3 Reasons Why You Should Join Hope City United’s 21 Day Fast
When’s the last time you evaluated your relationship with God?
Many of us are living in the hustle and bustle of this world that’s filled with distractions and sometimes we forget that we still need to nurture our relationship with God. We slip into seasons where even prayer has become a mindless routine instead of an intimate conversation with our Father.
When this happens, it’s always good to hit the reset button to get ourselves back in line with what’s truly important—our relationship and commitment to God’s Kingdom.
But how do we reset? One way is through Biblical fasting.
What is Biblical fasting?
Fasting is the ancient practice of abstaining from food for a certain period. It is a spiritual discipline that’s rooted in the purpose of training to become more like Jesus and is motivated by our desire to draw closer to the heart of God. It’s also a spiritual strategy that guides our focus from the physical (flesh) to the spiritual (faith).
“Fasting helps us to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain the Kingdom of God.” – Scot McKnight.
What are the spiritual benefits of fasting?
There are so many spiritual benefits that come with fasting. In today’s time, we are so accustomed to allowing ourselves to give in to our wants. We eat what we want and do what we want, whenever we want but very rarely do we stop and acknowledge what God wants for us.
By fasting, we open our spirits to 3 key benefits.
Redirect our focus solely on God
We’re all human so it’s not uncommon for our focus to be split between work, personal obligations, and even the worries of day-to-day life. When we fast, we make a conscious effort to place our focus solely on God and the things of His Kingdom.
During a fast, we are actively seeking God and that’s one of the most important tasks Jesus left for us.
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”- Matt 6:33 NIV
To hear the voice of God
Have you been feeling lost in life and in need of God’s direction or a breakthrough?
When you fast, you eliminate any distractions that could be overshadowing or blocking you from hearing from God. By removing something that has previously held your attention and replacing it with an intimate prayer session and an in-depth review of Bible verses is your key to unlocking God’s power in your life.
Strengthen your relationship with God
The only thing God wants from us is our unconditional faith and total reliance on him. When you fast, you begin to appreciate who He is and what He is capable of doing. The most notable benefit of fasting is experiencing a stronger bond with our Lord and a deeper, more meaningful relationship with Him.
How should I fast?
One thing that’s important to note here is that a Biblical fast isn’t a fad diet nor should it be used for selfish gain. It’s a commitment to obtaining spiritual growth.
There are different types of fasting but we highly recommend prayerfully considering which practice is best for you medically at this time. Here are the most common methods for an effective fast.
LIQUID FAST: Consuming only liquids for a consecutive amount of time.
PARTIAL FAST: Abstaining from specific kinds of food like meat, alcohol, caffeine, bread, or sugar. For example, the Daniel Fast found at Daniel 1:12 shows that Daniel only drank water and ate vegetables for 10 consecutive days.
ENTERTAINMENT FAST: Choosing to abstain from certain technologies or social media for a specific time frame.
Ready to get started?
It doesn’t matter if this is your first time fasting or if you’re a vet. We invite you to join Hope City United as we kick off our 21-Day Fast on January 10th, 2022. We will be guiding you through daily prayer and spiritual focus for the next three weeks. Make this year your year to fast with a spiritual purpose in mind.