bill bright - 7 basic steps to successful fasting
TRANSCRIPT
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
1/31
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
2/31
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
3/31
Seven Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer
Published by
NewLife PublicationsA ministry of Campus Crusade for Christ
100 Lake Hart Drive
rlando! "L #$%#$&0100
' 1(()! *ill *ri+ht, All ri+hts reserved, No part of thisbooklet 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,
/*N 1&)#((&02#
Adapted from 3he Comin+ 4evival5 America6s Callto "ast! Pray! and 7/eek -od6s "ace!7 ' 1(()! *ill
*ri+ht, Published byNewLife 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 thousandsof articles are dedicated to helpin+ fulfill the -reat
Commission! which has been his special burden for all
of his Christian life,
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
4/31
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
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
5/31
A P
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
6/31
in my heart! prayin+! 7Lord! what do 8ou want me
to doB7
believe such a lon+ fast was a soverei+n callof -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 be+an my fast! was not sure could
continue for forty days, *ut my confidence was in
the Lord to help me,
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
7/31
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, 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+,
encoura+e you to keep it with you durin+ your fast
and refer to it often because it +ives easy&to&followsu++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
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
8/31
year $000! and pray for national and worldwide
revival and for the fulfillment of the -reat
Commission, ur+e you to prayerfully consider
this challen+e,
*efore you fast! encoura+e you to read my
book! The oming !evival" #merica$s all to Fast,
Pray, and %Seek &od$s Face.% t will help euip you
for the comin+ spiritual awakenin+,
%
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
9/31
1 H@ 3 *
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
10/31
STEP 2,a'e "our Co--it-ent
Pray about the kind of fast you should
undertake, esus implied that all of His followers
should fast :atthew 51&1%E (51;!1)F, "or Him it
was a matter of when believers would fast! not if
they would do it, *efore you fast! decide the
followin+ up front5
How lon+ you will fastGone meal! one day! a
week! several weeks! forty days *e+inners
should start slowly! buildin+ up to lon+er fasts,F
3he type of fast -od wants you to undertake
such as water only! or water and 9uicesE what
kinds of 9uices you will drink and how oftenF
@hat physical or social activities you will
restrict
How much time each day you will devote to
prayer and -od6s @ord:akin+ these commitments ahead of time will
help you sustain your fast when physical
temptations and life6s pressures tempt you to
abandon it,
10
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
11/31
STEP 3Prepare "ourself Spiritually
3he very foundation of fastin+ and prayer is
repentance, .nconfessed sin will hinder your
prayers, Here are several thin+s you can do to
prepare your heart5
Ask -od to help you make a comprehensive list
of your sins,
Confess every sin that the Holy /pirit calls to
your remembrance and accept -od6s for+iveness
l ohn 15(F,
/eek for+iveness from all whom yon have
offended! and for+ive all who have hurt you:ark 115$)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
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
12/31
compassion! and others Psalm ;%5(!10E 10#51&
%!11&1#F,
*e+in your time of fastin+ and prayer with ane=pectant heart Hebrews 115F,
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition, /atan
sometimes intensifies the natural battle between
body and spirit -alatians )51!12F,
STEP 4Prepare "ourself P$ysically
"astin+ reuires reasonable precautions,
Consult your physician first! especially if you take
prescription medication or have a chronic ailment,
/ome persons should never fast withoutprofessional 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,
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
13/31
$ @HL< 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,
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
14/31
Physical annoyances may also include
weakness! tiredness! or sleeplessness,
3he first two or three days are usually thehardest, 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 liuid intake,
STEP 5Put "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, nvite the Holy /pirit to work in you to will and
to do His +ood pleasure accordin+ to Philippians
$51#,
nvite -od to use you, Ask Him to show you
how to influence your world! your family! your
1;
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
15/31
church! your community! your country! and
beyond,
Pray for His vision for your life andempowerment to do His will,
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
f 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)
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
16/31
time with our Lord in prayer and study of His
@ord are often better spent alone,
A dietary routine is vital as well, Dr, ulio 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 sueeed or
blended and diluted in )0 percent distilled water if
the fruit is acid, Apple! pear! +rapefruit! papaya!
watermelon! or other fruit 9uices are +enerallypreferred, f 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 eual parts,
(1&0 p.-. 2 3 p.-.
Herb tea with a drop of honey, Avoid black
tea or any tea with caffeine,
1
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
17/31
4 p.-. 2 /1&0 p.-.
*roth made from boilin+ potatoes! celery! and
carrots with no salt, After boilin+ about half anhour! pour the water into a container and drink it,
Tips on uice 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, n coldweather! you may en9oy warm ve+etable broth,
:i= acidic 9uices oran+e! tomatoF with water
for your stomach6s sake,
Avoid caffeinated drinks, And avoid chewin+
+um or mints! even if your breath is bad, 3heystimulate di+estive action in your stomach,
12
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
18/31
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
19/31
# *4
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
20/31
"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 watermelonand cantaloupe, Advance to a few tablespoons
of solid foods such as raw fruits and ve+etables
or a raw salad and baked potato,
$0
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
21/31
; A "NAL @4D
STEP 7E)pect 7esults
f 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
ohn 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 seeanswers to your prayers,
A sin+le fast! however! is not a spiritual cure&
all, ust 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,
t takes time to build your spiritual fastin+
muscles, f 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 tostren+then your understandin+ and resolve, As
$1
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
22/31
soon as possible! undertake another fast until you
do succeed, -od will honor you for your
faithfulness,
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,
$$
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
23/31
APP
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
24/31
/avior and Lord, Develop utter dependence on
Him with total submission and humility,
%, /tudy the attributes of -od,(, Hun+er and thirst after ri+hteousness :atthew
)5F,
10, Love -od with all of your heart! soul! and mind
:atthew $$5#2F,
11, Appropriate the continual fullness and control
of the Holy /pirit by faith on the basis of -od6s
command
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
25/31
12, /tart or 9oin a home or church *ible study
+roup that emphasies revival and a holy life,
Si) 8ital 9uestions A*out Prayer
Q W$at :s Prayer;/imply put! prayer is communicatin+ with
-od, 4eal prayer is e=pressin+ our devotion to our
heavenly "ather! invitin+ Him to talk to us as wetalk to Him,
QW$o Can Pray;Anyone can pray! but only those who walk in
faith and obedience to Christ can e=pect to receiveanswers to their prayers,
Contact with -od be+ins when we receive
esus into our lives as /avior and Lord ohn 1;5F,
Prayin+ with a clean heart is also vital to
successful prayer, @e cannot e=pect -od toanswer our prayers if there is any unconfessed sin
in our life or if we are harborin+ an unfor+ivin+
spirit Psalm 51%E :ark 115$)F, "or -od to
answer our prayers! we must have a believin+ heart
and ask accordin+ to His will :atthew (5$(E
$15$$E l ohn )51;!1)F,
$)
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
26/31
QW$y Are We to Pray;-od6s @ord commands us to pray Luke 1%51E
Acts 5;E :ark 1;5#%E Philippians ;5E 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,
QTo W$o-
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
27/31
t is not always necessary to be on our knees!
or even in a uiet room to pray, -od want us to be
in touch with Him constantly wherever we are, @e
can pray in the car! while washin+ the dishes! or
while walkin+ down the street,
QW$at S$ould We :nclude in Our Prayers;Althou+h prayer cannot be reduced to a
formula! certain basic elements should be includedin our communication with -od5 Adoration!
Confession! 3hanks+ivin+! /upplication AC3/F,
AAdoration
3o adore -od is to worship and praise Him! tohonor and e=alt Him in our heart and mind and
with our lips,
CConfession
@hen our discipline of prayer be+ins withadoration! the Holy /pirit has opportunity to
reveal any sin in our life that needs to be
confessed,
TThanksgiving
An attitude of thanks+ivin+ to -od! for who He
$2
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
28/31
is and for the benefits we en9oy because we
belon+ to Him! enables us to reco+nie 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,
SSupplication
/upplication includes petition for our ownneeds 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 nationand 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,
$%
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
29/31
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
30/31
-
8/12/2019 Bill Bright - 7 Basic Steps to Successful Fasting
31/31