Just Give Me Jesus – 40 day fast schedule.
W you commit to pray, whether for a few minutes or an hour each day, that we
would have a fresh encounter with Jesus? The purpose is to sharpen our focus on
Jesus. May the Lord answer our prayer and just give us Jesus!
For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified (declared
righteous and acceptable to God) and with your mouth that you confess (declare
openly and freely of your faith) and are saved’ Romans 10:10
So let us confess each day what Jesus means to us:
Day One: 1 September - Matthew 16:16
Jesus – you are the true SON OF GOD
“You are the CHRIST, the SON of the LIVING GOD”
Day Two: 2 September 2003 - Revelation 1:8
Jesus – you are the ALPHA and the OMEGA
‘”I am the ALPHA and the OMEGA, (the beginning and the end),” says the Lord
God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come.”
Day Three: 3 September 2003 - 1 Peter 2:6
Jesus—you are the CORNERSTONE
‘”See, I lay a stone in Zion, a chosen and precious CORNERSTONE, and the one
who trusts in him will never be put to shame.”
Day Four: 4 September 2003 - Ephesians 1:22, 23
Jesus – you are the HEAD
‘And God placed all things under his feet, and appointed him to be HEAD over
everything for the church, which is his body...’
Day Five: 5 September 2003 - 1Corinthians 1:23, 24
Jesus – you are the POWER OF GOD
‘But we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and foolishness to
Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the
POWER OF GOD and the wisdom of God.’
Day Six: 6 September 2003 - John 1:4, 9
Jesus – you are the LIGHT OF THE WORLD
‘In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The true LIGHT that
gives light to every man was coming into the world.’
Day Seven: 7 September 2003 - John 1:14
Jesus – you are the WORD OF GOD
‘The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us.’
Day Eight: 8 September 2003 - Matthew 1:23
Jesus—you are IMMANUEL
‘The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call
him IMMANUEL—which means, “God with us.”’
Day Nine: 9 September 2003 - Matthew 1:21
Jesus—you are my SAVIOUR
‘”She will give birth to a son. And you are to give him the name JESUS, because
he will SAVE his people from their sins.”
Day Ten: 10 September 2003 - 1 John 2:1
Jesus – you are my ADVOCATE
‘My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone
does sin, we have an ADVOCATE with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.’
Day Eleven: 11 September 2003 - Revelation 3:14
Jesus—you are my WITNESS
‘These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true WITNESS, the ruler of
God’s creation’
Day Twelve: 12 September 2003 - Isaiah 9:6
Jesus—you are my COUNSELLOR
‘For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will
be upon His shoulders. And His name will be called Wonderful, COUNSELLOR,
Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace’
Day Thirteen: 13 September 2003 - 1 Corinthians 1:23
Jesus—you are the WISDOM OF GOD
‘..but we preach Christ crucified,...to those whom God has called,...Christ,
the WISDOM of God.’
Day Fourteen: 14 September 2003 - Hebrews 4:15
Jesus—you are my HIGH PRIEST
‘For we do not have a HIGH PRIEST who is unable to sympathise with our
weaknesses, but ... one who has been tempted in every way... yet was without
sin.’
Day Fifteen: 15 September 2003 - Romans 11:26, 27
Jesus—you are my DELIVERER
‘The DELIVERER will come from Zion; he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
And this is my covenant with them when I take away their sins.’
Day Sixteen: 16 September 2003 - Isaiah 44:24
Jesus—you are my REDEEMER
‘This is what the Lord says—your REDEEMER, who formed you in the womb: I am
the Lord, who has made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who
spread out the earth by myself.’
Day Seventeen: 17 September 2003 - Revelation 5:6
Jesus—you are the LAMB SLAIN for me
‘(they) fell down before the LAMB...and sang a new song: “You are
worthy...because you were SLAIN and with your blood you purchased men for God”.’
Day Eighteen: 18 September 2003 - John 14:6
Jesus—you are the WAY
‘Jesus said to him, “I am the WAY, the truth and the life. No-one comes to the
Father except through me.”’
Day Nineteen: 19 September 2003 - John 1:17
Jesus -you are the TRUTH
‘For the law was given through Moses; grace and TRUTH came through Jesus
Christ.’
Day Twenty: 20 September 2003 - John 3:36
Jesus—you are the giver of ETERNAL LIFE
‘Whoever believes in the Son has ETERNAL LIFE.’
Day Twenty-one: 21 September 2003 - John 15:1
Jesus—you are the TRUE VINE
“I am the True Vine, and my Father is the gardener.”
Day Twenty-two: 22 September 2003 - 2 Timothy 2:21
Jesus—you are my MASTER
‘If a man cleanses himself from (ignoble purposes) he will be an instrument for
noble purposes, made holy, useful to the MASTER ... prepared to do any good
work’
Day Twenty-three: 23 September 2003 - Matthew 12:18
Jesus—you are the SERVANT
“ Here is my SERVANT, whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight. I
will put My Spirit on him and he will proclaim justice to the nations.”
Day Twenty-four: 24 September 2003 - John 10:14
Jesus—you are my SHEPHERD
“I am the GOOD SHEPHERD; I know my sheep, and am known by my own.”
Day Twenty-Five: 25 September 2003 - John 6:41
Jesus—you are the BREAD OF LIFE
‘Then Jesus declared, “I am the BREAD of life. He who comes to me will never go
hungry.”’
Day Twenty-Six: 26 September 2003 - John 13:13
Jesus—you are my TEACHER
“You call me TEACHER and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.”
Day Twenty-Seven: 27 September 2003 - Matthew 25: 5,6
Jesus—you are the BRIDEGROOM
‘The BRIDEGROOM was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and
fell asleep. At midnight the cry rang out: “Here’s the BRIDEGROOM! Come out
to meet him!”’
Day Twenty-Eight: 28 September 2003 - Revelation 19:11
Jesus—you are FAITHFUL and TRUE
‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider
is called FAITHFUL and TRUE... He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his
name is the Word of God.’
Day Twenty-Nine: 29 September 2003 - John 10:9
Jesus—you are the DOOR
“I am the DOOR; whoever enters through me will be saved.”
Day Thirty: 30 September 2003 - Hebrews 1:1,2
Jesus—you are the HEIR OF ALL THINGS
‘In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times
and in various ways, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom
He appointed HEIR OF ALL THINGS, and through whom He made the universe.’
Day Thirty-One: 1 October 2003 - Titus 1:1,2
Jesus—you are the PROMISED ONE
‘...a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who
does not lie, PROMISED before the beginning of time, and at His appointed season
He brought His word to light through the preaching entrusted to me by the
command of God our Saviour...’
Day Thirty-Two: 2 October 2003 - John 1:14
Jesus– you are the ONE AND ONLY
‘The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory,
the glory of theONE AND ONLY, who came from the Father, full of grace and
truth.’
Day Thirty-Three: 3 October 2003 - John 1:41
Jesus—you are the MESSIAH
‘The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We
have found the MESSIAH” (that is the Christ). And he brought him to Jesus.’
Day Thirty-Four: 4 October 2003 - 1 Corinthians 5:7
Jesus—you are my PASSOVER
‘Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batchwithout yeast—as you
really are. For Christ, our PASSOVER LAMB has been sacrificed.’
Day Thirty-Five: 5 October 2003 - John 11:25,26
Jesus—you are the RESURRECTION
‘Jesus said to her,” I am the RESURRECTION andthe life. He who believes in Me
will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me willnever
die.”’
Day Thirty-Six: 6 October 2003 - John 1:11
Jesus—you are the GLORY OF GOD
‘ This...Jesus performed in Cana of Galillee. He thus
revealed His GLORY and his disciples put their faith in Him.’
Day Thirty-Seven: 7 October 2003 - Revelation 17:14
Jesus—you are KING OF KINGS
‘They will make war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will overcome them because
He is Lord of lords andKING OF KINGS.’
Day Thirty-Eight: 8 October 2003 - Ezekial 36:26
Jesus – SOFTEN MY HEART
‘I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a HEART of FLESH.’
Day Thirty-Nine: 9 October 2003 - John 14:15
Jesus – I choose to OBEY
‘If you love me, you will OBEY what I command.’
Day Forty: 10 October 2003 - Deuteronomy 6:5
Jesus – I LOVE You
‘LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul and with
all your strength.’
Advice on Fasting.
PRAYER AND FASTING
Fasting means to voluntarily deprive yourself of food or other comforts for a
time in order to give yourself more fully to prayer.
WHY DO PEOPLE FAST?
Fasting is an demonstration to God that we mean what we pray. It is an outward
expression of the commitment that lies behind the prayer. Fasting has been
practised by the Christian Church throughout its history. It was also an
important part of the prayer life of many Biblical characters. Here are some of
the reasons why they fasted.
To hear from God (Acts 13, 2)
To seek God=s special help or blessing (2 Chron. 20, 1-4; Ezra 8, 21 - 23)
To express repentance (Neh. 9, 1 - 2)
To petition God to fulfil His word (Daniel 9, 1 - 3)
To turn aside God=s Judgement (2 Chron. 7, 13 - 14 - "Humble Themselves" - this
implies fasting)
You should never fast ...
* Because someone else is putting pressure on you to do so. Your fasting must
stem from your personal choice and be based on your own convictions. You must
not fast because someone asks you to, because you feel that your spiritual
leader expects it or because you don=t want to look less committed than others.
* Because fasting will make others accept you or recognise the strength of your
spiritual life. Jesus said that you should not fast in order to be noticed by
others. Rather, fasting is something between you and your heavenly father, who
will reward you for what is done in secret (Matt. 6, 18).
* Because you want to punish yourself for a sinful life. "Jesus himself bore our
sins on the cross" (1 Pt. 2, 24). God forgives our sins, and doesn't want us to
punish ourselves for them.
* Because your friends or others in your church are fasting.
HOW TO FAST SAFELY
If you are a healthy, full grown adult, responsible fasting within the
following guidelines should not normally cause any damage to your health.
None-the-less, we would encourage anyone wishing to fast to consult with their
doctor first. If you are not used to fasting, it is recommended that you
start with a short fast (1 - 3 days). This will familiarise you with what it
feels like to fast, and with how your body reacts to being without food. If
you don=t experience any difficulties with this, then you can then gradually
increase the length of your fast until you become confident at fasting for one
week, two weeks or longer. An alternative to fasting for long blocks of time is
to fast for one day or more each week. Anyone who is sick should not consider
fasting without obtaining the prior permission of their doctor.
Guidelines for a healthy fast
* Most people find that the first day or two of the fast are by far the hardest.
This because your body is used to a certain rhythm of eating and drinking.
Hunger pangs are your body=s normal way of telling you that it is time to eat !
During this time it is normal to feel hungry, and for your stomach to rumble !
You may also experience mild headaches. After this first day or two though,
the body quickly adapts, and people usually find themselves feeling much
better. You don=t feel physically hungry, although you may still have the
desire to eat, especially if you see or smell tasty food !
* If you are planning to give up tea or coffee, we would advise you to do this
several days before you stop eating. This is because your body becomes mildly
addicted to the caffeine contained in these drinks. Caffeine is a type of mild
drug which can cause you to suffer withdrawal symptoms when you no longer take
it. Headaches, mild shaking, feeling cold and vomiting are common symptoms of
this. The withdrawal symptoms usually last only for one to three days. Many
people continue drinking tea and coffee as normal throughout their fast.
* You should not stop drinking liquids during your fast; if anything, you should
increase your fluid intake. Drinking milk or fruit juice whilst fasting also
helps to keep you healthy. Sugary drinks, for example, hot chocolate or
sweetened milk, give you extra energy and make it much easier to continue your
daily routine. One salted drink per day is also recommended, as your muscles
need salt to avoid getting cramps.
* It is normal to have less physical strength and energy during a fast. It is
not recommended to fast if your work or daily routine is physically demanding.
It is also not recommended to play sport or take part in other strenuous
activities during a fast.
* It is normal to sleep less during a fast. This is because your stomach uses a
large amount of energy to digest your food. When your stomach is empty,
therefore, this energy is available for the rest of the body to use. Many
people find that during a fast, they have a much clearer mind, for the same
reason.
* It is also normal to feel much colder when fasting. The activity of digesting
your food provides your body with much of its heat. Make sure that you keep
warm, and wear extra clothes if necessary.
* We would recommend that you take vitamin and mineral supplements during a fast
of 3 days or more. This is to ensure that your body receives its required dose
of vitamins and minerals.
* Make sure that you continue to brush your teeth regularly. Fasting can make
your breath smell much worse than normal, especially during the first few days
!
* If you are planning to fast for more than a week, tell a friend. Ask them to
keep a check on your health during the fast.
* We would recommend that you don=t fast for more than 20 days unless you are in
excellent health and are experienced at fasting. You should never fast for more
than 40 days.
You should not fast
* You should not fast if you are pregnant, breast-feeding or trying to conceive
(both partners!).
* If you are on medication, you should not fast without first consulting your
doctor.
* If you are not in good health, or suffer from any illness, physical or
psychological problem, you should consult your doctor before fasting.
* You should especially not fast if you have ever suffered from diabetes,
epilepsy, anorexia, bulimia, psychological disorders or mental illness.
* You should not fast if by doing so you could put other people=s lives at risk;
for example if your occupation is a surgeon or a bus driver.
* If you receive professional advice that fasting will harm you or others, you
should not fast.
* It is recommended that the elderly and children who are still growing
physically should not fast.
* If in doubt, consult your doctor.
You should stop fasting...
* If you start to feel very weak, and are unable to carry out your daily
activities.
* If you start to feel unwell or you develop unusual physical symptoms.
* If hunger pangs return.
* If you find your reactions becoming unduly slow, or if you are unable to
concentrate.
Finishing the fast
After several days of fasting your digestive system is at rest. It is important
to break your fast gradually, to avoid possible problems with your digestion.
If you have fasted on water only, it is wise to break your fast with soup,
fruit juice or milk. You should also restart your intake of food gradually.
Soup, fruit, bread or vegetables cooked in water are good. It is wise to avoid
too much meat and foods that contain a lot of fat or spices for the first few
days. It is also better to eat small amounts of food more often. Make sure that
you eat slowly and chew well !
A fast that has been carefully monitored can be very beneficial for your health.
In our Western society our bodies often suffer from the consequences of
over?eating !
PARTIAL FASTING
Partial fasting was also practised in the Bible. . Here are a couple of
examples.
* Daniel and his friends chose to eat only vegetables and water for a period of
three years as a way of seeking God and of setting themselves apart from the
luxuries of the royal court of Babylon. (Daniel 1, 5 - 20).
* Later in the same book, we see Daniel taking part in a different type of
partial fast for three weeks. (Daniel 10, 2 - 3).
Partial fasting today
If you want to fast, but are unable to do so for reasons of health or work, a
partial fast could be the answer for you. Everyone should be able to find a
partial fast that would suit their physical condition or life-style.
Today you could partially fast by;
* Just eating simple food. Choose in advance what you will and will not eat,
and for how long you will keep it up.
* Eating less often. For example, miss one meal each day, and use the extra
time to pray.
* Eat normally, but drink only water.
* Fast some activity that you enjoy, for example television or sport. (see also
1 Cor. 7, 5).
MSS, 40 The Ent. Centre, Caemawr
Indst. Est, Treorchy, Wales, CF42 6EJ
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