A Note from Pastor Terry
As we begin this new year of 2012 I am calling on the Christ’s Chapel family to consider participating in a 21-Day Fast beginning Monday, January 9th and concluding on Sunday, January 29th.
Fasting combined with prayer is a very private experience and folks should consider what is best for them and specifically fits their schedule. Some will fast specific types of food or activities while others may fast a meal a day or perhaps a few meals each week. Some of course may extend their fast several days while others will choose not to participate at all. Either way, the entire congregation is asked to pray for God’s provision, presence and power for our church and for the individual journey of faith that God desires for each one of us individually.
Below is a brief summary of fasting. You are encouraged to click here (“Your Personal Guide to Prayer and Fasting”) to read a more detailed explanation written by Bill Bright for Campus Crusade for Christ (be careful not to read just anyone’s account of this subject).
During this 21-day season of fasting, I am asking folks to consider setting aside 30 minutes a day for personal prayer and/or Bible reading. Specifically, if you desire to participate at a time when you know others will be praying as well, Pastor Terry has personally set aside 6:00 – 6:30 a.m. as a time when he will be praying from home.
The Bible describes three major types of fasting:
A Regular Fast
Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a regular fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, "After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry." This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.A Full Fast
These fasts are complete - no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: "For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything." Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16: "Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 'Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.'" It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.A Partial Fast
This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods. Daniel 10:2-3 says, "At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over." In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: "Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink."Although not mentioned in the Bible, Christians today commit to fasting from other activities as well. Some give up entertainment such as TV or movies to concentrate on prayer. Others fast from sleep or another activity for a specified period of time.
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