Abstain and focus . . .

When Jehoshaphat realised his desperate need, he not only prayed, he also called the nation to a time of fasting.

Fasting is linked to many significant moments in the Bible. Moses fasted while on the mountain receiving the ten commandments, and Jesus fasted while in the wilderness preparing for his period of public ministry.

Fasting and prayer are linked together. Many times, people in the Bible petitioned God with prayer and fasting including Nehemiah and Esther.

It is important to remember that fasting is not a bribe to get God to do what we want. As we commit to fast on Feb 3rd, we do so as a sign of our commitment to seek God for our Nation and as a tool to focus our thoughts and prayers.

Fasting from food is not possible for everyone, but the principle of abstaining from some aspect of our daily routine is applicable whatever your situation. Below are some suggestions to help you plan your fast.

Fasting from food:

We tend to associate fasting with giving up food. However, there may be health considerations, so if you have any concerns, are on regular medication or are diabetic it would be wise to consult your doctor before beginning any kind of fast from food. Even if you know you can fast safely from food, remember some simple safety points:

Drink plenty of fluids throughout the day. You may prefer to stay away from certain drinks such as tea/coffee, or fruit juices etc., but it's not advisable to fast from liquids altogether. Drinking several large glasses of still water will allow you to keep your fast while keeping healthy.

Break your fast carefully. The longer the fast, the more careful you need to be when re-introducing food. Make your first meal a light one.

Be careful about fasting if you need to do a lot of driving, or operate potentially dangerous machinery, as you may feel tired or even a little weak.

Commit your fast to the Lord. Remember that fasting is not about torturing yourself, or blackmailing God - it is a tool to focus your mind as you petition God about our nation.

Other fasting ideas:

If giving up food is not appropriate for you, try out these other great ideas:

Fast from a particular kind of food - abstain from bread, chocolate or snacks. Ot try a 'Daniel fast', eating only simply prepared fruits and vegetables for the day.

Fast from TV, the internet, computer games etc.

Fast from company - instead of constantly being with other people, spend a little time alone with God.

Fast from the car/bus - instead of travelling on four wheels, try travelling on two feet for the day, praying as you walk.

The point is that as we make changes to our daily routine, we will be reminded to pray and seek the Lord.