By: Dr. Bill Bright

Step 1 - Set Your Objectives
Know why you are fasting. You may be fasting for spiritual renewal, for guidance, for healing, for the resolution of problems, or for special grace to handle a difficult situation. Whatever your reason for fasting may be ask the Holy Spirit to clarify His leading and objectives for your prayer fast. This will enable you to pray more specifically and effectively.
Through fasting and prayer we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our churches, and heal our land according to 2 Chronicles 7:14. Make this a priority in your fasting.

Step 2 - Make Your Commitment
Jesus implied that all of His followers should fast (Matthew 6:16-18, 9:14, 15). For Him it was a matter of when believers would fast, not if they would do it.

Step 3 - Prepare Yourself Spiritually
The very foundation of fasting and prayer is repentance. Unconfessed sin will hinder your prayers. Here are several things you can do to prepare your heart before you fast:

• Ask God to help you make a comprehensive list of your sins.

• Confess every sin that the Holy Spirit calls to your remembrance and accept God's forgiveness (1 John 1:9).

• Seek forgiveness from all whom you have offended, and forgive all who have hurt you (Mark 11:25, Luke 11:4, 17:3,4)

• Ask God to fill you with His Holy Spirit according to His command in Ephesians 56:18, and His promise in 1 John 5:14, 15

• Meditate on the attributes of God: His love, sovereignty, power, wisdom, faithfulness, grace, compassion, and others (Psalm 48:9, 10; 103-1-8; 11-13).

Step 4 - Prepare Yourself Physically
Fasting requires reasonable precautions. Medical professionals suggest that occasional fasting is actually healthy for the body unless a person is pregnant or has an acute or chronic illness that requires three meals a day. Consult your physicians first, especially if you take prescription medication or have a chronic ailment. Some individuals should never fast without professional supervision. When you fast:

• Avoid drugs, even natural herbal drugs and homeopathic remedies. Medication should be withdrawn only with your physician's supervision.
• Limit your activity.
• Exercise only moderately.
• Get adequate rest.
• Prepare yourself for temporary mental discomforts, such as impatience, crankiness, and anxiety.

Step 5 - Put Yourself on a Schedule
Begin and end your day with praise and worship.
Read and meditate on God's Word, preferably on your knees
Invite the Holy Spirit to work in you both to will and to do according to His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13)
Invite God to use you. Ask Him to show you how to influence your world, your family, your church, your community, your country, and beyond.
Pray for His vision for your life and the power to do His will.
Spend time in intercessory prayer for your community and nation's leaders, for the worlds unreached millions, and for your family or other special needs.

Step 6 - Breaking Your Fast
End your fast by eating gradually. How you break your fast is extremely important for your physical and spiritual well being. Do not eat solid, oil, or spicy foods immediately after fasting. Suddenly reinforcing solid food to your stomach, and digestive tract can have negative, even dangerous consequences. Try several smaller meals or snacks each day.

Step 7 - Expect Results
When you truly humble yourself before the Lord, and you sincerely repent, pray, meditate on His word and see His face, you will experience or heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will reveal Himself to you, giving your new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God and also be strengthened. You will feel refreshed mentally, spiritually, and physically. It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles, but you will see answers to your prayers. Make the commitment to be a person of fasting and prayer. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. Undertake another fast as soon as possible until you succeed. God calls us to fast, again, and again, until we truly experience revival within our homes, our churches, our beloved nations, and throughout the world.