Fasting and Prayer

•We are praying for •

- You to receive clarity and instruction from God in 2024.

- Your personal walk with God to strengthen.

- Your friends and family to encounter the love of God.

- Breakthrough personally and over Pragma Church

- The Building, which will be a new home for Pragma Church and a HQ for Walking Like Jesus Ministries (WLJM)

- All WLJM events and conferences this year including the flagship Tent Revival event.

- Revival in this nation and significant moves of God in 2024

- Missions and evangelism to double in 2024.

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.” Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts”

‭‭James‬ ‭4:6-8‬

FASTING UNDER THE

NEW COVENANT

The Old Covenant was for those living under the law

The New Covenant is for those who are led by the Spirit

We (believers) who live after the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are now called New Covenant believers, those who are led by the Spirit (“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God” Romans 8:14)

This is my personal understanding on fasting. As a New Covenant believer I do not fast for ‘religious duties’ and neither do I fast to ‘get’ God to move. God has already moved, He has already moved sin out-of-the-way in the body of Jesus Christ “once for all” (Heb 10:10) and “sin has been condemned in the flesh” Romans 8:3. We are not fasting to ‘get’ because we ‘have’, everything has been provided for at the cross through Jesus. You are already blessed with every spiritual blessing (Ephesians 1:3), you have already been healed (1 Peter 2:24), you are already forgiven (Ephesians 1:7), and you are already holy (1 Peter 2:9). Therefore, when I am fasting I fast to spend consecrated time with God, to be focused on Him (not me), and to be focused on His word.

“We fast to get our flesh and our mind in line with God’s word,

to have a greater understanding on what He’s already done” 

Spiritual benefits of fasting

• It’s a time for you to solely focused on God and His word

• Strengthens your faith

• Increases sensitivity to the Holy Spirit

• Forces you to bypass the emotions of the flesh

• Opens your heart to hear from God

• Renews your appreciation for God

• Helps you to consume God’s word

• It is a good way to gain self-control over your flesh (showing you have dominion over your flesh in more than one way)

• It puts your flesh under submission 

Top Tips (prior) to beginning your fast 

• I usually cut out all caffeine (herbal teas included, any caffeinated) a couple of days prior to fasting, as when you stop all of a sudden you can get really bad headaches! This is due to the toxins leaving your body

• When you get the headaches or flu-like symptoms, do not stop. This shows your body is eliminating toxins

• Start cutting out any of the sugary or bad food as well

• Try reducing the amount of food consumption to get your body prepared

• I always find that getting ‘mentally prepared’ truly helps you to stay focused, disciplined and stick it out!

• When eating foods on a Daniel Fast, be very careful for the ingredients in food! You’ll actually come to realise that there are HUGE amounts of E numbers, Artificial additives and lots of icky things that you will begin to eliminate from your entire diet as a way of life after this!

• Drink lots of water! Stay hydrated and a lot of our hunger really is thirst

• Do spend time in the word and in prayer during your fast - CRUCIAL!

• Listen to good teaching

• Keep a journal to note what you feel God is speaking to you about, any dreams you have and any scriptures that really speak to you during this time

• Don’t shout it from the rooftops!

Types of fasts

1. Complete fast (No food, only water)

2. Liquid Fast (No food, water and juices)

3. Daniel Fast (No meats, sweets, diary, fruits, vegetables and water)

4. Our recommended fast for the church (From sunrise to sundown, one meal a day)

5. Nonfood fast (fasting from TV, social media, caffeine etc.)

   RECOMMENDED for pregnant, nursing, teens, and people on medication.

For this particular segment I will be sharing on the Daniel Fast.

Begin

1. Decide how long you wish to fast (if it is your first time or you are not familiar with fasting start off with 1 day then move to 3 and grow from there). As a church we will be fasting from Tuesday 2 January - Monday 22 January 2024

2. Decide which type of fast you will take part in.

3. Plan, when you will eat and what you will eat.

4. DO check which foods you should and should not eat

5. Take note of my tips above and most importantly, enjoy! This is not a penance

6. Do speak to your friend’s in the church - so you can share anything you’re finding difficult.

DANIEL FAST

Daniel Fast Food List DO

All fruits: These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned (just ensure there are NO other ingredients added i.e: sugar, syrup etc.)

All vegetables: These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned (just ensure there are NO other ingredients added i.e: sugar, syrup etc.)

All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, brown rice cakes and popcorn.

All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.

All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.

All quality oils including but not limited to olive, vegetable, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.

Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters, smoothies or freshly squeezed juices

Other: vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices. (beware of additives, artificial flavourings, natural flavourings)

_______________________________________________________________________________

Daniel Fast Food List DON’T

All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.

All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.

All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.

All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.

All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavorings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.

All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.

All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.

Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.

Remember this is not for brownie points or to show off. Fasting doesn’t make you any more holier than anyone else, if you think this way that actually makes you very self-righteous when in fact we are righteous! If you break your fast on the first day, don’t beat yourself up. We’ve all been there. You’re more than welcome to let us know and we can be there for you. Take your time and know that even if you don’t complete your fast God still loves you regardless. His love for you does not change based on your performance and neither does it make you any less or a bad Christian!

Grace & Peace, 

Pastor Tanya Chand