Fasting is the practice or the holy art of deliberately and voluntarily abstaining from the usual nourishment for the purpose of adding power to our prayer. Prayer teacher Dick mills once said, 

“Anyone can pray to be sure, but few pray with power. So what is it that changes ordinary prayer into powerful praying?” He concludes that the answer must surely be fasting.

ABOUT FASTING & PRAYER

To get the best out of this period of fasting and prayer, I suggest that we do not only fast from food but also from TV, phones, social media, posting of memes, GIF etc, or devices which occupy our time. Spend as much time as possible praying, meditating on God's Word (have your Bible at hand) and listen to hear his voice.

"Here is the secret of a life in prayer. Take time in the in-ner chamber to bow down and worship; and wait on Him until He unvails Himself, and take possession of you, and goes out with you to show how a man can live and walk in abiding fellowship with an unseen God." (Andrew Murray)

Let us remember our church’s vision in relation to prayer and let its fruition be our fervent aim and determination:
“The church I see is a house of prayer for people of all ethnicities, cultures, religious and social backgrounds united as one in Christ.”
(from the NTAT Vision Statement, 2018)

“My eyes will watch over them for their good, and I will bring them back to this land. I will build them up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot them. I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart”. Jeremiah 24:6-7

SOME FACTS ABOUT FASTING

• and brings us to that needful place of brokenness in spirit in readiness for God to work through us. Ref. Psalm 69:10
•  By afflicting the soul in this way we are putting our body in its place, i.e. in subjection to our spirit man from where the Holy Spirit governs our lives. Ref. Leviticus 16:29, 1 Corinthians 9:27
• Fasting gives victory over temptation. Jesus fasted for forty days and was tempted by the devil. Satan was no match to our Lord. Ref. Matthew 4:2
• Fasting is an act of worship that increases our spiritual antenna. It can be scientifically proven that by denying ourselves food and depriving our sense of taste in effect increases our spiritual receptivity. Ref. Acts 13:2-3
• The power of God is activated when we pray. More power is released when we fast and pray. Some victories will only come by praying and fasting. Ref. Mark 9:29

MORE TIPS...

1. In the early stage of your fast it is common to experience unpleasant physi-cal symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, nausea etc. Do not allow these discomforts to deter you. Persevere!
2. Remember that hunger is partly a habit. Hold out. The sensation of hunger will soon pass without you eating.
3. Avoid strenuous work and heavy lifting as this can cause dizziness.
4. It is wise to give up tea and coffee a few days before the start of the fast to get over caffeine withdrawal and headaches. (It is wise not to immediately return to tea and coffee).
5. Avoid constipation. Before and after fast, choose meals like fresh fruits, fruit juices, and dried figs. Prunes, apri-cot, oatmeal etc.
6. It is scriptural to abstain from fluids and solids (dry fast). Do not abstain from fluid for more than 72 hours.
7. Break your fast gradually. Drink tepid water and eat light food that is easily digested. The longer you have fasted, the greater care must to be taken. Exercise self-control. Remember that after two days of fasting, your stomach will shrink so do not expand it suddenly.