Hours of Fast

Hours of fast
How the fast works
Time zone issues
Fasting and your health

Hours of Fast

We have set aside Thursday for our united day of fasting and prayer for Dwight. The exact starting and ending times are up to each individual participate. Here are a few suggestions:

36-Hour Fast — This is fast that many of us pursue. Generally speaking, your last meal (before fast begins) is Wednesday evening, and you resume eating on Friday morning. It probably won't be exactly 36 hours for most of us.

If you finished dinner at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday evening, 36 hours later would be 7:00 a.m. Friday morning. Don't worry about counting hours. It is the basic concept of not eating anything on Thursday. Personally, I usually eat a very late lunch, or a very early dinner, so that I am transitioning into fasting prior to bedtime.

24-Hour Fast — the concept is that you do not eat anything after sunset on Wednesday evening. You resume eating after sunset on Thursday evening.

The 24-hour fast might be appropriate for first-time fasters that are apprehensive about "going all day" without eating. Or, it might be a choice for those with certain health concerns.

Partial or Alternative Fast — If your health prevents you from fasting, perhaps you can skip a meal or two, or skip other activities (read about fasting alternatives).

Remember, the key is that we want to declare our dependence on God, and generate extra time to spend in prayer for Dwight.

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How the Fast Works

There are no real rules to follow during a day of prayer and fasting, other than we pray, and don't eat!

We want to pray as much as possible. For some of you, this will not be a problem. For others, it may be more challenging. Don't worry. Simply begin praying by asking God to help you communicate with Him throughout the fast. Ask that the Holy Spirit would give you the words to speak to God.

If there are times you feel as if you should be praying, but don't know what to say, stop. Meditate on Jesus. The sacrifice He made for us all. Think about Dwight. Think about his family. Listen for a prodding from the Holy Spirit. While your waiting, read your Bible.

We will all be going about this a bit differently. That's OK. However, to unite us, there will be posts made to this website at intervals throughout the day:

    Wednesday evening (eve of fasting)
    Breakfast
    Lunch
    Dinner
    Evening
    Friday Morning (fast ends)

The intent being that we are coming together, at least virtually, to lift Dwight up to God for healing.

You are invited to comment on these posts. Your comments do not have to be directly related to the post. Just share your thoughts and experiences with the rest of us. Share a scripture that is speaking to you. If you have something more than a short comment, email it to me, and I will post it as an article.

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Time Zone Issues

Devotionals will be posted that are intended to be read at specific times throughout our fasting experience. For example there will be an "Eve of Fasting" post on Wednesday night that is intended to be an after-dinner article. However, "after dinner" in Washington state might be "bed time" time in New York.

After careful consideration, the articles that are intended for specific times will be somewhat targeted to the Pacific Time Zone. That is where Dwight lives, and this is for him.

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Important Note About Fasting and Your Health

It is recommended 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.

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