2012 Fast Begin Again

My old bugaboo, free food, got me again last night when I was unable to resist eating at Pierce County Christian Singles.
Today, I began again and have been water fasting all day. I feel very hungry but I know that the feeling of hunger will dissapate after the third day. Once I've done 3 days of wateer fasting, I will begin the 80/10/10 diet that I normally do when I fast.
My prayers during this fast remain the same as when I first started this fast. I am adding a prayer for God to give me direction in regards to my role in the coming year.

2012 Fast 2nd Day

I water fasted all the first day (it was very easy, I wasn't hungry at all) and up to 8PM on the second day. I then had my usual intestinal issue and ate a little something to calm it down. I will start the water fast again today & go as long as I can until the intestinal issue reappears.
During this fast, I am praying for unsaved loved ones, for healing of my gum issues and for my financial situation to improve. I'm also praying for the needs of my friends and relatives, both physical and financial.

2012 New Fast-First Day

I wasn't planning to start my yearly January fast until Jentezen Franklin does his in late January; but today I woke up and it just felt right to start. I've been doing a water fast all day and I had no hunger at all. Yea! I feel as if I should spend tonight doing some extra praying and so I will do that very soon.
Although I didn't originally have a plan, my plan now is to water fast tomorrow and, maybe, the next day and then go on an 80/10/10 fast as I did last year.
We'll see how the Lord leads.

Natural Pomander Ball Air Freshener

Health Tip of the Day
"Getting Fit. . . One Step at a Time"

To make a natural air freshener, create a pomander ball by inserting whole cloves into an unpeeled orange, lemon, lime or apple. Poke holes in the peel with a nail first to keep the cloves from breaking.

2011 Aug 7th

I went to my real estate office 3 times (bday cake available FREE three times!) and was able to choose NOT to eat it. I'm so thankful that the Lord is giving me strength to do this fast! Friday night at 7:30, we began our "solemn assembly" and it lasted until Saturday night at 7:30. Some people stayed for the whole time, sleeping on the floor of one of the classrooms (well, it was actually 2 of the classrooms, men in one, women in the other). But, I have to sleep with the sleep apnea machine so I went home about 11PM. I went back in the early morning and stayed most of the day. Prayer was amazing! Music was wonderful, especially Kyle with his electro music (or whatever it's called). It energized me and lit me up! When the solemn assembly was over, I truly did not want to go home, I just wanted to stay there. This morning's service was really special, it felt as if the Lord was RIGHT THERE. Wow! I got the "heat" that comes with His coming and the words He gave me for the intercessory part of the time, were right on. I loved it.

2011 Aug 5th

Yesterday, when I went to my real estate office, there was birthday cake there for Dick. I was able to make the good choice to NOT eat the cake! Yea for me! I felt so good about it! Last night my prayers were more fervent and I felt as if God was right there with me. Double yea!

2011 Aug 4th Fast News

I began another "raw" fast on August 1st. I have been successful in doing this fast. Yea! I decided it's easier when there are less choices so I am just drinking my blender drink and not adding any other foods. It HAS been easier. Today is the fourth day and I've been able to stay on the fast all four days. This weekend, my church (International House of Prayer NW) is having a 24 hour prayer time from Friday at 7:30PM to Saturday @ 7:30PM. I will be there a good many hours so being able to just bring my blender drink along and run out to the car to take a few sips every now and then will be very convenient.

The Fast in July Just Didn't Work

The July fast did not work. I tried to start on July 1st but had so many holiday activities with free food (my downfall) and just couldn't stay on the fast. I finally gave up and decided to do a fast on August 1st.

2011 July Fast - 2nd day

Yea! I was able to resist all the cooked food that jumped out at me yesterday! Today will also be a test since I am going to the Pierce County Christian Singles' BBQ and picnic. However, I will be taking my own food (raw and organic of course) and so I pray that I can resist again. I always feel better when I eat this way, it's just hard to keep my head straight and RESIST cooked food! I think the addiction to cooked food is the hardest one to overcome. But, it's only for 17 days so that's not like the 40 day fasts I've done in the past.

New Fast!

I am part of the ATI (Awakening Teen Intensive)at International House of Prayer NW. It begins on July 17th. They have asked for us to fast and pray until then. It's interesting that the Lord has been impressing on me that I was supposed to fast, but I had no idea what it was for! I am beginning today with a "raw, organic" fast. I feel strong about my committment and am looking forward to the exciting spiritual benefits!

2011 January Fast Over!

Yesterday, we did a Fast Break after our 21 day fast. YIKES! Just one day of indiscriminate eating and I gained 5 pounds. Sigh, I'll have to go back on a reasonable lifestyle to get rid of it. Maybe do the 80/10/10 this week and then go back to my usual way of eating (which does NOT include all the stuff I ate yesterday!) I'm also thinking of joining Jantzen Franklin's fast whenever it starts. Not sure when that is at this point but it's usually the week after the Super Bowl.

2011 January Fast Day 21

I have been doing so well on this fast physically. My "carb" cravings aren't nearly as bad as they were the first few times I fasted the 80/10/10. Yea! I have been able to go to the IHOP NW Prayer Room more frequently this week and so I feel good about that too. On Sunday, the IHOP NW fast is over and we'll have a luncheon to break the fast. I have an Open House at the lake house I listed so I won't be able to stay very long but I'll go for a bit. I plan to continue the fast after that break because I don't think I got the breakthrough I was looking for.

2011 January Fast Day 18

I have not had the usual "carb" cravings with this fast...yea! I have been able to stay on the fast almost every day and even was able to stay on it on Saturday when I went to PCCS where there is free food. double yea!

I am on my way to the prayer room and will be praying for an hour or two. I really feel that I am becoming closer to God with this fast.

2011 January Fast Day 15

Yesterday was a very good day! I did NOT eat the pizza at my sub job, I did NOT eat the free cookies at the bank, I did NOT eat anything that wasn't raw even though I was very hungry just before going to the Prayer Room at IHOP NW. yea! I spent a couple of hours at the Prayer Room before the Friday night Encountering God Service and felt really good about that too. I so wish I had the money for gas to be able to go more frequently but I don't so I just have to be satisfied (wrong word--put up with) the fact that I can only go 2 times a week.

I have not had my "breakthrough" in my intimacy with God but I'm expecting it any minute! Lord, Jesus, I pray that you break in to my busy day today and help me to be more in tune with what you want me to do. Be with me as I show houses to a real estate client and be with me as I lead worship at Pierce County Christian Singles. Thank you, Lord!

2011 January Fast Day 14

The prayer and intercession for the "After the Ghost" movie was very inspiring! I am so honored to be praying for this movie and for the company, Divine Intervention (which has a huge vision for its production of many more projects than just this one movie). I ate salad, and did not eat the cooked dish or the cookies, so I was good with that. But, when I first came, I somehow forgot that I was eating only raw food and I ate one piece of french bread. Yikes! How do I forget something I've been doing for 12 days? I dunno, it escapes me how non-functioning my brain is sometimes. This morning, I woke up and began praying in my prayer language. So my desire to be closer to the Lord (my New Year's Resolution, in fact) is beginning to happen. Tonight, after subbing in the Auburn school district all day and after my chiropractor appointment, I'll go to the prayer room before the Friday night service and pray.

2011 January Fast Day 12

Physically, I am doing very well on the fast, except for my "free" food issues. And, I've not had any sweets even though I ate some cooked food (crackers) at the NW Christian Writers Association meeting. Spiritually, I feel that I need to press in harder with the Lord. I haven't had the gas to go to the prayer room every day and I wish that I did because that focuses me on praying while praying at home sometimes seems as if I get sidetracked to other things not of the Lord. However, tonight I will be at a prayer/intercessor meeting with Danielle and Skip Moody, praying for their next movie and I pray that will be a "bringing closer" experience. Also, on Friday, I plan to go to the Friday night service a few hours early in order to pray.

2011 January Fast - Saturday and Sunday

1/8/11: All week, I’ve stayed on the 80/10/10 fast with absolutely no slips. Yea!

This morning, when I tried to leave my house, my front door would not open. The dead bolt was not on, yet I could not open the door. I could see that the tongue of the door handle was not moving even though I was pushing the handle down. I tried for about 20 minutes but was totally unsuccessful in getting it to open.

I was already late to a “Quickening” seminar (a Klemmer Personal Mastery seminar with Christian emphasis) and so I thought I would just deal with it when I got home after the going to the seminar and then leading worship at the Pierce County Christian Singles meeting.

During the meeting, I had another one of my problems with “free” food and I did eat some cooked food. I was not happy with myself but tried to give myself grace about it.

In the morning, I had gone out the back door and had locked it so that no one could get into my house. When I got home after 10PM, I could not open the back door! My key wouldn’t even go in at all! Every house I’ve ever owned had the same key for all the outside doors and it had not even occurred to me that this house was different when I went out the back door.

I went back to the front door, praying the whole time that it would open……it didn’t. I went back to the back door (all these trips were in the rain because my carport is only on my front door side) and the key still would not fit in. By this time, I was not only praying, but crying out to God about my need to get into my house so I would have a good night’s sleep before being on the worship team at IHOP NW in the morning.

I’m not even sure how many times I went back and forth but nothing opened no matter how much I prayed. Just as I was coming around once again to the back door, there was a car turning in to a house just down from me and so I went down there and asked them if they knew how to break into a house. Amazingly, they said they used to help a locksmith and they might be able to do it! What are the chances?

But, they weren’t able to get in. However, they knew another guy who they used to work with in the locksmith business and he might help and he lived about 5 houses down. Again, what are the chances. And, what are the chances he would be willing to come help at this rude hour of the night?

But, he did come. Unfortunately, the back door lock was frozen (as in had not been used in so long that it wouldn’t work). We all went around to all the windows hoping that I had not been efficient in locking them all. No luck, they were all very well locked.

However, I had never removed the air conditioner when I got the heat pump and all four of us finally, after much grunting and straining, were able to get the air conditioner out of the window and I climbed into my house through it. Whew!

As I pondered these events I realized that first of all, God takes our “fastings” seriously and I fell off by eating cooked food at the PCCS meeting. This opened a door for the enemy to work in my life.

So, I was unable to get in by the front OR the back door. However, God is gracious and provided a way out! The fact that my neighbors came home just when I needed them, the fact that they had ideas about how to get in, the fact that they knew the guy who was a former locksmith (and who was strong enough to help with getting the air conditioner out when he was unable to pick the lock because the door knob was frozen) are all examples of God’s grace for me even though I was not obedient to the fast.

I praise His Holy Name!

By the way, today I’ve been good all day long and plan to stay on the fast the rest of the time.

Jan 7th 2010 Fast

Had some computer issues so haven't been on since the first day. :( I've done very well physically and was able to water fast the first day and do the 80/10/10 fast since then (check the beginning of this blog for the various types of fasts). One of my New Year's Resoultions was to get closer to God this year and this fast is helping me do that too. I went to the IHOP NW Prayer Room on Monday for a few hours to pray. I felt so blessed! I am praying for many things this time including for my family and friends, the NW awakening or breakthrough, and my financial situation. Yesterday, I prayed strongly for both my sons' situations and rebuked the enemy in their lives. This morning, I woke up praying! I love when that happens! God is so good!

January 2011 Fast-1st Day

IHOP NW has called us to fast for 21 days and pray for spiritual breakthrough in our region. I am SO all in! Today, even though I had to do an Open House down at American Lake, I stayed on the fast. I am reading the material given to us this morning about fasting, fellowship and trust. The Prayer Room will be open each day at noon (and until 9:30 or 10PM) and we have prayer assignments in 2 hour blocks. This week is a teensy bit less busy because it's the first week of the quarter so I just have a few orientations for my City U job. And, I pray that I will have enough gas to go to the Prayer Room to pray corporately for the breakthrough. Physically, I did fine today and all I had was water and GoVera (which is an Aloe product from Univera). Aloe helps with the hunger pains. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

I'm Getting Ready for the IHOP NW Fast Which Starts Sunday and I Read This From Jentezen Franklin!

Fasting for Your Breakthrough
Wednesday, 29 December 2010 11:43 AM EST Jentezen Franklin

What is fasting? Since there are so many misconceptions about it, I first want to clarify what fasting—biblical fasting—is not. Fasting is not merely going without food for a period of time. That is dieting—maybe even starving—but fasting it is not. Nor is fasting something done only by fanatics. I really want to drive that point home. Fasting is not to be done only by religious monks alone in a cave somewhere. The practice of fasting is not limited to ministers or to special occasions.

Stated simply, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Fasting has always been a normal part of a relationship with God. As expressed by the impassioned plea of David in Psalm 42, fasting brings one into a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord.

When you eliminate food from your diet for a number of days, your spirit becomes uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God. As David stated, “Deep calls unto deep” (Ps. 42:7). David was fasting. His hunger and thirst for God were greater than his natural desire for food. As a result, he reached a place where he could cry out from the depths of his spirit to the depths of God, even in the midst of his trial. Once you’ve experienced even a glimpse of that kind of intimacy with our God—our Father, the holy Creator of the universe—and the countless rewards and blessings that follow, your whole perspective will change. You will soon realize that fasting is a secret source of power this is overlooked by many.

During the years that Jesus walked this earth, He devoted time to teaching His disciples the principles of the kingdom of God, principles that conflict with those of this world. In the Beatitudes, specifically in Matthew 6, Jesus provided the pattern by which each of us is to live as a child of God. That pattern addressed three specific duties of a Christian: giving, praying, and fasting. Jesus said, “When you give…” and “When you pray…” and “When you fast.” He made it clear that fasting, like giving and praying, was a normal part of Christian life. As much attention should be given to fasting as is given to giving and to praying.

Solomon, when writing the books of wisdom for Israel, made the point that a cord, or rope, braided with three strands is not easily broken (Eccles. 4:12). Likewise, when giving, praying, and fasting are practiced together in the life of a believer, it creates a type of threefold cord that is not easily broken. In fact, as I’ll show you in a moment, Jesus took it even further by saying, “Nothing will be impossible” (Matt. 17:20).

Could we be missing our greatest breakthroughs because we fail to fast? Remember the thirtyfold, sixtyfold, and hundredfold return Jesus spoke of (Mark 4:8, 20)? Look at it this way: when you pray, you can release that thirtyfold return, but when both prayer and giving are part of your life, I believe that releases the sixtyfold blessing. But when all three—giving, praying, and fasting—are part of your life, that hundredfold return can be released!

If that’s the case, you have to wonder what blessings are not being released. What answers to prayer are not getting through? What bondages are not being broken because we fail to fast?

Matthew tells the story of a father who had a demon-possessed son. For years he watched helplessly as his son suffered severe convulsions. As he grew older, the attacks became so severe that the boy would often throw himself into an open fire or a trench of water. A suicidal spirit tormented him constantly; the situation became life-threatening.

Having exhausted every attempt to cure the boy—even talking him to the disciples with no avail—the father’s plight seemed impossible. Then he heard that Jesus was near. Going to the Master, he cried, “Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is lunatick, and sore vexed: for offtimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him” (Matt. 17:15, KJV).

When the boy was brought to Jesus, the Bible ways He “rebuked the devil; and he departed out of him: and the child was cured from that very hour” (v. 18, KJV). But what made the difference? After all, Matthew 10:1 records that Jesus had already given the disciples power to cast out evil spirits and to heal every disease. So why couldn’t the disciples cast out the demon and cure the boy?

That’s what they wanted to know, too, so later that night, when they were alone with Jesus, they asked Him. Jesus replied, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you. Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting” (Matt. 17:20–21, KJV).

Now, I’ve read that passage many times, and I’ve even taught from it on occasion. But each time, I’ve focused on the statement “and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” I think a lot of people stop right there, but Jesus didn’t because He knew there was more—much more.

See, that funny little word howbeit is the connection—it’s the key that unlocks the power in the statement “nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Jesus told the disciples they needed faith, even faith as small as a tiny seed. But that wasn’t all. Long before this incident, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness, where He spent forty days and forty nights, taking no food. “Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” For Jesus, casting out that stubborn demon wasn’t impossible.

If Jesus could have accomplished all He came to do without fasting, why would He fast? The Son of God fasted because He knew there were supernatural things that could only be released that way. How much more should fasting be a common practice in our lives?

Fasting Is for Everyone

Perhaps you’re thinking, “I still don’t know how fasting can really be for me.” According to the words of Jesus, it is the duty of every disciple and every believer to fast. When addressing the Pharisees as to why His disciples did not fast, Jesus replied, “Can you make the friends of the bridegroom fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them; then they will fast in those days” (Luke 5:34–35).

Then they will fast. Jesus didn’t expect His disciples to do something He hadn’t doen as well. Jesus fasted, and according to the words of Peter, Jesus is our example in all things (1 Pet. 2:21).

There’s another vital point that I want you to see in Matthew 6: God delights in giving rewards. Not only that, but He says that when giving, praying and fasting are practiced in your life, He will “reward you openly.”

A good example of such open reward can be found in Daniel. While in Babylonian captivity, his fasting—even partial fasting of certain foods—brought about the open reward of God, who blessed Daniel with wisdom beyond that of anyone else in that empire.

Later, in chapter 10, Daniel was grieved and burdened with the revelation he had received for Israel. He ate no choice breads or meats and drank no wine for three weeks. Then he describes the angel that was sent to him—which had been delayed by the prince of Persia for twenty-one days—with the answers Daniel sought. His fast broke the power of the delayer and released the angels of God so that God’s purpose could be revealed and served.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Do you desire to know God’s will for your life, whom you should marry, or what you should do in a critical situation? I’ll show you how fasting brings you to a place of being able to clearly hear God’s will.

Fasting also causes God to target your children. You will be amazed at the testimonies we have heard about fasting. It also brings health and healing to your body, as well as financial prosperity and blessings of God.

Whether you desire to be closer to God or are in need to great breakthroughs in your life, remember that nothing shall be impossible to you. Fasting is truly a secret source of power!

Jentezen Franklin is the pastor of Free Chapel in Gainesville, Georgia. Franklin is a popular conference speaker and his nationally televised program, Kingdom Connection, is seen weekly on national and international networks.