FASTING & PRAYING UNIT STUDY
Put together & thoughts placed in: by Daneille Gray Snowden
Just a small little study to obtain the perspective of fasting, the 'why's-when's' as well as where did it come from.
Dictionary Definition: to abstain from food, or barely eat certain kinds of foods, a day or a period of time.
Unger Bible Dictionary: fast in the Bible is from the Hebrew word sum, meaning "to cover" the mouth, or from the Greek word nesteuo , meaning "to abstain." For spiritual purposes, it means to go without eating and drinking (Esther:4:16).WHO & WHY:
- to petition God and to seek his favor for others (Acts 13)
- when choosing leaders in the church (Acts 14:23)
- for God's mercy (Jonah 3)
- it reminds us that we are NOT self sufficient (WHY)
- When we fast, the hunger...and even the habit of eating being stopped automatically draws our attention on WHY we are doing this - TO: God.
BEGINNINGS OF PRAYER & FASTING:
"Old Testament law specifically required prayer and fasting for only one occasion, which was the Day of Atonement." Is known as the day of fasting from Jer. 36:6 .
BIBLE CHARACTERS THAT PRAYED & FASTED:
I downloaded coloring pages and shrunk them for the students to put in their 'lap-books'.
OLD TESTATMENT:
Moses: on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28).
Nineveh : (Jonah 3:5).
David: (2 Samuel 1:12).
Daniel: Fasted for an Answer to Prayer – Daniel 10:1-3
Nehemiah: Jerusalem was still in ruins (Nehemiah 1:4).
Darius: Daniel in the den of lions (Daniel 6:18).
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NEW TESTAMENT:
Anna: (Luke 2:37).
John the Baptist: (Mark 2:18).
Jesus: (Matthew 4:2).
The church of Antioch: (Acts 13:2,3) Paul and Barnabas spent time in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders in the churches (Acts 14:23). [link to good site /click]
Excellent study on those in the Bible fasting; click link.
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A Daniel fast.
A fruit or vegetable juice.
A water-only fast.
A total fast is without water. [Do not go beyond three days without water.]
Fast for a particular # amount of days.
Fast a particular meal.
NOTE: Please, check with a physician to be assured you are safe to fast, especially the extreme fasts. Pregnant woman, young children, sick and elderly you can fast a food, maybe a meal...but please use wisdom and get advice.
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RELIGIONS/CULTURES THAT FAST & PRAY:
I downloaded coloring pages and shrunk them for the students to put in their 'lap-books'.
I am a Christian, and this is a Christian Blog site. But, thought it would be enlightening for all to understand the beliefs of other religions. ~Daneille
Buddhists - Budhist's fast --- Breaking fast with our Buddhist guests  |
| Ramadan Fast |
Catholic - beginning of Lent ---- // More Explained Lent Described
Islam - Ramadan ---- Ramadan Described // Free Worksheets // pics-
Eastern Orthodox - several fast periods including Lent ---- Why Do Orthodox Christians Fast 40 Days During Great Lent?
Hindu's - Why thy fast explained... --gods/beliefs
Judaism - Minor fasts --- explained -- Judaism 101- Beliefs
Mormon -- 101 Beliefs / The Book of Mormon on Prayer and Fasting = basic beliefs of mormon christian apologetics.
"Completing the fast includes donating the money equivalent of the food you would have eaten to help the poor and needy. This is called a Fast Offering." link Fast Sunday = 1st Sun. monthly
CHECK OUT THIS: Fasting Across Religions
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Remember; when we fast it INTENSIFIES our prayers!
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INSTRUCTIVE ADVICE FOR PRAYER & FASTING:
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| Author/Speaker Daneille Snowden w/husband Pastor Brad Snowden. |
“WHEN you fast” — not “if you fast.” Matt. 6:16
1) Successful Fasting & Prayer from 'In His Steps'
2) Not to draw attention to ourselves. Examples of bad & good fasting: Is. 58:3-5 = (not good)
(Good) = Is. 58:6-10.
3) There can be different types of fasts...i.e.: Certain foods to abstain from such as; a particular meal, 3 day fast, 1 day fast, 1 week fast, a longer fast. IT IS VITAL...that a fast is led by the Spirit of God. He will lead you. And He see's the heart and the initial focus on WHY you are fasting, thus He will bless that.
4) How should you fast and pray: Matt. 6:16-18
- anoint thine head
-wash thy face
- in secret
5) Use wisdom, if feeling really sick...seeing spots before your eyes. Get a protein drink or just eat some. You are not defeated...just may need to fast a meal, or a food. I have found when the Lord has ordained a fast for me, I have the strength to fast. Though I may feel the hunger in my belly. And food smells really good. I have the strength.
Although, most of my normal life I have to watch my protein levels for I tend to get low blood sugar a lot. But, when the Lord leads me I am fine. When I fast -- just because I don't do well.
6) Watch how physical active you are...too much can be draining.
7) I limit my social interaction during my prayer and fasting time. Back away from that table of even distraction...as this is a time with our Lord.
8) During meals, go to a private place and seek your Lord. Worship for awhile, ask for direction in His Word (Bible) as He speaks to us, wait in His Presence and then make petitions, intercessions (praying for others). None done in this particular order.
9) Expect opposition from people. Or things to happen that will cause distraction and discouragement.
10) This is a time to focus on your Lord first and foremost. Drawing intimately close to Him. Keep that focus as #1.
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INTERESTING FASTS (From the Bible)
Purim 
Esther 4:16 "Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish."
Several References in the Bible about this fasts, CLICK LINK.
2015: Thursday, the 5th of March and will continue for 2 days until Friday, the 6th of March.
Note that in the Jewish calendar, a holiday begins on the sunset of the previous day, so observing Jews will celebrate Purim on the sunset of Wednesday, the 4th of March.
The Fast of Esther [click] called the Ta'anit Esther
Costumes, Story, Study...etc. [click]
Purim 2015 Guide [click]
Daniel Fast:
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| THE DANIEL FAST WEB SITE |
Good lesson on the beginning of this amazing story behind the Daniel Fast...prayer, supplication is where it began click LINK.
Daniel 10:3 "I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."
-21 Days Long
-Foods that are allowed are: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and oils.
-Restricted foods include: dairy, meat, sugar, all forms of sweeteners, yeast, refined and processed foods, deep-fried foods, and solid fats.
[ Daniel ch.1 & 10 how Daniel’s passion for God gave him longing for spiritual food more than physical food.]
-Starts w/ 10 Day Test Dan. 1 eat only vegetables and to drink only water. / Daniel and his friends looked healthier and better nourished than the others. Daniel 1
-Dan. 10 Fast Daniel is now older, (85) and is burdened deeply (by a vision from the Lord regarding the deprivation of his people & their sin).
He ate no choice food and had no meat or wine for three weeks (vv. 2 – 3).
Choice food in Hebrew meant: himself foods that were desirable. Likely sweets and bread. This fast, he was NOT focused on him but for the needs of others. - Intercessor
Daniel Fast site
Matthew 26:36-45 JESUS PRAYING AT GETHSEMANE
36" Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane, and He told His disciples, Sit down here while I go over yonder and pray.
37 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, He began to [j]show grief and distress of mind and was [k]deeply depressed.
38 Then He said to them, My soul is very sad and deeply grieved, so that [l]I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and keep awake and keep watch with Me.
39 And going a little farther, He threw Himself upon the ground on His face and prayed saying, My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass away from Me; nevertheless, not what I will [not what I desire], but as You will and desire.
40 And He came to the disciples and found them sleeping, and He said to Peter, What! Are you so utterly unable to stay awake and keep watch with Me for one hour?
41 All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
42 Again a second time He went away and prayed, My Father, if this cannot pass by unless I drink it, Your will be done.
43 And again He came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were weighed down with sleep.
44 So, leaving them again, He went away and prayed for the third time, using the same words.
45 Then He returned to the disciples and said to them, Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of [m]especially wicked sinners [[n]whose way or nature it is to act in opposition to God]."
Hebrews 4:15-16 AQUAINTED WITH OUR WEAKNESS
15 "For we do not have a High Priest Who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to the assaults of temptation, but One Who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sinning.
16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]."
Luke 6:12 SPENT ENTIRE NIGHT IN PRAYER
12 "Now in those days it occurred that He went up into a mountain to pray, and spent the whole night in prayer to God."
“Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:21; Mark 9:29).
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES LINK
SCRIPTURE REFERENCES LINK
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| Tabitha's Lap Book on Prayer & Fasting |
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Felecia's Lap Book on Prayer & Fasting |
