Be Love Company A Guide to Fasting Table of Contents
• Why Fast? • What is Fasting? • What Happens When We Fast? • Types of Fasts • Tips for Fasting Well • Resource • Te 22 Day Fast
WHY FAST? In simplicity, it’s biblical. Scripture contains numerous accounts of people fasting, including Jesus Himself. But the Word not only records stories of fasting, Jesus, the Word Himself, teaches us to do so.
In Matthew 6:16, we find Jesus teaching many through the famous, Sermon on the Mount, & He shares these words, “When you fast…”
Jesus does not say, “If you fast,” but, “When you fast,” signifying that there is an expectation for those who follow Christ to participate in the practice of fasting.
WHAT IS FASTING? Practically speaking, fasting is to abstain from food or drink for a specific period of time. However, fasting is much more than abstinence from food & drink, it is an act of humility. It is a denial of the flesh for the refining of the spirit. In the words of David Mathis, “Fasting is a means of God’s grace to strengthen & sharpen our Godward affections.”
David wrote in Psalm 35:13, “I humbled myself with fasting.”
In simplicity, fasting is… • Purifying • Refining • Transforming • Humbling
It is important to note that it is not fasting that moves the heart of God, but humility. Fasting is simply an expression of humility. It is important we make this distinction, or we run the risk of turning fasting into something it was never intended to be.
And what is that? What is fasting not? • Fasting is not a hunger strike. It is not resisting food until the Lord answers our demands. The Lord is not hostage to us. • Fasting is not a performance, for God or for man. God is not a legalist. The act of fasting will not stir God to love you more, but it will stir Him to action. • Fasting is not a diet. It is not a weight-loss system. Although there are many physical benefits to fasting, including weight loss, these are byproducts of fasting, not the goal, not the motive.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE FAST? ***We will be answering this question strictly from a spiritual point of view, although much happens physically & physiologically as well. For more information regarding the science of fasting we encourage you to check out the resource section of the manual.
To answer the question, “What happens when we fast,” we must also ask, “What happens when we humble ourselves?” Why? Because fasting is an act of humility. Therefore, when we fast…
• Grace is given (James 4:6) • We are exalted (Matthew 23:12) • God takes note of us (Psalm 138:6) • We are shown favor (Proverbs 3:34) • We gain honor (Proverbs 29:23) • The Father rewards us (Matthew 6:18) • Chains of injustice are loosened, the oppressed are set free, & yokes are untied & broken (Isaiah 58:6)
TYPES OF FASTS As times of fasting draw near, the question will naturally arise, “What type of fast should I do?” Our primary encouragement to you is threefold:
1. Let the Spirit lead you. If He’s leading you into a fast, He will also lead you to know what type of fast to partake in. Simply ask & He will answer. 2. Consider humility. Do not choose a fast because it would be the least challenging, but consider what would cause you to come to the end of yourself & to a place where you must rely on the Spirit of God. 3. Please consult a medical professional if you have any pre-existing health conditions or challenges that may need to be taken into consideration.
Some common fasts that we recommend considering are…
THE JESUS FAST (WATER-ONLY) This fast involves abstaining from all food & consuming only water. This is a biblical fast, found in the life of Jesus, & recorded in the books of Matthew, Mark, & Luke. It is advised that water-only fasts lasting more than several days be undertaken with wisdom, rest, & with medical supervision because of the danger of over-toxification, breakdown of vital body tissues, & loss of electrolytes.
JUICE FAST This fast involves abstaining from all solid foods, & drinking only juice & water (primarily water). This type of fast will provide you with more energy than a water-only fast. On a juice fast, we recommend drinking only fresh-pressed juices, which you can make at home with a juicer, or, if you don’t have a juicer, cold-pressed juices which you can buy at your local grocery store. You want to avoid juices with high acidic content, added sugars, & pulp. Drinking juices with pulp causes your metabolism to start back up, bringing back all of those difficult-to-deal-with hunger pangs.
LIQUIDS-ONLY A liquids-only fast, also called a smoothie or shake fast, involves abstinence from eating solid foods, yet allows you to still get all the necessary nutrients you need to function, just in liquid form. You still deprive yourself the pleasure of chewing & eating, but you are able to get plenty of fruits, vegetables, protein powders, etc.
DANIEL FAST The Daniel Fast follows the pattern revealed in Daniel 1:12 & Daniel 10:2-3.
• Daniel 1:12, “Give us nothing but vegetables to eat & water to drink.” • Daniel 10:2-3, “I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips.”
A Daniel Fast is essentially a vegan eating plan with more restrictions. It is a plant- based diet where the only beverage is water. It may help to think of it this way; No meats, sweets, wheats, treats, or alcohol.
INTERMITTENT FASTING Intermittent fasting could also be called “time-restricted fasting,” where you only eat during certain windows of time throughout the day, & abstain from food during all other times. Intermittent fasting can be done many different ways, but some common practices include…
• 8 on, 16 off: This method of fasting allows you to eat during an 8 hour window throughout the day, but the remaining 16 hours you abstain from all food & beverage. An example would be eating between 12:00 pm & 8:00 pm, but abstaining from 8:00 pm - 12:00 pm. • 6 on, 18 off: Similarly to the method mentioned above, this involves eating & drinking during a 6 hour period of time, but abstaining from food & beverage the remaining 18 hours. • Skip-a-meal: This form of fasting involves skipping one or two meals a day. It’s similar to the methods mentioned above, but rather than thinking in terms of time, you think in terms of meals. • Warrior Fasting: Warrior Fasting involves eating only fruits & veggies throughout the day, but allowing yourself to eat a larger, more well-rounded meal once in the evenings.
MEDIA FAST If you are unable, or do not feel led by the Lord, to do any of the food-related fasts, consider participating in a social media, video game, television, &/or movie fast. This type of fasting involves abstinence from either all or some forms of media, & that time is replaced with Jesus-centric activity.
TIPS FOR FASTING WELL As previously stated, there are incredible benefits to fasting, both spiritually & physically, but there are great challenges as well. The tips provided below are intended to help you in the practice & lifestyle of fasting.
1. Fill meal times with worship, prayer, & scripture. Remember, fasting is not simply abstaining from food, it is seeking the Lord. Do not empty your time of food simply to fill it with distraction & busyness. Allow the times that are being emptied of food & activity to be filled with Jesus-centric activity.
2. Pursue fasting as an act of humility & purification. In fasting, we are not trying to get something from God. Rather, we are seeking to realign our hearts’ affections with His. We do holy violence to the “pleasures which wage war against the soul,” which in turn, open the way for a greater submission to the Holy Spirit. It is the submitted life that moves, acts, sounds, & looks like Jesus’.
3. Pray with focused intentionality & goals. Setting a clear, prophetic prayer goal empowers you to stay focused & dedicated to the task at hand. In terms of church-led or leader-led fasts, prayer points & purpose are often provided, but in the case of a personal fast, ask the Lord what to be intentional about in terms of prayer, declaration, & meditation.
4. Fast unnoticeably. Matthew 6:16-18 instructs us to fast in such a way that we do not draw attention to ourselves. The purpose of fasting is not to put on a show or “holy presentation” for others, but to live life unto the Lord. Fasting is not for boasting, but it is also not necessary to go to extraordinary lengths to mask it if/ when people inquire. If others ask, just simply let them know you will not be eating. The bigger deal you make of it, the more attention you draw. Be discreet, be transparent, then move humbly along.
5. Fast with a friend. Although we are not to brag, boast, or flaunt the fasting & praying life in front of others, it is helpful & encouraged to fast with a friend/ spouse/ family member so that you may help encourage & uplift one another along the way. Families in particular are encouraged to fast together & create a space for open dialogue between parent & child.
6. Determine the type of fast & length of fast in advance, not after you start. Beginning with the end in mind helps you stay the course.
7. Husbands & wives, consider sexual abstinence for the sake of prayer. There is an encouragement given to married couples found in 1 Corinthians 7:5 that reads, “Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
If married, speak to your spouse prior to any fast to consider if this is a component of fasting you feel would be of benefit & use.
8. Temptation will come, but do not make temptation your focus. Jesus Himself was tempted. In fact, Matthew 4:1 tells us that, “Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted…” Temptation is part of the process. However, temptation is not for our undoing, it is for our overcoming. Be aware that temptation is often part of the fasting process, but it is not the focus of the process. What you focus on you empower. Focus on Jesus, not the temptation.
9. Do not give in to condemnation if you fail. If you happen to break a fast prematurely, simply hit reset & resume right where you left off. No need to give up. No need to feel guilt. Ask Jesus for help & grace, & start again.
10. Prepare physically. It is recommended that two days before a fast you limit your intake of food to fruit & vegetables. Fruit is a natural cleanser & easy to digest. It may also help to stop drinking coffee or other caffeinated beverages prior to fasting. This will help you to prepare for any mental discomforts such as impatience, crankiness, & anxiety. There are likely to be certain physical discomforts. You may experience dizziness, headaches & different kinds of pains. Headaches are not necessarily a sign to stop fasting. Rather, your body is working to cleanse itself of impurities.
11. Break the fast over several days with fruit juice &/ or light soups. On a light juice fast or water fast, your digestive system shuts down. It can be dangerous to eat too much too soon. Break such a fast gently with several days of diluted, non-acidic juice, then regular juice, followed by fruit & vegetables.
12. If you are pregnant or nursing, do not fast. If pregnant or nursing, consider participating in another form of fasting, such as a media fast.
RESOURCE For more information regarding fasting, we recommend the following resources, all of which can be found via the Google search engine, or the web addresses provided:
• Lou Engle’s, “Guide to Fasting” (thejesusfast.global) • Bill Bright’s, “Personal Guide to Fasting” (cru.org) • Dr. Axe’s, “7 Benefits of Fasting & the Best Types to Try for Better Health” (draxe.com) • “The Hidden Power of Prayer & Fasting,” by Mahesh Chavda (amazon.com) • “The Daniel Plan,” by Rick Warren (amazon.com)
THE 22 DAY FAST
THE STORY & THE PURPOSE: Our heart at Be Love Company is to be led by the Spirit in all areas of life, & that includes the act of fasting. Many of us found ourselves challenged at the beginning of 2021 by the fact that we hadn’t called a church-wide fast. Had we missed it? Had we been negligent? Were we being irresponsible? And that’s when the Spirit of God rushed in to ask a series of questions…
Why fast? What’s the point? What do you want to get out of it? Are you fasting out of religious habit & obligation, or are you fasting out of passion, desire, obedience, & humility? What is it you hope to see on the other side of your fasting?
The answer? We want to be more like Jesus, & we want to see/ live lives filled with miracles, signs, & wonders.
We believe that Jesus is perfect theology, & that the lifestyle of Jesus Christ is an invitation for the believer to live the same. Because Jesus’ life was marked by miracles, signs, & wonders, ours are to be as well.
We have found ourselves confronted & convicted by the lack of the miraculous currently present in our lives, & are choosing to humble ourselves before the Lord that we may be transformed further into His likeness, & live out the mandate of miracles, signs, & wonders.
Did you see anyone healed this week? No? Something needs to change. Did you see anyone delivered this week? No? Something needs to change. Did you witness a miracle? No? Something needs to change. It is time for us to raise the standard, to raise the banner.
We believe miracles, signs, & wonders are to be common for the believer. Not common in the sense that we lose our awe & wonder, but common in the sense that He is with us at all times, & therefore, the regular life of the believer is to be marked by the presence of Jesus, & where He is, His Kingdom reigns.
THE PRACTICALS We are calling Be Love Company to a 22-day fast, beginning Monday, February 22nd.
As a leadership team, we will not be setting the parameters of your fast, but encourage you let the Spirit lead you in choosing your fast.
We are asking you to please consider a fast regarding food prior to considering a fast regarding social media, tv, or other media sources. However, if you choose a media related fast that is perfectly acceptable. We simply encourage you to choose a fast that will be sacrificial, not just convenient. We have noticed an increasing trend in choosing media related fasts, not out of humility, obedience, or sacrifice, but out of ease. We believe that any fast done in faith will be rewarded, but may we seek a greater measure of faith.
WHY 22? As previously mentioned, our aim is to be led by His voice & Spirit in all things, & not just routine or familiarity. In seeking Him, we have felt a call to fast for 22 days. But still, why 22?
In our seeking, we have found that 22 is a number closely associated with miracles, signs, & wonders, the very thing we are asking for.
Acts 2:22 states, “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders & signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.”
We have chosen to begin this fast on February 22nd, or 2/22, as a prophetic act & agreement with this scripture found in Acts 2:22. It is our desire, that by humbling ourselves at the feet of Jesus for 22 days, we would be refined into His likeness, & that it could be said about our lives that we too are men & women accredited by God to others by miracles, wonders, & signs.
THE ‘RAISE THE BANNER’ CAMPAIGN At the end of our 22 day fast, we will be taking up a special offering. This offering will be for the purchasing, renovation, & development of the future Be Love Co. campus.
Our building committee is currently hard at work, negotiating a property, & seeking the Lord for wisdom, strategy, & finance regarding a new church facility. We believe that during this time of fasting we will receive divine insight from the Lord regarding our future property, & upon completion of the fast we will begin our RAISE THE BANNER FUNDRAISING CAMPAIGN, starting with a church-wide offering that we will take up on Thursday, March 18.
We ask you to please prayerfully seek the Lord how He would like you to partner with us financially in this endeavor. We know that great goals require great cost, but Jesus is worth the cost. This offering, your financial partnership, is about much more than building a church, it is about advancing the kingdom that Jesus may receive the full reward of His suffering.
DAILY DEVOTIONS We want to help equip you in this time of fasting. Again, fasting is not just the abstinence of food, it is the substance of God. In fasting, we do not want calendars that just have 3 empty spaces where our meals used to be, but we want to fill those empty spaces with Him. Empty spaces will always be filled, whether intentionally or unintentionally. May our emptiness be filled with Christ Jesus.
Our hope throughout this fast, is that we would all see Jesus more clearly for who He is. Specifically, as the God of miracles, signs, & wonders.
In the coming pages you will find a series of daily devotionals that are designed to help reveal the God of wonders to you. Particular passages & songs have been selected that will help us to see Him for who He is; The Creator. The God of Angel Armies. He who split the seas. He who Overcame. And so much more. It is in seeing Him that faith arises. And it is in beholding Him, that we become like Him.
We pray that these simple devotions would provoke you to faith & courage in Christ Jesus, & that you would have a renewed & redeemed confidence in who the Lord Almighty is & will continue to be for us.
Day One: February 22
Worship Song of the Day: Our Father - Bethel Music
Bible: Genesis 1 - 2
Prayer: God, please reveal yourself to me as the Creator. Reveal to me the power in your voice, the brilliance of your design, the goodness in all that you have made. Father, let me hear the sound of your creative power, & create in me a pure heart. Amen
Day Two: February 23
Worship Song of the Day: Flood the Earth - Jesus Culture
Bible: John 2:1-12
Contemplate: Today, spend time in contemplation & meditation of the story presented in John 2:1-12.
Day Tree: February 24
Worship Song of the Day: Healer - UPPERROOM
Bible: 2 Kings 5:1-14
Prayer: Jesus, lead me into steadfast obedience. May I follow you even in the little things. May I not discredit the things that seem too small, too simple, too easy, too insignificant, or just plain silly. You are the Healer, & I trust You.
Day Four: February 25
Worship Song of the Day: There’s No Other Name - Bethel Music
Bible: Exodus 1 - 5
Journal: Father, what’s something new you would like to show me in regards to the story of Moses?
Day Five: February 26
Worship Song of the Day: Get Your Hopes Up - Josh Baldwin
Bible: Exodus 6 - 10
Pray: O God, Thank you that you are a delivering God. Thank you for your might, & for your majesty. May I marvel again at just how vast & how grand, You truly are.
Day Six: February 27
Worship Song of the Day: Surrounded (Fight My Battles) - UPPERROOM
Bible: Exodus 11 - 15
Activation: Take the Song of Moses & Miriam, presented in Exodus 15, & sing it. Take the whole song, or just a few lines, & worship the Lord with a song that is unique to you! This may feel silly, & the song may not be “good,” but it will be real & honest & from your own lips, & that is enough. Worship the Lord, & have fun with it! Day Seven: February 28
Worship Song of the Day: Into Faith I Go - Pat Barrett
Bible: Matthew 8
Journal: Spend time in the lyrics of “Into Faith I Go,” & meditate on any words that stand out to you.
Day Eight: March 1
Worship Song of the Day: Tremble - Mosaic MSC
Bible: Daniel 3
Prayer: Jesus, Thank you that you never leave me. That even in the furnaces of life, You stay by my side. Empower me & keep on empowering me to walk through life with courage, integrity, faith, & boldness. I love you. Amen Day Nine: March 2
Worship Song of the Day: Miracles - Jesus Culture
Bible: Acts 2
Journal: Jesus, is there any part of my heart & mind that believes I am the exception to the outpouring of your Spirit? Is there anything in me that has knowingly, or unknowingly, discredited myself from who you want to be for me & through me in these days?
Day Ten: March 3
Worship Song of the Day: Have Faith in God - Mateo Palmitier
Bible: Matthew 14:22-33
Contemplate: Today, spend time in meditation regarding the story found in Matthew 14:22-33
Day Eleven: March 4
Worship Song of the Day: Death Where is Your Sting - Cory Asbury
Bible: Luke 22 - 25
Prayer: Jesus, Thank you for conquering the grave. Thank you for conquering death. Thank you for conquering sin. Thank you for taking me place Thank you for making a way. I love you, & will forever love you.
Day Twelve: March 5
Worship Song of the Day: Stronger - Influence Music (Matt Gilman)
Bible: Esther 1 - 10
Contemplate: Take your time reading through the book of Esther, & really engage with the story that is being told, & the God that is being revealed.
Day Tirteen: March 6
Worship Song of the Day: God With Us - Jesus Culture (Bryan & Katie Torwalt)
BIBLE: 1 Samual 16 - 17
Journal: Father, who do you say that I am? Who have you anointed me to be, & what have you anointed me to do?
Day Fourteen: March 7
Worship Song of the Day: Make a Way - Desperation Band
Bible: Matthew 14:13-21
Journal: Jesus, what is it that I have in my hands that you would like to multiply, but that I have been discrediting?
Day Fifeen: March 8
Worship Song of the Day: Mention of Your Name - Brian & Jenn Johnson
Bible: Exodus 16:1-21
Journal: Make a list of anything that feels like a “mountain” in your life right now. Then, ask Jesus who He wants to be for you/ what He wants to do for you in each of those places & write down what you hear Him say.
Day Sixteen: March 9
Worship Song of the Day: Champion - Bethel Music (Dante Bowe)
Bible: Acts 3:1-10
Prayer: Father, Thank you that you give me what I really need. Teach me to see when I am asking for the wrong things, & to see what it is I really need instead. Amen
Day Seventeen: March 10
Worship Song of the Day: Isn’t He (This Jesus) - The Belonging (Natalie Grant)
Bible: Revelation 4
Contemplate: Spend time imagining heaven today. Picture the resurrected Jesus, & the worship that encircles His throne day & night, night & day.
Day Eighteen: March 11
Worship Song of the Day: Not One Thing - UPPERROOM
Bible: John 20
Pray: Holy Spirit, Grant us that we may be able to say the words of Mary, “I have seen the Lord.” Amen
Day Nineteen: March 12
Worship Song of the Day: You Came (Lazarus) - Bethel Music
Bible: John 11:1-46
Journal: Father, is there anything in my life that I have come to assume you are too late for? Is there anything that I have been treating as dead, that You would like to resurrect?
Day Twenty: March 13
Worship Song of the Day: Confident - Steffany Gretzinger
Bible: Isaiah 6:1-7
Contemplate: Spend time today chewing on the words written in Isaiah 6:1-7.
Day Twenty-One: March 14
Worship Song of the Day: Show Me Your Glory - Jesus Culture
Bible: Joshua 1 - 6
Pray: O God, Thank You that You are the same today As you were back then. That you are the Unchanging One, & I can trust you. Increase my faith, & teach me to obey.
Day Twenty-Two: March 15
Worship Song of the Day: I See Heaven - Bryan & Katie Torwalt
Bible: Isaiah 2:1-4
Journal: Father, on the last day of this fast, is there anything else you’d like so speak to me about?