churches! and heal our land accordin+ to $ Chronicles 251;, :ake this a priority in your fastin+,

STEP 2 ,a'e "our Co--it-ent

Pray about the kind of fast you should undertake, Cesus implied that all of His followers should fast D:atthew 1511&1%E (51;!1)F, "or Him it was a matter of when believers would fast! not if they would do it, *efore you fast! decide the followin+ up front5
How lon+ you will fastGone meal! one day! a

week! several weeks! forty days D*e+inners should start slowly! buildin+ up to lon+er fasts,F
3he type of fast -od wants you to undertake

Dsuch as water only! or water and 9uicesE what kinds of 9uices you will drink and how oftenF
@hat physical or social activities you will

restrict
How much time each day you will devote to

prayer and -od6s @ord :akin+ these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life6s pressures tempt you to abandon it,

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STEP 3 Prepare "ourself Spiritually

3he very foundation of fastin+ and prayer is repentance, .nconfessed sin will hinder your prayers, Here are several thin+s you can do to prepare your heart5
Ask -od to help you make a comprehensive list

of your sins,
Confess every sin that the Holy /pirit calls to

your remembrance and accept -od6s for+iveness Dl Cohn 15(F,

/eek for+iveness from all whom yon have

offended! and for+ive all who have hurt you D:ark 115$)E Luke 115;E 125#!;F,
:ake restitution as the Holy /pirit leads you, Ask -od to fill you with His Holy /pirit accordin+ to His command in <phesians )51% and His promise in 1 Cohn )51;!1), /urrender your life fully to Cesus Christ as your

Lord and :asterE refuse to obey your worldly nature D4omans 1$51!$F,
:editate on the attributes of -od! His love!

soverei+nty! power! wisdom! faithfulness! +race! 11

compassion! and others DPsalm ;%5(!10E 10#51& %!11&1#F,

*e+in your time of fastin+ and prayer with an

e=pectant heart DHebrews 1151F,

Do not underestimate spiritual opposition, /atan

sometimes intensifies the natural battle between body and spirit D-alatians )511!12F,

STEP 4 Prepare "ourself P$ysically

"astin+ reAuires reasonable precautions, Consult your physician first! especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment, /ome persons should never fast without professional supervision, Physical preparation makes the drastic chan+e in your eatin+ routine a little easier so that you can turn your full attention to the Lord in prayer,
Do not rush into your fast, Prepare your body, <at smaller meals before

startin+ a fast, Avoid hi+h&fat and su+ary foods,

<at raw fruit and ve+etables for two days before

startin+ a fast,

1$

@H0L< 8 . "A/3

8our time of fastin+ and prayer has come, 8ou are abstainin+ from all solid foods and have be+un to seek the Lord, Here are some helpful su++estions to consider5
Avoid dru+s! even natural herbal dru+s and

homeopathic remedies, :edication should be withdrawn only with your physician6s supervision,
Limit your activity, <=ercise only moderately, @alk one to three

miles each day if convenient and comfortable,

4est as much as your schedule will permit, Prepare

yourself for temporary mental discomforts! such as impatience! crankiness! and an=iety, the second day, 8ou may have fleetin+ hun+er pains! diHHiness! or the 7blahs,7 @ithdrawal from caffeine and su+ar may cause headaches, 1#

<=pect some physical discomforts! especially on

Physical annoyances may also weakness! tiredness! or sleeplessness,

include

3he first two or three days are usually the hardest, As you continue to fast! you will likely e=perience a sense of well&bein+ both physically and spiritually, However! should you feel hun+er pains! increase your liAuid intake,

STEP 5 Put "ourself on a Sc$edule

"or ma=imum spiritual benefit! set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord, Listen for His leadin+, 3he more time you spend with Him! the more meanin+ful your fast will be, ,orning
*e+in your day in praise and worship, 4ead and meditate on -od6s @ord! preferably on

your knees,
0nvite the Holy /pirit to work in you to will and

to do His +ood pleasure accordin+ to Philippians $51#,

0nvite -od to use you, Ask Him to show you

how to influence your world! your family! your

1;

church! your community! your country! and beyond,

Pray

for His vision for your empowerment to do His will,

life

and

Noon
4eturn to prayer and -od6s @ord, 3ake a short prayer walk, /pend time in intercessory prayer for your

community6s and nation6s leaders! for the world6s unreached millions! for your family or special needs, Evening
-et alone for an unhurried time of 7seekin+ His

face,7
0f others are fastin+ with you! meet to+ether for

prayer,
Avoid television or any other distraction that

may dampen your spiritual focus, @hen possible! be+in and end each day on your knees with your spouse for a brief time of praise and thanks+ivin+ to -od, Lon+er periods of 1)

time with our Lord in prayer and study of His @ord are often better spent alone, A dietary routine is vital as well, Dr, Culio C, 4uibalGnutritionist! pastor! and specialist in fastin+ and prayerGsu++ests a daily schedule and list of 9uices you may find useful and satisfyin+, :odify this schedule and the drinks you take to suit your circumstances and tastes, 5 a.-../ a.-. "ruit 9uices! preferably freshly sAueeHed or blended and diluted in )0 percent distilled water if the fruit is acid, Apple! pear! +rapefruit! papaya! watermelon! or other fruit 9uices are +enerally preferred, 0f you cannot do your own 9uicin+! buy 9uices without su+ar or additives, %01&0 a.-. 2 noon "resh ve+etable 9uice made from lettuce! celery! and carrots in three eAual parts, (1&0 p.-. 2 3 p.-. Herb tea with a drop of honey, Avoid black tea or any tea with caffeine,

11

4 p.-. 2 /1&0 p.-. *roth made from boilin+ potatoes! celery! and carrots with no salt, After boilin+ about half an hour! pour the water into a container and drink it, Tips on 5uice Fasting
Drinkin+ fruit 9uice will decrease your hun+er

pains and +ive you some natural su+ar ener+y, 3he taste and lift will motivate and stren+then you to continue,
3he best 9uices are made from fresh watermelon!

lemons! +rapes! apples! cabba+e! beets! carrots! celery! or leafy +reen ve+etables, 0n cold weather! you may en9oy warm ve+etable broth,
:i= acidic 9uices Doran+e! tomatoF with water

for your stomach6s sake,

Avoid caffeinated drinks, And avoid chewin+

+um or mints! even if your breath is bad, 3hey stimulate di+estive action in your stomach,

12

*4<AI0N- 8 .4 "A/3

@hen your desi+nated time for fastin+ is finished! you will be+in to eat a+ain, *ut how you break your fast is e=tremely important for your physical and spiritual well&bein+,

STEP 6 End "our Fast 6radually

*e+in eatin+ +radually, Do not eat solid foods immediately after your fast, /uddenly reintroducin+ solid food to your stomach and di+estive tract will likely have ne+ative! even dan+erous! conseAuences, 3ry several smaller meals or snacks each day, 0f you end your fast +radually! the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued +ood health, Here are some su++estions to help you end your fast properly5
*reak an e=tended water fast with fruit such as

watermelon,
@hile continuin+ to drink fruit or ve+etable

9uices! add the followin+5 1(

"irst day5 Add a raw salad, /econd day5 Add baked or boiled potato! no

butter or seasonin+,
3hird day5 Add a steamed ve+etable, 3hereafter5

*e+in to reintroduce your normal diet,

-radually return to re+ular eatin+ with several

small snacks durin+ the first few days, /tart with a little soup and fresh fruits such as watermelon and cantaloupe, Advance to a few tablespoons of solid foods such as raw fruits and ve+etables or a raw salad and baked potato,

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A "0NAL @ 4D

STEP 7 E)pect 7esults

0f you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord! repent! pray! and seek -od6s faceE if you consistently meditate on His @ord! you will e=perience a hei+htened awareness of His presence DCohn 1;5$1F, 3he Lord will +ive you fresh! new spiritual insi+hts, 8our confidence and faith in -od will be stren+thened, 8ou will feel mentally! spiritually! and physically refreshed, 8ou will see answers to your prayers, A sin+le fast! however! is not a spiritual cure& all, Cust as we need fresh infillin+s of the Holy /pirit daily! we also need new times of fastin+ before -od, A $;&hour fast each week has been +reatly rewardin+ to many Christians, 0t takes time to build your spiritual fastin+ muscles, 0f you fail to make it throu+h your first fast! do not be discoura+ed, 8ou may have tried to fast too lon+ the first time out! or you may need to stren+then your understandin+ and resolve, As $1

soon as possible! undertake another fast until you do succeed, -od will honor you for your faithfulness, 0 encoura+e you to 9oin me in fastin+ and prayer a+ain and a+ain until we truly e=perience revival in our homes! our churches! our beloved nation! and throu+hout the world,

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APP<ND0J o! to E)perience and ,aintain Personal 7evival

1, Ask the Holy /pirit to reveal any unconfessed sin in your life, $, /eek for+iveness from all whom you have offended! and for+ive all who have hurt you, :ake restitution where -od leads, #, <=amine your motives in every word and deed, Ask the Lord to search and cleanse your heart daily, ;, Ask the Holy /pirit to +uard your walk a+ainst complacency and mediocrity, ), Praise and +ive thanks to -od continually in all ways on all days! re+ardless of your circumstances, 1, 4efuse to obey your carnal DworldlyF nature D-alatians )511!12F, 2, /urrender your life to Cesus Christ as your $#

/avior and Lord, Develop utter dependence on Him with total submission and humility, %, /tudy the attributes of -od, (, Hun+er and thirst after ri+hteousness D:atthew )51F, 10, Love -od with all of your heart! soul! and mind D:atthew $$5#2F, 11, Appropriate the continual fullness and control of the Holy /pirit by faith on the basis of -od6s command D<phesians )51%F and promise D1 Cohn )51;!1)F, 1$, 4ead! study! meditate on! and memoriHe -od6s holy! inspired! inerrant @ord daily DColossians #511F, 1#, Pray without ceasin+ D 1 3hessalonians )512F, 1;, "ast and pray one $;&hour period each week, Prayerfully consider becomin+ one of the two million Christians who will fast for forty days before the end of the year $000, 1), /eek to share Christ daily as a way of life, 11, Determine to live a holy! +odly life of obedience and faith,

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12, /tart or 9oin a home or church *ible study +roup that emphasiHes revival and a holy life,

Si) 8ital 9uestions A*out Prayer

Q W$at :s Prayer;
/imply put! prayer is communicatin+ with -od, 4eal prayer is e=pressin+ our devotion to our heavenly "ather! invitin+ Him to talk to us as we talk to Him,

Q W$o Can Pray;

Anyone can pray! but only those who walk in faith and obedience to Christ can e=pect to receive answers to their prayers, Contact with -od be+ins when we receive Cesus into our lives as /avior and Lord DCohn 1;51F, Prayin+ with a clean heart is also vital to successful prayer, @e cannot e=pect -od to answer our prayers if there is any unconfessed sin in our life or if we are harborin+ an unfor+ivin+ spirit DPsalm 1151%E :ark 115$)F, "or -od to answer our prayers! we must have a believin+ heart and ask accordin+ to His will D:atthew (5$(E $15$$E l Cohn )51;!1)F, $)

Q W$y Are We to Pray;

-od6s @ord commands us to pray DLuke 1%51E Acts 15;E :ark 1;5#%E Philippians ;51E Colossians ;5$E 1 3imothy $51!$F, @e pray to have fellowship with -od! receive spiritual nurture and stren+th to live a victorious life! and maintain boldness for a vital witness for Christ, Prayer releases -od6s +reat power to chan+e the course of nature! people! and nations,

Q To W$o- <o We Pray;

@e pray to the "ather in the name of the Lord Cesus Christ throu+h the ministry of the Holy /pirit, @hen we pray to the "ather! our prayers are accepted by Cesus Christ and interpreted to -od the "ather by the Holy /pirit D4omans %5$1!$2!#;F,

Q W$en S$ould We Pray;

-od6s @ord commands us to 7Pray con& tinually7 D 1 3hessalonians )512F, @e can be in prayer throu+hout the day! e=pressin+ and demonstratin+ our devotion to -od as we +o about our daily tasks,

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0t is not always necessary to be on our knees! or even in a Auiet room to pray, -od want us to be in touch with Him constantly wherever we are, @e can pray in the car! while washin+ the dishes! or while walkin+ down the street,

Q W$at S$ould We :nclude in Our Prayers;

Althou+h prayer cannot be reduced to a formula! certain basic elements should be included in our communication with -od5 Adoration! Confession! 3hanks+ivin+! /upplication DAC3/F, A.Adoration 3o adore -od is to worship and praise Him! to honor and e=alt Him in our heart and mind and with our lips, C.Confession @hen our discipline of prayer be+ins with adoration! the Holy /pirit has opportunity to reveal any sin in our life that needs to be confessed,
T.Thanksgiving

An attitude of thanks+ivin+ to -od! for who He $2

is and for the benefits we en9oy because we belon+ to Him! enables us to reco+niHe that He controls all thin+sGnot 9ust the blessin+s! but the problems and adversities as well, As we approach -od with a thankful heart! He becomes stron+ on our behalf,
S.Supplication

/upplication includes petition for our own needs and intercession for others, Pray that your inner person may be renewed! always sensitive to and empowered by the Holy /pirit, Pray for othersGyour spouse! your children! your parents! nei+hbors! and friendsE our nation and those in authority over us, Pray for the salvation of souls! for a daily opportunity to introduce others to Christ and to the ministry of the Holy /pirit! and for the fulfillment of the -reat Commission,

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