Power of Fasting

Kevin Kwak · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 11:01 PM

Make a commitment with your small group to faithfully complete your fast. Not every fast is pleasing before God. God sees our hearts, therefore, it is necessary to have the right heart and motive whenever we fast.

Take advantage of this opportunity to fast, and lift up your prayer requests to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into an intimate time of prayer as you fast. Ask Him to reveal to you the areas of your life which are not pleasing before God. Trust that He will enable you to break any strongholds Satan has in your life that may hinder you from being fully blessed and changed throughout this conference. Take a moment now to list your specific prayer requests. You may keep your prayer topics confidential, or feel free to share them with your small group, so they may pray for you on your behalf.

Now let us express our desire to commit our hearts and prayer before the Lord. As we unit in fasting and prayer, God's heart will indeed be moved. Remember, God sees our hearts and is not so concerned with our words, as He is with the attitude of our hearts. The following is a sample prayer of commitment to fast. Pray this prayer, out loud, together with your small group.

Lord Jesus I need you. Thank you for calling your precious child, and for bringing me to attend this Vision Conference. I understand and believe that fasting is a discipline that pleases you. We are fasting the first three meals of the conferences, and I want to complete my fasting in a manner that pleases you. Prepare my heart in humility and brokenness, that my heart would be 'good soil' upon receiving your word and blessing, through every program which has been prepared for me throughout this conference. Cause my heart to repent and to be broken, that I may be ready for your words of direction with regards to every area of my life. I commit these next three days of my life to you, Lord; do with it as you please.
In Jesus' name I prayed, Amen.

Kevin Kwak · #2 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 11:02 PM

Fasting marked the beginning of KCCC's first Vision Conference. Since then, it has continued to remain a vital part of Vision Conference each year. In December of 1996, KCCC held its first Vision Conference, "Vision 1997" at Pine Summit, where the "One-Day Fast" was first introduced. Most participants were unaware that they would be fasting for an entire day at the conference, especially on the first day. Thus, the "One-Day Fast" came as a complete surprise. Despite the initial response of the students, the Holy Spirit has been preparing their hearts long before the conference; they were ready for the fast. All 80 Vision Conference participants fasted with faith and obedience. As a result they were able to come before the Lord with more humble hearts. Fasting enabled them to empty themselves completely, allowing God to pour out His grace upon them in a special way.

Fasting does not come easily for students who live in the States. Not only is fasting neglected spiritual discipline, but also we often fail to complete our fasts even when they are attempted. Vision Conference is an opportunity for you to reflect upon the past year, and begin the New Year refreshed. As you approach God in complete humility through fasting, He will bless you greatly. When you are prepared to fast with the right heart in the right manner, the blessings you will receive from the Lord will be all the more greater.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline taught and practiced in both the Old and New Testament, as well as throughout church history. God commanded fasting. The prophets, Paul, and even Jesus himself modeled fasting. Israel often sought the Lord with fasting and prayer in times of national disaster or when they were seeking forgiveness, deliverance, healing, or direction. Fasting and prayer transforms individuals, churches, and nations.

When Jonah delivered God's mercy as a response to fasting and prayer is observed in the book of Esther. When Esther and the Israelites fasted, Israel was saved from annihilation, and Hama who sought to destroy Israel was executed.

The Hebrew word for fasting literally means to "humble oneself" or to "afflict the soul." It is a powerful form of intercession that is often used as a means of restoration. We invite you to fast for the first three meals of the conference and deepen your relationship with God. Let us unite in fasting and ask God to destroy the evil strongholds in our world. As you abstain from food, seek God and break the patterns established by your flesh, fasting will reduce the power of your self-will, enabling you to experience a holy brokenness and the fullness of the Spirit's power.

Kevin Kwak · #3 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 11:04 PM

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.

Kevin Kwak · #4 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 11:04 PM

Personal Prayer

Pray that the bondage of sin and the shackles of evil and oppression will be broken and destroyed through your fasting and prayer.
Ask for the spirit of repentance to come upon you, so that you may repent of your personal sins and the sins of your family. Repent and ask for the power to completely cut away the sins you have been struggling with.
Pray that you may receive the spirit of prayer, so that you may experience the living God, the One who gives life, and commit to living a life of prayer.
Seek God's Word in setting new goals for the upcoming year, and to discover God's vision and power in your life.
Pray to be filled with the Holy Spirit so that you will cut off the habitual sins.

Campus Prayer

Pray that the hearts of college students may be opened before the Lord and that Christ will be known to all students before they graduate.
Pray for a dynamic revival of prayer and evangelism through CCC.
Pray that there will not be any soonjangs without soonwons, neither any soonwons without a soonjangs, as small group meetings (soonmoim) take root on each campus.
Pray for all soonjangs to be able to live as spiritual mother or father of their campuses, and that they will witness as a way of life. Pray that every soonjang will be faithful to their calling as a spiritual nurturer for the rest of their lives, and to set an example in academic excellence.
Pray for all small group meetings, prayer meetings, witness meetings, and open chapel meetings; that there will be God's special blessings upon all these meetings throughout this upcoming year.
Pray that God will use our Gethsemane Prayer meeting, and that countless lives may be changed as a result of our prayers.

Nation: USA

Pray for President George W. Bush and Congress that they may fear God and serve the government with integrity and justice.
Pray for America to return to the faith of the Puritans and to take charge in leading world missions.
Pray that many righteous men of God will take a stand in leadership to prevent any further corruptions and social decay.
Pray that all evil powers and dark forces that stand against God will be bound before God.

Korean-Americans

Pray that Korean-American churches will be a good model to the society for spiritual leadership.
Pray that the 1.5 and 2nd generation Korea-Americans would play the main role in serving the world, as mature Christians.
Pray that every Korean-Americans family and church will confess Jesus Christ as their Lord; and that they will be used by God.
Pray that the Korean-American society would become known as people who love God, and that they would always demonstrate love and integrity.
Pray for the ministry of the Holy Spirit to powerfully work within the Korean-American society, that they may be used by God in the fulfillment of the Great Commission.

Kevin Kwak · #5 (**permalink**) 12-11-2006, 11:06 PM

Nation: Korea

Pray for the current president and politicians, that they may truly fear God and be honest and trustworthy in all political affairs; that they will not misuse their power.
Pray for the people of our nation to humble themselves and pray; to seek God's face and turn from their wicked ways so that God will forgive our sins and heal our land.
Pray that Korea will send 100,000 missionaries into the mission field; and 1000 Korean-Americans will also rise as missionaries for the world.
Seek for the Holy Spirit's reigning power to be displayed in politics, economy, education, society, church, and in Korean culture.

World Missions

Pray that the bible will be translated into every language of the world. Ask for God's protection over missionaries who have gone abroad as professors, doctors, nurses, businessmen, specialists, and tent makers. Pray that the gospel will take deep root within these countries through their labor and commitment.
Pray that everyone will either be sending-missionaries or serving-missionaries to the most unreached regions of the world (10/40 Window).
Pray for a spiritual revival in the Universal Church so that it may pursue a strategic plan for world evangelization.

KCCC Staff in USA

Pray that all staff will overflow with joy as they serve the ministry.
Pray that many students will commit to God's call in joining KCCC as full-time staff members.
Pray that our staff will depend on God's provision for their every spiritual, physical, emotional need; and that God will provide an abundance of prayer and financial supporters.
Pray for all staff family members to be fully supportive and involved in the ministry.

2004 KCCC Summer Project

Pray for the mobilization of 500 students from the U.S. to participate in our Macedonian Summer
Mission Project and that more than 50 students will commit to STINT.
Pray for the young souls in Kazakhstan, Jaspan, Asia Minor, Mongolia, Thailand, East Asia, Cambodia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia and Indonesia; that they will return to the Lord, and surrender their lives fully to Him.
Pray for God's guidance and protection in pioneering a new summer mission project to North Korea. Pray that God will open doors that will make North Korea mission possible for us, in the near future.
Pray for effective organization and assignments for Summer Mission Training which will begin this March.

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