How to Fast and Pray

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Are you looking for a good book to read? Do you want to learn how to fast and pray?

If so, I have a recommendation that will be perfect for you.

I have wanted to share book reviews on this site for over a year now.  There was only one problem.  I’ve been so busy that I haven’t read any books to completion in the past several years.

That’s changing!  This year I have committed to reading two books a month (completely).  I don’t yet have a book list in mind, but another Christian blogger wrote a book that was recently released. 

This book is about a topic I am passionate about.  Prayer. 

Not only is it about prayer, but it also includes information on fasting alongside prayer.  What an important topic!

When my blogging friend announced that this book was about to be released, I knew that it would be the first book on my list for the year.  And, the first book to be reviewed on Gift of Simple.

A Beginner’s Guide to Fast and Pray

A Beginner’s Guide to Fast and Pray was written by Tiffany Montgomery. She blogs at HopeJoyinChrist.com.  She offered a great course on marriage some time ago which I participated in.  I’ve been following her blog ever since.

Have you ever fasted?

I don’t know about you, but I have spent time in fasting and prayer.  I always wondered if I was doing it right.  Do you know what I mean?

One of the churches I went to in the past did a churchwide fast each January.  There were several hundred people there.  Members of the church fasted from various things.  Some shared what they were fasting from and some did not.  Oftentimes it was food, or things, or time spent on interests.

Each year, it seemed that there were always some who received big breakthroughs, in different manners, during that month.

Each year, although our Pastor preached on the topic, prior to the month-long fast, I wondered if I was doing it right.  Was I missing something?

I really wanted to read Tiffany’s book and learn more about Biblical fasting.

A Beginner’s Guide to Fast and Pray did not disappoint.  It was an excellent read.  Not only did it provide great information for someone who wants to understand what fasting is.  It also provided information on what fasting is not intended to be. 

For example, if you want to lose 50 pounds, then fasting from certain foods may not be a good fast for you.  Why?  Well, because it could easily become more about the diet, than it is about God.

Taking Spiritual Warfare to the Next Level

Tiffany properly subtitles the book, Taking Spiritual Warfare to the Next Level.  She explains why fasting and prayer can, and should be, a part of our life. 

Furthermore, she describes why we are in warfare.  She says that when life is “hard, impossible, or unchanging, instead of giving up or giving in we need to cry out to God.”

We must be warriors as we combat the evils of this world, not only for ourselves, but for our family and friends.  The most powerful action we can take is to talk consistently with the Lord in prayer. 

How to Pray and Fast

I love how Tiffany describes fasting alongside prayer for those big requests.  Those things for which we have absolutely no control.  Only by God’s power can the answer be given. 

When it seems like the answer we are searching for won’t come through Bible Study or prayer alone.  Perhaps you would wish to consider fasting as well.

One example could be the salvation of a child.  I know of a woman who has fasted from food on Mondays for years as she prayed for the salvation for one of her children.  I’d known this woman for a very long time, but I didn’t know about this fasting for years.

Even then, I think she only mentioned it in passing, as she thought I already knew.  She certainly wasn’t bragging about it.  The salvation of her child was of paramount importance and she knew that it was something only the Lord could do.  She cared about it so deeply, that fasting for this grown child’s salvation was the action she choose to take, each and every Monday.

Certainly, she is a prayer warrior.  She is a warrior who includes fasting as a part of her relationship with God.

Is Fasting Outdated?

Do you think fasting is outdated?  A Beginner’s Guide to Fast and Pray addresses that topic and leads us to an understanding that God still calls His people to fast.  Tiffany shares several examples in the book about why God may lead us to fast.  She provides Biblical references for each example shared.

In order to make the concept easier for us to understand, Tiffany shares her first attempt at fasting with the readers.  It is so helpful to see a real-life experience.

I’m not saying that she says it was a good one.  You’ll need to read the book to find that out for yourself.  But it was wonderful to read exactly what someone else’s experience was.  Detail-oriented people will appreciate this as much as I did.

Effective Prayer Time

Having an effective prayer time is an important part of each believer’s life.  But, we often get discouraged and disheartened.  It is so hard, somedays, to not be distracted.  We simply add prayer to our list of things to do and just check it off,  We fail to really put our heart into our prayer time.

I am a Prayer Journal type of girl, but sometimes I need to take a break from the big journal and I skinny down to my Daily Prayer Journal.  It’s really just one sheet. I’d love for you to subscribe to our email list and get the free printable by signing up in the box below.

Is the Lord Leading you to Fast?

When prayer alone doesn’t seem to be enough, perhaps the Lord is desiring some additional time from you.  Perhaps He is leading you to fast. 

Encouragement

If so, A Beginners Guide to Fast and Pray will be such an encouragement for you.  Throughout the pages you will see, through Scriptural examples, some things that fasting is not about.  It’s important for us to understand that. Then we are ready to move on to understanding what fasting is about.

If you want to know how to fast and pray for a breakthrough then you will truly appreciate the chapter on “How to Fast and Pray in a Way that Pleases God.”  Although there may not be any hard rules on how to fast, the Bible does give us guidance.  This chapter in the book is an excellent resource for pleasing God in your fasting.

Preparing for a Fast

Tiffany doesn’t leave us hanging there though, she provides guidance on preparing for a fast.  Depending on what you will be fasting from, this information may prove very helpful.

I love how this book provided very practical tips.  If you are planning to fast from food or social media, she has some helpful ideas for you.

If you are planning to fast about issues in your marriage, for your family, your ministry, she has helpful tips for you as well.

How to Become a Strong Prayer Warrior

The chapter entitled “How to become a Strong Prayer Warrior for Life” is one of my favorites. 

It is a powerful chapter with so much great information and encouragement for growing our prayer life.

Q & A’s

The back of the book has a lot of Questions and Answers that may typically be asked about fasting.

I have read other books on fasting.  They were deep and super lengthy.  Truthfully, some of them were hard to follow from beginning to end.  This book is not one of those.

Summary

A Beginner’s Guide to Fast and Pray is easy to read as it flows very nicely. It provides great Biblically supported guidance for a first-time faster. Additionally, it is a good reference for someone who has fasted before, but weren’t sure they were doing it right.  I’m not saying there are rules for a right way, but there are definitely some wrong ways to do a fast.

This book makes fasting clear.  The purpose and the how to.  It’s a helpful guide that closes with a call to action for those who wish to have a closer walk with the Lord.

I am so glad that this was my first book of the year. I’ll be referring back to it throughout the year.

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