In this short video, Pastor Ken gives us encouragement and helps us to understand how fasting is a part of our spiritual health.

More on fasting (article)

Here is more encouragement – a new tip will be posted each day of the fast (also on Facebook):

1. I Pet. 1:13 “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Preparation is the key to victory and preparation begins by preparing your mind for action. As you get ready for the fast do several things in preparation:
   • Weigh yourself
   • Write down various goals both Spiritual and physical because fasting affects both
   • Stock up on the right liquids
   • Get rid of any foods or liquids that might cause you to want to cheat yourself
   • Start a fasting and prayer journal so you can chart your progress
   • Look for the Grace to be given you
2. You are going to break the psychological addiction to food. Yes, your body needs it, but not nearly as badly as it makes you think. Many of our choices are driven by our fleshly appetites. When you strike at the taproot of your flesh, the rest of the appetites will begin to fall in line.
3. Take a nap when you can. If you are working a full day, a 10-15 minute power nap on lunch break can rejuvenate you during the early days of your fast.
4. Go into your favorite prayer spot and begin to lift your voice in praise and prayer. Communication with God during seasons of fasting is liberating. It is like a broadband connection when you’ve only had dial-up. Praise flows easier and words come more readily when you pray with fasting.
5. Jesus said that fasting allows the Old wineskin to expand with the New Wine (Matt. 9:14-17) I believe that fasting revitalizes the spirit man while at the same time giving your body the rest from its labor of digesting food. This allows your body to cleanse and repair itself. You are going to feel better as a result.
6. If you are on day 7, take in the fact that you have gone an entire week with no solid food…that is amazing. If this is your first time…you have had a breakthrough already. You have made your body a slave to you and you are not a slave to your body!
7. Having a partner to fast and pray with is powerful. Just knowing that someone else is “running the race with patience” is a plus.
8. Drink lots of water throughout the day and take occasional walks. This will help stimulate circulation and cleanse your body of toxins that it can now address because you are fasting.
9. What things are you beginning to notice about yourself and your world that you have been missing? Is there a new compassion waking up inside you, or a new awareness that you have never had?
10. Isa. 58 is the classic chapter on fasting. God says that fasting is designed to “loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke…to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood.” Fasting strikes out at the injustices in our world that are tolerated because of our own selfishness and insensitivity to others and their needs. Pray, “God, teach me to Care.”
11. Ask God for a release of His Holy Spirit in you today. Ask Him to increase your Joy…He has plenty to give away, in fact He won’t have an ounce less if He gives you more than you can handle!
12. Fasting Tip: Think about what a difference the past several days have made in your Spirit, Soul and Body. How has your journal reflected the changes? Are you seeing signs of breakthrough in relationships and challenges? What about your own need for healing?
13. In what ways do you know God better now than you did before you fasted?
14. After a couple of weeks with no food, you actually have moments when you feel like you could do this forever…well maybe not, but you do feel a liberty from food. You have also started planning your first meal back.   What are the things that you have struggled with that are now on your radar to eradicate? Are there excesses that need to be done away with or habits that you now have victory over? Start creating a plan of how you will order your life and keep the victory intact.
15. What would you say to people about fasting? Is it a great experience or not so much? What does it mean to say like Paul, “I beat my body and make it my slave, so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.” (I Cor. 9:27)?
16. Have you noticed a difference in your worship and prayer times? Are corporate worship times different since before the fast? How would you describe the difference?
17. Some of you will have new job opportunities and promotions during this season of fasting. Some of you will see answers to prayer that are less pronounced in the natural, but will experience powerful grace on your life. Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again Rejoice!
18. “This is the Victory that overcomes the world, even our faith” I John 5:4 Your testimony of breakthrough is a new weapon in your overcoming arsenal.