The Joy of Fasting: How to Fast-Forward Your Breakthrough

If you’ve come to Substance in the last few years, you’ll know that we start out every new year with a season of fasting. Of course, nobody “has to” fast; but, when you understand what the Bible teaches on fasting, you’ll realize: we “get to” fast. It’s actually an incredible opportunity.

In both the Old and New Testament, God powerfully rewarded those who fasted. Quite simply, fasting gives us supernatural advantages in living life. For example, the book of Isaiah says: Those who fast get healing (Isa.58). Jesus said: Those who fast get power over demonic oppression (Mk 9). Again, Isaiah said: Those who fast will live like kings: “You’ll ride on the heights of the land” (Isa.58); When Ezra fasted, God gave protection over his kids & possessions. When Daniel fasted God gave him understanding (Dan.9). When Eliazar Fasted God gave him a woman! (Some of you Men suddenly started taking notes). When Jesus started his earthly ministry, one of the 1st things he did was fast. And don’t misunderstand me: Fasting won’t make God love you more. You can’t earn your way into heaven. However, like the author of Hebrews reminds us: “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

So, why then are people scared to do this discipline? Well, like any discipline, if you do it as an obligation to earn love from God, it will feel oppressive. The exact opposite feeling that God wants you to experience. Don’t get me wrong: Fasting is never “easy.” But it’s a powerful way to discover all of the circumstantial ways we comfort ourselves outside of Christ and his word.

And keep in mind: Fasting doesn’t merely mean: abstaining from food. You can fast almost anything. In the truest sense, fasting is a process of abstaining from something for the purpose of worship, prayer, and self-discipline. For example, my wife will often fast sweets, desserts and candy. Other people fast movies, social media, or even coffee. (I realize that I just made a lot of you really nervous!) But it’s worth it. And here’s why: Its one of the few spiritual disciplines that reveals the truest state of our self-denial muscles. And if that sounds scary, consider your alternatives: Crisis and moral failure also reveal this. So, we have a choice: Preventative Humility vs. Humiliation.

So how do I participate? Well, quite simply, pray about what God would have you fast & simply join in, January 8th through the 28th! Spiritual disciplines like this can actually be quite fun when you’re doing it alongside a big group of people.

But allow me to get practical. Every year people ask me for tips on fasting. And for those of you who’ve never fasted before, here are a few tips to make this a fun experience:

(1). Start out with short fasts (e.g., skip lunch): Once you understand how it affects your body, slowly extend them to experiment: When I do 24 hour fasts, I start by eating lunch, skipping dinner/breakfast/lunch… and then break it with dinner the next night. Many people think short fasts like this are harder than extended fasts. After a few days, hunger pangs tend to subside.

(2). When you fast, do it with Friends! It helps to process your experience with other people. It also keeps you encouraged while you fast!

(3). Give yourself extra margin and rest. When you fast, plan on going to bed early.

(4). Drink lots of water: You can’t survive long without water. I prefer Gatorade (for electrolytes). And some people drink juice.

(5). Could fasting be Dangerous? Potentially. It can also be incredibly healthy too. It takes about 21 days before starvation symptoms set in; so, don’t worry that you’re going to die after a 24 hour fast. : ) If pregnant/nursing/diabetic/etc, get counsel before any extended fast. But don’t let your fears get the best of you. I know hundreds of people who’ve done 40-days of juice only fasting. Obviously, if you’re really worried about sickness, etc., do a fruit & vegetable fast and skip everything else. Lastly, if you have a history of eating disorders, get some advice on how to apply this with the right motives.

(6). When fasting, stay in an Attitude of Worship (Isa. 58). It sounds obvious but, remember that you’re worshipping God when you do this. So, if all you do is whine the whole time, you’re defeating the whole purpose! Keep in mind, God responds powerfully when we seek him (Heb.11:6).

(7). Make a fasting Calendar: I love to have variety when I fast. So when I map out my 21 days… I almost never do “juice only” for 21 days straight. Often, I like to mix it up. For example, I’ll do 4 days of fruits and vegetables only (a.k.a., a Daniel Fast), then a juice only day, then a free day. For me, I’ve found that this kind of variety helps me stay in a worshipful attitude more. Having a “free-day” also helps if you have some sort of inescapable hosting situation (like a birthday) where you’re making your guests feel awkward by staring at them while they eat. But experiment for yourself. Remember, this should be a fun yet challenging experience.

(8). Ask your family to participate: My kids have participated almost every year. One of them fasted video-games. Another fasted sweets and their precious iPhone. Use this as an opportunity to share your faith with your own family.

But one thing is for sure: This can be your best year yet, if it’s your best year spiritually. So don’t miss out. Let’s do this together!

Ps. Here are some fasting resources that will make it fun:

– First Off: I did an entire video message on this recently (on Dec.31st 2017).

– If you want to know how to explain fasting to your kids: How to Explain Fasting to Kids

– If you want to study the “types of fasts” that many people do, read more Types of Fasts:

– For Fasting Recipes, click Fasting Recipes

– Or if you’re still nervous about how to get started, check this out: How To Get Started on Your Fast

– Other Great churches have more resources too. Here’s a link to even more: https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/fasting/

December 31, 2017 /

Fasting: the Door to the Supernatural

So how do I participate? Well, quite simply, pray about what God would have you fast & simply join in, January 9th through the 29th! Spiritual disciplines like this can actually be quite fun when you’re doing it alongside a big group of people.

But allow me to get practical. Every year people ask me for tips on fasting. And for those of you who’ve never fasted before, here are a few tips to make this a fun experience:

(2). When you fast, do it with Friends! It helps to process your experience with other people. It also keeps you encouraged while you fast!

(3). Give yourself extra margin and rest. When you fast, plan on going to bed early.

(4). Drink lots of water: You can’t survive long without water. I prefer Gatorade (for electrolytes). And some people drink juice.

But one thing is for sure: This can be your best year yet, if it’s your best year spiritually. So don’t miss out. Let’s do this together!

Ps. Here are some fasting resources that will make it fun:

– First Off: I did an entire video message on this last year. Check it out here: https://vimeo.com/115496396

– If you want to know how to explain fasting to your kids: How to Explain Fasting to Kids

– If you want to study the “types of fasts” that many people do, read more Types of Fasts:

– For Fasting Recipes, click Fasting Recipes

– Or if you’re still nervous about how to get started, check this out: How To Get Started on Your Fast

– Other Great churches have more resources too. Here’s a link to even more: https://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/fasting/

January 6, 2017 / 4

God makes Special Promises to Those Who Fast: Why I love Fasting!

So how do I participate? Well, quite simply, pray about what God would have you fast & simply join in, January 11th through the 31st! Spiritual disciplines like this can actually be quite fun when you’re doing it alongside a big group of people.

But allow me to get practical. Every year people ask me for tips on fasting. And for those of you who’ve never fasted before, here are a few tips to make this a fun experience:

(2). When you fast, do it with Friends! It helps to process your experience with other people. It also keeps you encouraged while you fast!

(3). Give yourself extra margin and rest. When you fast, plan on going to bed early.

(4). Drink lots of water: You can’t survive long without water. I prefer Gatorade (for electrolytes). And some people drink juice.

But one thing is for sure: This can be your best year yet, if it’s your best year spiritually. So don’t miss out. Let’s do this together!

Ps. Here are some fasting resources that will make it fun:

– First Off: I did an entire video message on this last year. Check it out here: https://vimeo.com/115496396

– If you want to know how to explain fasting to your kids: How to Explain Fasting to Kids

– If you want to study the “types of fasts” that many people do, read more Types of Fasts:

– For Fasting Recipes, click Fasting Recipes

– Or if you’re still nervous about how to get started, check this out: How To Get Started on Your Fast

– Other Great churches have more resources too: Here’s a link to even more: click here: http://21days.churchofthehighlands.com/fasting/

January 3, 2016 / 2

The keys to seeing the miraculous unfold in your life: a new approach to prayer

I love the story where the disciples were trying to cast out a demon but weren’t able to. As a result, the disciples were having a squabble with the teachers of the Law. Jesus, just coming off a prayer retreat, walks onto the scene and immediately casts the demon out.

A bit confused, the disciples asked Jesus why He was able to do it while they, on the other hand, looked like impotent dorks. Christ’s reply is quite profound, “This kind can come out only by prayer” (Mark 9:29). In other words, “If you want authority over tough spiritual situations, like this demon, you’ve got to live a lifestyle of prayer”.

Theological squabbling is a common byproduct of spiritual impotence, but this isn’t the only passage that shows miraculous favor upon those who pray more often. Daniel, an important Old Testament character, was a man of prayer and fasting. An angel even told him, “As soon as you began to pray, an answer was given, which I have come to tell you, for you are highly esteemed” (Dan. 9:23).

The Bible certainly isn’t implying that God loves certain people more than others; however, the Bible is clear that everyone does not get the same results. So, once again, we could infer that there is a connection between prayer and miracles in Scripture.

In fact, right now there are many of you with problems that you feel unable to conquer. Perhaps, like the disciples, you’ve invoked all the right formulas from Scripture; yet, your problem still seems to flop around and scream at you. I don’t want to oversimplify things, but what if, like the disciples, your lifestyle of prayer and fasting has something to be desired? What if you intentionally took your prayer life to a new level? What IF your miracle is coming in proportion to your persistence in prayer? If you find yourself in a difficult situation (or needing some miraculous supernatural power), it’s time to employ a new technique into your prayer life: meditation.

One of the most powerful types of prayer is meditation. Most people think of prayer as asking God for things (aka supplication), but Jesus taught that too much supplication is a sign of dysfunction (Matt. 6:7–8). Healthy prayer, however, requires listening to God as well; and, one of the greatest ways God speaks is through His Word. That’s why if we want to get to know God, we’ve got to spend a substantial amount of time memorizing, meditating, and praying His Word (Josh. 1:8; Ps. 1).

Not surprisingly, when Jesus prayed and fasted, He said, “Man doesn’t live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matt. 4:4). Listening to God is foundational. If you don’t know what meditation is, let me explain.

Meditation is basically thinking deeply on every word in the promises of God. It’s literally the process of dwelling upon each and every word of the Bible. In fact, a good sermon is essentially a corporate meditation on a specific Scripture verse or passage. And when you get good at meditating, a rather profound process ensues.

For every problem we could have, God has a promise to answer it. But knowing God’s Word isn’t enough—believing that it is true is what counts. And that is exactly what meditation does. Meditation is the process of converting truth into spiritual fuel. It turns head knowledge into heart knowledge. Or, as Hebrews 4:2 puts it, God’s word must be “combined with faith” before it will achieve its supernatural results.

Recently, a friend of mine was going through a rough spot financially. He tithed regularly, but one week was particularly rough. He calculated his tithe to be $350, yet he wanted every dollar to stay in his savings. So he wrestled through it by asking, “Should I give it to the church? Should I hold onto it?”

At church that morning I happened to be teaching on Proverbs 3:9–10, which says, “Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” I was reminding the church that there’s an incredible cause and effect that God is daring us to participate in.

In many ways, we were corporately meditating on this Scripture. And, like a lot of people, my friend felt faith rise in his heart. He decided to write out his tithe check for $350. And get this, that very month he brought in the largest commission he had ever gotten, almost exactly one hundred times his tithe check! Do the math. That’s a lot of money to make in one month. In fact, he set a new company record for the biggest week ever. But even more amazing, none of these sales leads had been in his pipeline. They came straight out of nowhere. You can’t tell me that’s a coincidence!

Prayer-filled meditation is what causes us to stay faithful while the miraculous is incubating. Thus, even if we don’t feel like a spiritual superman, or we’re afraid that we lack the authority of someone like Daniel or even Jesus, Christ still bids us that we can be delivered when we are faithful and obedient in prayer and fasting. What if, in the next week, you tried incorporating meditation into your prayer life? What if your miracle is on the other side of your persistent prayers? Remember, our natural efforts, combined with God’s power, become supernatural efforts. Let God’s power infuse your natural (yet faithful) prayer life, and see what miracles occur!

Excerpted from my book, Pharisectomy. Order it here !

August 22, 2015 / 2

Fasting Has Never Been This Fun

In both the Old and New Testaments, God powerfully rewarded those who fasted. Quite simply, fasting gives us supernatural advantages in living life. For example, the book of Isaiah says: Those who fast get healing (Isa.58). Jesus said: Those who fast get Power over demonic oppression (Mk 9). Again, Isaiah said: Those who fast will live like kings: “You’ll ride on the heights of the land” (Isa.58) When Ezra fasted, God gave protection over his kids & possessions. When Daniel fasted God gave him understanding (Dan.9). When Eliazar Fasted God gave him a woman! (Some of you Men suddenly started taking notes). When Jesus started his earthly ministry, one of the 1st things he did was fast. And don’t misunderstand me: Fasting won’t make God love you more. You can’t earn your way into heaven. However, like the author of Hebrews reminds us: “God is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6).

So, why then are people scared to do this discipline? Well, like any discipline, if you do it as an obligation to earn love from God, it will feel oppressive. But fasting is also a discipline that reveals your true priorities.

And keep in mind: Fasting doesn’t merely mean: abstaining from food. You can fast almost anything. In the truest sense, fasting is a process of abstaining from something for the purpose of worship, prayer, and self-discipline. For example, my wife will often fast sweets, desserts and candy. Other people fast movies, t.v. shows, or even coffee. (I realize that I just made a lot of you really nervous!) But trust me: Fasting is one of the most amazing spiritual disciplines that God gives us. It’s a mirror that reveals the truest state of our self discipline. It’s one of the few disciplines which reveals the true state of our self-denial muscles. And if that sounds scary, consider your alternatives: Crisis and moral failure also reveal this. So, we have a choice: Preventative Humility vs. Humiliation.

So how do I participate? Well, quite simply, pray about what God would have you fast & simply join in, January 5th through the 25th! Spiritual disciplines like this can actually be quite fun when you’re doing it alongside a big group of people. Also, here’s a link to many of our past messages on fasting. We’ve taught over 8 messages on fasting in the past two years. They are sure to get you super excited about your fast.

But allow me to get practical. Every year people ask me for tips on fasting. And for those of you who’ve never fasted before, here are a few tips to making this a fun experience:

(2). When you fast, do it with Friends! It helps to process your experience with other people. It also keeps you encouraged while you fast!

(3). Give yourself extra margin and rest. When you fast, plan on going to bed early.

(4). Drink lots of water: You can’t survive long without water. I prefer Gatorade (for electrolytes). And some people drink juice.

(5). Could fasting be Dangerous? Potentially. It can also be incredibly healthy too. It takes about 21 days before starvation symptoms set in; so, don’t worry that you’re going to die after a 24 hour fast. If pregnant/nursing/diabetic/etc, get counsel before any extended fast. If you’re really worried about sickness, etc., do a fruit & vegetable fast and skip everything else. Lastly, if you have a history of eating disorders, get some advice on how to apply this with the right motives.

Lastly, at the website “God-First Life” you’ll find a few resources on how to plan out your fast: http://godfirstlifenetwork.com/free-resources/awakening/fasting-resources

But one thing is for sure: This can be your best year yet, if it’s your best year spiritually. So don’t miss out. Let’s do this together.

December 27, 2014 /

Fasting has Never Been This Fun: Tips for our 21 day Fast!

If you’ve come to Substance in the last few years, you’ll know that we start out every new year with a season of fasting. And if you’ve never heard of the spiritual discipline of fasting before, allow me to give you a quick definition: Fasting is a process of abstaining from something for the purpose of worship, prayer, and self-discipline.

And keep in mind: Fasting doesn’t merely mean: abstaining from food. After all, you can fast almost anything. For example, my wife will often fast sweets, desserts and candy. Other people fast movies, t.v. shows, or even coffee. (I realize that I just made a lot of you really nervous!) But trust me: Fasting is one of the most amazing spiritual disciplines that God gives us. Fasting is the best mirror to reveal the true state of our self discipline. And if that sounds scary, consider your alternatives: Crisis and moral failure.

But the truth is, fasting is actually quite exciting when you realize how powerfully God rewarded those who fasted in scripture. Quite simply, fasting gives us supernatural advantages in living life. For example, the book of Isaiah says: Those who fast get healing (Isa.58). Jesus said: Those who fast get Power over demonic oppression (Mk 9). Again, Isaiah said: Those who fast will live like kings: “You’ll ride on the heights of the land” (Isa.58) When Ezra fasted, God gave protection over his kids & possessions! When Daniel fasted God gave him understanding (Dan.9). When Eliazar Fasted God gave him a woman! (Some of you Men suddenly started taking notes). When Jesus started his earthly ministry the 1st things he did was fast. So keep in mind: This isn’t just a “neat discipline” for crazy people. This is an essential discipline for anyone who wants to experience life to the fullest.

So how do I participate? Well, quite simply, pray about what God would have you fast & simply join in, January 7th through the 27th! Spiritual disciplines like this can actually be quite fun when you’re doing it alongside a big group of people. Or, come out and hang with us at our Tues.night Deeper services. Pastor Rob Champion will be sharing some messages on Fasting. Also, here’s a link to many of our past messages on fasting. We’ve taught over 8 messages on fasting in the past two years. They are sure to get you super excited about your fast.

But allow me to get practical. Every year people ask me for tips on fasting. And for those of you who’ve never fasted before, here are a few tips to making this a fun experience:

(2). When you fast, do it with Friends! It helps to process your experience with other people. It also keeps you encouraged while you fast!

(3). Give yourself extra margin and rest. When you fast, plan on going to bed early.

(4). Drink lots of water: You can’t survive long without water. Gatorade (for electrolytes) or Juice is also good.

(7). Make a fasting Calendar: I love to have variety when I fast. So when I map out my 21 days… I don’t always do “juice only” for 21 days straight. Often, I like to mix it up. For example, I’ll do 4 days of fruits and vegetables only (a.k.a., a Daniel Fast), then a juice only day, then a free day. For me, I’ve found that this kind of variety helps me stay in a worshipful attitude more. But experiment for yourself. Remember, this should be a fun yet challenging experience.

(8). Ask your family to participate: Even my 9 and 11 year olds have voluntarily asked me if they could join in. They aren’t doing full “juice only.” But, they’re fasting video-games / iphones / & sweets. At the website Awake21 you’ll find a few resources on how to include your kids. http://www.awakeningrevival.com/media.html

But one thing is for sure: This can be your best year yet, if it’s your best year spiritually. So don’t miss out. Let’s do this together.

January 3, 2013 /