Teenagers & Fasting 2.0

Jesus said, “This kind only comes out by prayer and fasting.”

What Jesus was saying was that certain things require a greater affect upon them in order to bring change.

Could fasting be one of the keys to a spiritual awakening in America? Could fasting be what unifies a generation to reach their world for Christ?

You might think, “young people won’t fast!” They are great at indulging but certainly not fasting! We’ll, I’m not so sure about that. I’ve watched young people enthusiastically involved in fasting.

Why teenagers & fasting?

Just look at our world. Especially in the light of what Jesus said about fasting in Matthew 6 and Mark 9! Jesus said, “When you fast…and this kind can only happen through prayer and fasting.” Prayer and fasting are the only things that can change what is going on in our world today.

Look at some of these events:

The disunity in government, the rise of racism in America, violence in our schools, human trafficking, global terrorism, the financial crisis, and the sexual revolution in America.

I believe we must raise a new generation of young people who are committed to prayer & fasting.

When we as the spiritual leaders of Next Gen ministry in America call our young people to fasting, we will see an unprecedented awakening as never before. If we do not teach our young people to pray & fast, we have failed them.

Defining Fasting

Fasting will hurt - or it’s not fasting! Stop looking for supplements or ways out of the sacrifice and pain or longings. That’s the point. Master those with worship or prayer or words of affirmation.

Here is a quick practical guide to fasting in an easy FASTING acronym:

(F)

First step

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Begin with a partial fast of a meal until you are able to see what effect fasting will have on your body. Just start with juices and water for that meal.

Do this once a week for a month and then step back and take a look at your physical condition. And ask yourself how the short fast helped you focus on a spiritual target or goal.

(A)

Advance steps

Once you have accomplished the first steps, then proceed with a twenty-four-hour fast or two meals. That means you would fast after dinner on Thursday night and not eat until dinner on Friday night.

If you are able, just do water and juice. Don’t worry about stomach rumbling or pains; that is simply your body getting used to a new routine.

If you are able, it will help if you slow your activity level and lessen the physical exertion during your twenty-four-hour fast. A lifestyle change will be important for extended fasts.

(S)

Stay with a cycle

Don’t make fasting a one-time thing. As you get comfortable with fasting this short time, commit to doing this every Friday, or choose a day that works for you.

This is a form of intermittent, cycle, or scheduled fasting. You could even stretch to a thirty-six-hour fast or three meals once you have adjusted your body to fasting.

I have chosen every Friday for many years. And because of my discipline of fasting, it changed my thinking. And now my personal goal is extending to seventy-five days of fasting each year.

(T)

Task or reason for the fast

This is the task at hand or the purpose of fasting. To make fasting as effective as possible, make sure that on the fasting day, you focus on prayer, worship, reading, contemplation, silence, and stillness.

You want your fasting day routine to be simple, not cluttered with a lot of extras. Remember, you are not just skipping a meal; you are replacing the meal or meals with the discipline of prayer, worship, reading, contemplation, silence, and stillness.

I will often choose one task, assignment, or goal to focus on each Friday when I fast. This is what is so great about cycle fasting - Because you can come back to it and fast on a regular basis for one thing each fasting period.

The last point in our practical guide to fasting…

(I)

ING

This is what happens after the fast—the “ing,” the ending. It is the measurement or evaluation of what is going on during my fasting. The “ING” is and what was the point of fasting.

The “ING” is the takeaway. It will be important to make sure you are writing, keeping a journal of your thoughts, readings, and prayers. Make a prayer request list and an answered prayer results list.

This will help you chronicle your spiritual growth and formation. Remember, the “ING” is the result.

Finally

Whenever you plan to start a commitment to fasting, remember the simple acronym. The First step, Advance steps, Stay with a cycle, Task or reason for the fast, and the “ING” is the takeaway. Fasting is a discipline and really can be learned if we do just a few simple things.

We cannot underestimate the power of prayer and fasting to do what we cannot do.

I love the story of the ministry of Smith Wigglesworth, one of the great evangelists in history.

Smith Wigglesworth was invited to a meeting of ministers in Philadelphia early in his ministry. They asked him to lead a revival and gospel crusade, so he told them he would come and pray with them about the matter.

Arriving in Philadelphia, Smith met with about 30 leaders from the area. After about an hour of meeting and short prayers with the ministers, Smith began to pray. And pray. And pray.

Several hours later, when he got up from his knees, there was only one organizing minister still there with him. Excited to hear what Smith had to say about his involvement in the outreach and crusades in Philadelphia, the young minister asked Smith what he thought.

Smith boldly told the lone minister that he would not be coming to do the meetings in Philadelphia.

Shocked, the young minister asked why he would not be coming to Philadelphia. Smith Wigglesworth simply said, “There isn’t enough prayer here to support a revival.”

What we do know for sure is that fasting is supernatural. A special kind of spiritual replacement of a physical or natural appetite or desire. It brings an urgency, reveals to us what is controlling us, overcomes natural desires, and creates spiritual formation, maturity, authority, and unity.

What we are seeing in our nation today is going to require this kind of tandem spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting for us to see our nation turned around.