40 Days

The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them.

Genesis 11:6 (NIV)

I will praise you, Lord, for you have saved me from my enemies. You refuse to let them triumph over me. ²O Lord my God, I pleaded with you, and you gave me my health again. ³You brought me back from the brink of the grave, from death itself, and here I am alive!

Psalm 30:1-3 (Living Bible)

¹⁵Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.

¹⁶And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.

¹⁷And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;

¹⁸And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.

¹⁹Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

²⁰Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is your’s.

Genesis 45:15-20 (KJV)

How we thank you, Lord! Your mighty miracles give proof that you care.

Psalm 75:1 (Living Bible)

¹Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

²Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

³For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (KJV)

¹³Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

¹⁴I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:13-14 (KJV)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 (KJV)

How are we going to accomplish this?

Through fasting and prayer, we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our church and heal our land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14-15. Make this a priority in your fasting.

It is also important for you to prepare your body for the upcoming fast. Eat smaller amounts of food before starting your fast. Avoid high fat and “sugary” foods. You may want to eat raw fruits and vegetables two days before starting your fast.

PREPARING SPIRITUALLY

The foundation of prayer and fasting is repentance. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart:

Confess every sin the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Accept God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:9).
Ask forgiveness from everyone you have hurt or offended. Forgive all of those who have hurt or offended you (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4).
Ask God to fill you with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18).
Surrender your life fully to the purpose and plan of God (Romans 12:1-2).
Believe that God “rewards those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).
Do not underestimate spiritual opposition. Satan will usually intensify his efforts when you devote yourself to prayer and fasting (Luke 4).
Develop an accountability partner who will encourage you in your fast.
Keep a journal during your fast. Write down specific insights God gives you from His Word, promises that you have claimed and answers to prayer that you receive.

Make Your Commitment

The type of fast you go on is between you and God. Jesus implied that all believers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18; 9:14-15). For Him, it was a matter of when believers should fast, not if they should fast.

Decide the following up front:

How long you will fast – one meal, one day, a week, several weeks, forty days (beginners should start slowly, building up to longer fasts)
The type of fast God wants you to undertake (such as Full Fast, Daniel Fast, Combination Fast) and/or refraining from Starbucks, eating out, or cutting out all sweets and soda.
What physical or social activities you will restrict
How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God’s word

Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life’s pressures tempt you to abandon it.

TYPES OF FASTS

A Normal (Full) Fast – Abstain from food, drink only liquids (water and / or specific juices).
- Should you choose to drink juices during your fast, the best juices are from fresh watermelon, lemons, grapes, apples, cabbage, beets, carrots, celery or leafy green vegetables. Avoid any liquids containing caffeine, as they will stimulate your appetite and make fasting more difficult.
The Daniel Fast – Abstain from meats and sweets, drink only water. (Unseasoned vegetables and most natural fruits are acceptable.)
Combination Fast – Begin the first three days with a full or normal fast. Observing the remaining days of the fast with the Daniel Fast.

Note: If you are on medication or have a medical condition, you may want to consult your doctor before beginning your fast. Also, anyone engaging in a prolonged full fast should consult with their doctor.

Deciding on what kind of fast you will observe ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life’s pressures tempt you to abandon your fast.

DANIEL FAST RECOMMENDED FOODS

WHOLE GRAINS: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley
LEGUMES: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas
FRUITS: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon, etc
VEGETABLES: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger Root, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini
Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts
LIQUIDS: Water (as much as possible), Unsweetened Soy Milk, Herbal (caffeine free) Tea, Natural Fruit Juices (no sugar added)
Extra-Virgin Olive Oil (small quantities), honey

WHAT TO EXPECT

When you fast, your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability as your body withdraws from caffeine and sugars. Naturally, you will experience hunger pains. Most individuals also experience bad breath. Avoid chewing gum or breath mints, as they will stimulate your appetite.

Limit your physical activity. Exercise moderately. Take time to rest.

Fasting can position you to experience miraculous results. You are following the example of Jesus when you fast.

IMPORTANT: For maximum spiritual benefit, it is important that the time normally devoted to eating be given to prayer, Bible study and being alone with God. Pray often throughout the day. Spend time in Bible Study. Make personal praise and worship a priority. Spend time in solitude and get away from every distraction possible (television, radio, cell phones, computers, etc.) The more time you spend with alone God, the more effective and meaningful your fast will be.

While You Fast

Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from certain foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider;

Exercise moderately. Take walks and use this time in prayer.

Rest as your schedule will permit, remember you’re not eating the way your body is use to so you may be fatigued in the beginning.

Prepare yourself for some temporary mental discomfort, such as impatience, crankiness.

Expect some physical discomforts, especially on the second day. You may have fleeting hunger pains, dizziness, or the “blahs”. Withdrawal from caffeine and sugar may cause headaches. Physical annoyances may also include weakness, tiredness, or sleeplessness.

The first two or three days are usually the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger pains, increase your liquid intake.

LIST OF READING RESOURCES

Ancient Wells, Living Water: God Invites You to Come and Drink by Rod Parsley (link for book)
I Believe in Miracles (1965 Hardcover) Kathryn Kuhlman (link for book)
When Ye Fast by Joy L. Haney (link for book)

MEDICAL DISCLAIMER:

If you are pregnant or a nursing mother, have a current or pre-existing medical or mental condition or work a strenuous physically demanding job, you should NOT do a strict fast or perform strenuous exercise. All participants, especially those listed above should fast under recommendation or supervision of a doctor. If you experience any physical or mental complications you should immediately seek a doctor’s attention.

Cornerstone Church assumes no liability for participants of the 40 Day Fast, you agree that Cornerstone Church and its representatives are not responsible for any health issues or complications that may arise as a result of your participation. Participant also acknowledges that it has been clearly stated medical supervision is advised before beginning a fast and for its duration.

TODAY, I CHOOSE TO BE LED BY MY FAITH
NOT BY MY EMOTIONS, NOT BY MY RELATIONSHIPS
NOT BY MY FEELINGS OR MY THOUGHTS
BUT, I AM LED BY MY FAITH
AND WHEN IT LOOKS BAD, I WILL BE LED BY MY FAITH
NOT BY MY EMOTIONS, NOT BY WHAT I SEE
NOT BY WHAT I HEAR, NOT BY WHAT I FEEL
I WILL BE LED BY MY FAITH
AND, IF IT LOOKS LIKE ITS GETTING WORSE,
I WILL BE LED BY MY FAITH
I WILL DECLARE WHAT GOD HAS ALREADY DECLARED IN HIS WORD
I WILL NOT SPEAK WHAT I SEE
I WILL SPEAK HIS WORD BY FAITH
I BELIEVE THAT DEATH AND LIFE IS IN THE POWER OF THE TONGUE
SO, I SPEAK LIFE FROM THIS DAY FORWARD
OVER MY LIFE, OVER MY FAMILY, OVER MY CHURCH, OVER MY HOUSEHOLD,
OVER MY PASTORS, OVER MY LEADERS, OVER MY NATION
I SPEAK LIFE, I DECLARE LIFE, I DECLARE VICTORY
IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS

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DECLARATION