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Prayer Tool: Fasting - Needlenose Pliers

The pliers symbolize both fasting and forgiving. Needle-nose pliers represent fasting, and Vice-grip pliers represent forgiving. This week we will focus on fasting as, and in Week 6, we will focus on forgiving. Needle-nose pliers cut, bend or strip wires just like fasting helps you rewire your mind and body.

Jesus fasted and taught his disciples to fast as a life practice. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, reinforced the prayer tool of fasting in his epistles to the churches telling them to be “in fastings often (II Corinthians 11:27).” There are several different types of fasts referenced in the Bible. Some fasts are absolute where people such as Moses, Elijah, and Jesus were set apart for 40 days without food or water (Exodus 34:28-29, Deuteronomy 10:10, I Kings 19:8, Matthew 4:1- 13). Some fasts were for shorter periods, such as three days and three nights, as Esther did with her maids (Esther 4:13- 16). Other fasts called for people like Daniel and the three Hebrew boys to abstain from particular foods, drinks, or activities for an extended period (Daniel 1:8-13, 10:3).

Regardless of the length or type of fast in the Bible, it was always coupled with prayer because it is a form of prayer. Fast without prayer is a physical fast that can help strip away toxins and re-wire cells of your physical body. Fast with prayer is a Spiritual fast and helps re-wire the four aspects of the soul (thoughts, feelings, intellect, and will) as well as your physical body. During seasons of fasting and praying, we not only limit or eliminate our food intake, but we also limit or eliminate activities that do not feed our soul. Examples of spiritual fasting include limiting our time for radio, television, social media, and other forms of entertainment so that we can focus our energy on spiritual things.

Jesus taught his disciples to “anoint your head and to wash your face.” He balanced the spiritual aspect of fasting (anointing the head for supernatural strength) with the natural part of fasting (washing your face). Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you and guide you in what you are to fast from for the next 40 days. It can be a specific food like meats and sweets or a beverage like soda or coffee. It may also be not eating for a defined period (8-16 hours a day). Write down the specifics of your fast below. Sign it, date it, and share it with at least one other person who will be your accountability partner to check in with you about your commitment.

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