21 DAY

"NOW TO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO FAR MORE ABUNDANTLY BEYOND ALL THAT WE ASK OR THINK, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS WITHIN US.

www.corefugechurch.com/fasting

1. Start Where You Are 2. Choose A Fast

Dedicated Time Fast Total Time Fast

3. Other Considerations While Fasting

1. Read Consistently 2. Read Prayerfully 3. Read Expectantly

THE VISION OF THE CITY OF REFUGE CHURCH WHOLE PEOPLE-WHOLE GOSPEL-WHOLE WORLD

-To see people Whole -To equip people with the Whole Gospel -To mobilize people to share the Whole Gospel with the Whole World

-Pastor Antoine Geffrard & Family

-Ministry Leaders & Volunteers

-Our Nation, Our President and his family -Humble Independent School District & Surrounding Communities

GREATER THINGS - FOR YOU & OTHERS

-Faith (Mark 11:24) -Health (Jeremiah 33:6) -Family (Acts 10:2) -Transformation (Ezekial 36:26) -Peace (John 14:27) -Protection (Isaiah 64:17) -Hope (Romans 15:13) -Relationships(Ecclesiastes 4:9-12) -Boldness(1 Chronicles 28:20) -Vision (Habakkuk 2:2-3) -Expectations (Jeremiah 29:11) -City (Jeremiah 29:7)-Endurance (Isaiah 40:31) -Love (John 13:34-35) -Giving (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) -Finances (Deuteronomy 8:18) -Anointing (1 John 2:27)

-Marriage (Ephesians 5:25-29) -Discipleship (Luke 9:23) -Wisdom (James 1:5) -Impact (Matthew 5:13-16) -Joy (Romans 15:13)

Just like prayer and fasting, reading your Bible is about connecting to God in a more powerful way. It is not about duty, but about relationships. When we engage God through reading His Word, we engage the very presence of God. His Word is living and active! As we read our Bible, we are drawing closer to God and positioning ourselves to hear from Him in particular ways.

Once again, as with prayer, choose the time and the place where you are going to read your Bible and devotional every single day, and come prepared to hear what he wants to tell you.

Here are three quick things we'd like to share with you about how to get the most out of your

1. Read Consistently It is better to read a little every day than try and knock out two hours of Bible reading or devotions in one sitting. It is so important to digest the Word in absorbable chunks. Don't bite off

more than you can chew, and certainly don't compare your "performance" with that of others.If

you miss a few days, catch up at the next reading, but stay with it and don't give up.

THE KEY IS TO KEEP THIS SIMPLE AND MAKE IT SUSTAINABLE.

2. Read Prayerfully Talk to God as you're reading. Don't rush through it. If you come across something you don't understand, pause for a moment and ask God about it. Reading prayerfully is making space and time to talk to God and giving Him time and space to talk to you. Taking time to meditate on God's Word is just as important as reading it.

You are about to partake on the bread of life, so foster an attitude of expectancy. Believe that God is going to speak to you through His Word. With meditation on the ideas and thoughts recorded in your journal, be prepared to do something with what He shows you. A great, simple way to journal your devotionals is to use the SOAP Method.

The SOAP method is used like this:

S for Scripture. Read prayerfully. Take notice of which scripture(s) catch your attention and mark it in your Bible. When you' re done, reread the verse(s) you marked and look for one that particularly speaks to you. Write it in your journal. O for Observation. Focus on that scripture; tune in and listen to what God is saying to you through His Word. What is it about this scripture that specifically stands out? What does God want to reveal to you or teach you? Ask the Holy Spirit to be your guide and show you what God is saying. A for Application. Think of how this verse(s) applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or correction for a particular area of your life. Use your journal to write how the scripture applies to you today. P for Prayer. Wrap up your SOAP in time of prayer. Talk to God about what you've just read. This can be as simple as thanking Him for revealing a truth from scripture, or it may be asking Him for greater insight or wisdom as to how it applies to your life. Remember, prayer is all about relationship. It's a two-way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say.

That's it! SOAP. It's as simple or deep as you want it to bc. If you want to go deeper in your study, here are additional tips:

-Reread the daily passage in a different Bible translation or paraphrase.

-Utilize online resources, such as those available www.crosswalk.com

-Utilize a commentary, such as those by Matthew Henry or online at

www.biblegateway.con or www.blueletterbible.com

-Cross-reference your daily reading, using the footnotes in your study Bible. -Research words in the original language using Strong's Concordance.

Our prayer for you over the next twenty-one days is that your passion for God and His Word will be ignited, and that you will develop a hunger for His Presence that is greater than ever before!

We want to encourage you to be just as intentional about the next twenty-one days as the twenty-one days after that. and so on. Remember, keeping the fire and zeal for God burning in your heart is what will keep your relationship with him fresh and new. It will allow you to continue serving and obcying Him from a position of want to, and you will experience the joy of your salvation everyday-regardless of what life brings your way.

The principles you have practiced in these twenty-one days are very casy to sustain long term. Prayer, fasting and personal devotion are all quite simple to incorporate into your everyday life. Over these last twenty-one days, you've created space for God to fill. The best way to continue in these same practices is to keep that space open indefinitely. Don't allow it to close up! Protect that time and space with God and make it a priority each day.

Just like reading the Bible, praying, and attending church. Fasting has to be a lifestyle. We encourage you to establish a frequency and consistency of fasting in your life. Remember, this is not a legalistic thing. This is an "I get to experience God" thing. It is like going into heaven for a tune up, so we can keep our passion for God and enjoyment of Him at a high level. We encourage you to do the same. Figure out what worlds for you, commit to it, and make it a part of your life.

Don't settle for anything less than a life of wholeness, full of passion and spiritual zeal for God. Keep the fire for God burning in your heart and do whatever it takes to feed your spiritual hunger

www.corefugechurch.com/fasting

We are so glad you have decided to participate in an extended time of prayer, fasting and personal devotion for GREATER. There really is no better way to reset our spiritual compass and bring greater in every area of our lives than through prayer and fasting.

Whether you have donc a twenty-one-day season of prayer and fasting before. or if this is your first time, you can start where you are and experience what God has in store for you in a powerful way. This guide will introduce you to fasting and provide you with practical ways to help you navigate through your personal twenty-one-day journey.

We pray that you will experience the presence and greatness of God in an extraordinary way as you commit yourself to Him over the next twenty-one days. May God continue to bless you and expand you as you seek Him first!

"Is this not the fast which / choose, to loosen the bonds of wickedness, To undo the bands of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free And break every yoke?" Isaial 58:6 (NASB)

Fasting is practiced all throughout Scripture. Moses, Daniel, Ezra, Ester, Nehemiah, John, Paul and Jesus Himself fasted. Both prayer and fasting are expected in the lives of God's people.

As you prepare for the next twenty-one days of fasting, it can be tempting to start focusing on what foods you are going to avoid or the logistics of altering your habits for a few weeks. But keep in mind; fasting is about more than just abstaining from certain foods for a specific period of time. Fasting, coupled with prayer, is first and foremost a profoundly spiritual endeavor which

seeks to draw us closer to God so that we may hear His voice. Old and New Testament saints

from Esther to the Apostle Paul fasted as a way to express their need for God's guidance and help in their lives (Ester 4:16; Acts 27:33-34 Jesus Himself fasted for forty days as He was being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-9 The Bible depicts fasting as a way for the saints to express their longing for God to intervene in their often desperate circumstances. For them,

hearing from God was more important than any physical or natural need that they had andso

they were willing to humble themselves in this way so that the Holy Spirit could speak and guide

Given that fasting is born out of a need to hear from God, before you begin your fast, ask yourself why you are fasting? What are you seeking from God? Is it spiritual renewal? Is it the need to be made whole? Is it for GREATER THINGS in your life? Is it guidance for important decisions that need to be made, or wisdom for the resolution of a problem? Or perhaps it's for grace to handle certain aspects of your life? Clarifying in your own mind what you are seeking through the fast will help you be more strategic and specific in your prayer time. We encourage you to write down important targets and areas that you are seeking breakthrough for in the space

During this fast, I am praying for GREATER in these areas:

As you prepare to fast, it is important to choose a fasting plan that works for you. While this section provides some general information about different types of fast, as well as some suggestions on how to create your own fasting plan, it is important to mention that there is nothing more inherently spiritual about one type of fast as opposed to another. These are simply guidelines and suggestions on different things you can do to reach your GREATER.

Do not let what you eat or do not eat become the focus of your fast. Keep the main thing the main thing which is drawing closer to God. Remember, this is a time to disconnect enough from your regular patterns and habits in order to connect more closely to God. Here are a few tips to keep in mind before getting started:

We are all at different places in our walk with God. Likewise, our jobs, daily schedules, and health conditions are all different and place various levels of demands on our energy. So most importantly, whether you've fasted before or this is your first time, start where you are. Your personal fast should present a level of personal challenge to you, but it's very important to know your own body, know your options and most importantly, seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

Remember the goal of fasting is not simply to do without food. The goal is to draw nearer to God, so that we can get direction and wisdom for our lives, so be sure to also focus on taking your spiritual walk to the next level. During your fast you should be praying more, worshiping more, reading your word more, meditating more Start where you are both physically and spiritually but don't stay there!Press towards GREATER.

Pray about the type of fast that you should embark on before you begin. A fast should be challenging, both physically and spiritually, but consideration and precautions should be made for health and medical factors, age, and other individual limitations. Please consult your physician prior to beginning your fast, especially if you are taking medication, have a chronic disease, or are pregnant or nursing a baby.

In addition to settling on the type of food abstinence you will undertake, begin to think about the new spiritual commitments you will make during your fast. Ask yourself how much additional time each day you will devote to prayer? How can you increase your worship of meditation time? Making these commitments ahead of time will help you prepare for the fast and keep you on target during the fast.

As you consider the following types of fasts, keep these two points in mind:

(a) There is nothing inherently more spiritual about one type of fast as opposed to another. Remember this is your personal journcy. Your goal is to challenge yourself, not compete with someone else or to go beyond your personal physical limitations. Remember to seek God in prayer about the fast that you should undergo. (b) Don't get bogged down in the gray areas of any particular fast. For example, don't fret over whether a starchy potato should be included in your Daniel fast, or whether you can substitute orange juice for an orange. We will not list specific ingredients you "should" or "should not" include in your plan, so as to not get legalistic about it. Just make your individual food and preparation determinations prior to beginning your fast and be consistent once you'v determined the specifics for your individual fast. Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit!

The concept of a Daniel fast is anchored in scripture and is also a healthy choice for a fast. In Daniel Chapter 1 as well as Daniel Chapter 10, the Prophet Daniel abstains from eating the King's "choice" foods such as meat, and instead eats vegetables and fruit and drinks only water. Vs.3 "I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat or wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all until the entire three weeks were completed."

Thus this fast consists of consuming only vegetables, fruits and abstaining from other foods such

as bread, meat, sweets, soda, coffee and alcohol.

Water Only. A Water only fast is just that: no foods of any kind and only water to drink. We know that Jesus and other New Testament saints participated in water only fasts for periods of time (Matthew 4 We highly recommend consulting your physician before considering a water-only fast, and for doing so for only brief periods of time. Vegetables and Fruits. This liquid fast consists of consuming only freshly squeezed or blended fruit and vegetable juices, with no added sugars, instead of solid food. This is simply a modification of the Daniel fast and is a great way to challenge yourself if you have gotten comfortable with the Daniel fast in its original form.

A Dedicated time fast is a biblical fast in which you choose not to eat for a specific amount of time during the day, such as from sun up to sun down (Judges 20:26 When embarking on this type of fast, consider your work and sleep schedule. The hours that you sleep should not be considered part of your fasting period.

A total time fast is where nothing is consumed-neither food or water - for a period of time. There are examples of this type of fast in the Bible. In the Old Testament, we see that Moses went on a 40-day total fast to get guidance from the Lord about His people (Exodus 34:28 It was during this fast that God revealed the Ten Commandments to Moses.

A Note of Caution: A complete lack of water for any period of time can be extremely harmful to the body, so we strongly discourage this type of fast and urge anyone considering it to please hear from God and consult a physician before undertaking it.

3. Other Considerations While Fasting

Fasting While Nursing or Pregnant

If you are a pregnant or nursing mother, your priority is the health and the development of the baby God has entrusted you with. Strict fasting while pregnant or nursing is not recommended. If you are in this incredible season of life but would like to participate in the twenty-one-day plan, consult your doctor for a modified plan.

If you have struggled with an eating disorder, this situation is a battle of the mind you can win through Christ (Philippians 4:13 Remember, fasting is a tool used to get closer to God, and it actually should keep us from being preoccupied with food. If your method of fasting is going to cause you to obsess about what you eat in any way, you will need to change either your approach or your mindset.

Fasting and the Importance of Consecration

Fasting is about connecting with God in a deeper and more meaningful way. That often means disconnecting from the world and all of its many distractions.

During your fast, endeavor to tune out some of the regular distractions in your day as much as possible. For example, reduce your TV or recreational gaming/computer time, get off of social media, restrict your cell phone usage, etc. Replace that time with activities that will nourish you spiritually.

Depending on the type of fast you choose, it is very important to prepare your body ahead of time before beginning the fast. Take a week or so to transition to your fast; otherwise you could get sick. For example, if you would like to go on a fruits and vegetables or just fast, start-eliminating meat, white grains, and refined sugars from your diet the week before. Also start to cut back on dairy products and your caffeine intake. The same principle applies to breaking your fast. When your fast is over, add foods back in very gradually. Please do not break your fast with a greasy cheeseburger! Because your body is so cleansed and detoxified, you will most likely get sick if you do that.

Here are some other ideas that can help make your fasting experience more pleasant and helpful:

Pray throughout the day during your fast. Don't overcomplicate this! Just talk to God. Have that place and time where you can seek Him everyday. If you don't plan to pray, you won't. If you find it a challenge to disconnect from the busyness of your day,

engaging in worship music is a great way to prepare your heart for prayer.

Keep your fridge and pantry stocked with items you need. Being unprepared to fast sets you up to give into temptation. Choose well when selecting products, stick to raw food as much as you can, and limit artificial ingredients.

Make it a priority to attend church during your twenty-one-day fast. Being around other believers will encourage you to keep on going when fasting gets difficult.

If you mess up, don't get discouraged. Just get right back on track and keep going. God's mercies "are new every morning" (Lamentations 3:22-23 He wants you to finish, and He will give you the grace and strength to do it.

"Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly / say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. Matthew 6:16-18 (NASB)