Today is day 3 of the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting at Bridges of Hope Fellowship. This will end the regular fast of only water and juices. Tomorrow will begin the Daniel portion of the fast. Already, we are seeing God do great things in the lives of people at BOHF. It's not too late to join us, if you haven't already. Just jump in and start where we are!

When we give, pray, and fast (Matthew 6), we are creating a 3 fold cord that is not easily broken, according to Ecclesiastes. So, when we are doing these 3 things, we are releasing the 30, 60, and 100 fold blessings into our lives.

During this time, we are to be reading the Word, praying, fasting, and meditating. However, I've found that lot's of people don't really know how to properly meditate on the Word. So, I've decided to share some practical advice on meditating on Scripture.

How To Meditate On God's Word
The "2proapt" Method

PRAY - Ask God to speak to you.

PREVIEW - Read through the passage quickly for an overview.

READ - Read the passage a second time slowly and contemplatively.

OBSERVE - Go back and underline key words, circle words/phrases that are repeated, highlight the most meaningful verse to you from the passage.

APPLY - Choose one specific way to put into practice the truth you have discovered from the passage.

PRAY - Ask God for power and wisdom to follow through with your application that you've decided upon.

TELL - Share with at least one person what new insight, truth, or application you have made in response to God's Word to you.

I hope this is helpful for you in receiving a fresh word from God each time you read His Word and meditate on the scriptures. May God's Truths come alive in your daily walk with Him!

Fasting Quick Tips

Today is day 2 of the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting at Bridges of Hope Fellowship. Since the BIG snow last night, I've just spent the day with my family, read the Word, prayed, and drank lots of water and fruit juice.

I thought I'd take a few minutes tonight to give you a few Fasting Quick Tips that might be of some help to you during this 21 days. Some of these tips won't apply to those of you who are already in the fast, but most will.


How to Begin
Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.

Preparing Spiritually
Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4, 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).

Deciding What to Fast
The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.

Deciding How Long
You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.

What to Expect
When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus' example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God's face.

How to End
Don't overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

These tips are simply things I've learned over the years in my own fasts. I hope they can be of some help to you, both now and in your future fasts.

Join the Fasting Movement!

Dear Friend,
I am asking you to join me in a 21-day fast to seek and honor God in 2011. "I beseech you therefore; brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1). By participating in a corporate fast, we have found that God meets with us in very unique and special ways. His presence grows greater and greater with each day of the fast. Without fail, He always shows up!
Fasting is a principle that God intended for everyone to be able to enjoy. It's not a punishment; it's a privilege! By making fasting a way of life, you can get closer to God and grow in your spiritual walk like never before. Fasting is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us for our daily lives. Through fasting, you can experience a release from the bondage of sin ... restoration in your relationships ... financial blessings ... spiritual renewal ... supernatural healing and so much more!

Another reward of fasting has to do with your future. God has given you a vision, a divine dream for your life. When you fast, you open up the blessings and opportunities He has provided for you to pursue that dream. As you fast, pray for God's direction and guidance. Focus your faith on your dream and God will show you how you can turn your vision into a reality. Begin pursuing your divine dream today and make the rewards of fasting part of your lifestyle.

I want to encourage you to target your prayers during the fast. Two specific areas we will be focusing on together are increase, both physical and spiritual. When praying for increase, we are believing God for increase in spiritual maturity for our members, salvation for the lost, new families, increase in finances, wisdom, influence, and resources. Also, we ask that each individual seek God in prayer about one thing in your personal life to believe God for.

A great promise, from the book of Isaiah, proclaims that the chosen fast will "undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free." We are living in tough economic times and I know that so many people are under a financial burden. As we come together to fast and pray, I am believing that your burdens will be lifted and that financial blessings will be released into your life!

I'm so excited that you have decided to take the next step in your spiritual walk through the life-changing principal of fasting. Seek the Lord in prayer and let your decisions about your fast come from Him. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer. Start with a clear goal and make a commitment to stick to your fast. Be ready to grow in your walk like never before as you seek the Lord through the Biblical principles of prayer and fasting. Remember, "He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him!" (Hebrews 11:6)

Building bridges of HOPE,
Pastor D

Special Note:
I recommend that you always consult your physician prior to beginning any type of fast. If you are poor in health or have concerns about your physical ability to fast, we especially urge you to consult a physician before beginning your fast. There are different types of fasts recommended at www.GetHope.info Your doctor can provide advice on how you can participate on this First Fruits Fast in a way that is healthy for you.

Preparation is half the battle

Anytime you set out to do something of great significance, there has to be a time of preparation.

January 2011 holds several majors in my life and the lives of the people at Bridges of Hope Fellowship. Each January, we embark on a 21 Day Prayer & Fasting journey to draw closer to God and to experience the miracles of God in our lives. And each year, it's proved successful! However, it's really difficult if you don't prepare ahead of time. This year's journey begins this Sunday, January 9th. You can find resources that we and other churches are using at www.GetHope.info The neat thing is that churches all around the world are participating in this fast at the same time we are. So, we are not alone.

Some things that Natalie and I are doing to prepare.

1. Drink LOTS of water. Now, you may be like me and hate water. Try a little lemon juice in your water to keep it from tasting so bland. You'll get used to it. After all, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it. So, how much? Take your body's weight and divide that by 2. This will give you the total ounces of water you should be drinking each day. When you start the fast, you might add an additional 16 oz. for each meal missed. When you get to the Daniel portion of the fast, try to drink 16 oz. of water about 30 minutes before your meal and only drink 4-8 ozs. of water with your meal. Stay away from sodas and sugar loaded drinks.
2. Cut down your portions. When you eat, eat off of a saucer instead of a regular size plate. This will help you to eat only half of what you normally eat. It will begin preparing your body for the limiting and exclusion of food that is to come during the fast. When eating bread, eat a half of a roll or piece of bread instead of a full piece. Then pick off tiny bites instead of eating straight from the piece of bread. You'll find that you will eat less of it. We are taught to clean our plates in the good ole USA. However, you should eat slowly and in small bites so that you only eat until you get full, not to clean your plate.
3. Eat Dark Fruits. Keep in mind that the lighter fruits (i.e. bananas) are loaded with natural sugars. Try eating more of the dark fruits like blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc. This helps your body to not have to work so hard to break down all of those sugars in the fruit.
4. Have Quite Time. Even before the fast begins, it is good to start spending a few minutes of prayer, Bible reading, and meditation before or after each meal. This will help to get you in the habit of doing it NOW and it won't be so new to you when you begin the fast on Sunday.
5. Limit Entertainment. Start now to limit your entertainment, such as TV, internet, etc. Begin spending that time in prayer, reading, and meditation. It helps to gradually slow down from these things so that you don't have so much junk serving as a distraction from what the father wants to do in your life.

This is certainly not an exhaustive list, but it is a starting place. Try some of these tips and see if they help you to get a jumpstart on your fast. Remember, fasting & praying is NOT easy. If it was, more people would be doing it. It is literally denying the flesh of it's desires and pleasures so that the spirit man can be awakened to full capacity.

Also, on January 9th, we begin our r12 journey. Each Sunday for 6 weeks, I'll be preaching through Romans 12 to help us discover what true spirituality looks like. What's a Christian really supposed to look like? We'll discover that together. So, don't miss any of the services. If you have to miss for sickness, work, etc., please watch it LIVE online or get the CD or DVD of the service.

Then each Sunday night, you really NEED to be in a Life Group to get the full effects of this r12 journey. There are 4 Life Groups and you should sign up ASAP at the bulletin board in the hallway of the church. It starts at 6 p.m. each Sunday night. Get your whole family involved!

So, needless to say, you know where my mind is at for at least the next 6-7 weeks. LOL!!!

Join us in the 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, as well as the r12 journey and watch God do miracles in your life!