Personal Prayer & Fasting

Hello my friends, I believe our prayer and fasting time are the most intimate aspect of our relationship with God, because it is where we are attacked the hardest. Remember, when our Lord was in the Garden of Gethsemane, he sweat like great drops of blood. Our Lord gives a model prayer to follow and using that outline, we must develop our own style of communication with the Creator. Prior to retirement, I had shorter, more frequent discussions with the Lord, but now have time for longer sessions. Below is my approach to prayer. Of utmost importance is this link where I provide my understanding of how a soul is born again because Jesus said, unless this happens, you cannot enter the Kingdom of God: The 3Rs

Prayer Guidance

As previously mentioned, my prayer sessions last for about an hour.  All during the prayer session, I experience pressure in the chest, intermittent dizziness, burning sensation in the hands and feet and the wind of the Holy Spirit blows on my hands and face. More recently, I feel things crawling on my feet and head, popping sounds on the window as well as movement of the window blinds. Now, I believed everything in the Bible long before this experience begin. Given how close we are to the Lord’s return, the spirit and physical world’s interaction is increasing. Mostly, I pray out loud, in a seated position, with my palms facing up, and my eyes closed. I am unsure if this posture is for everyone but closing my eyes seems to help me concentrate better. I typically follow this prayer structure:

  • Opening is speaking to the Father, the Lord and the Holy Spirit. Thanking them for bringing creation into being and sharing their existence with each of us.  I do not follow a specific formula but sometimes quote scripture to the Lord. I tell God how great he is and how thankful I am for our Lord’s sacrifice. I have a sense of thankfulness for the anointing and prophecies. I try to maintain a position of humility and understand that no one could ever earn or deserve this experience.  It is simply a gift from God. This should be our attitude regardless of the type of gift we are receiving, because Paul says in Corinthians, covet the best gifts and I will show you a more excellent way.

  • Use this part of your session to focus more on yourself. Be open and honest in your feelings toward the Lord. I get frustrated sometime with the Lord for not moving fast enough or a particular way. Remember the book of Job. However, I would not use profane language when talking to the Lord. If you need additional strength to get through your prayer session, this includes maintaining your focus, ask for it. If you need additional strength to overcome a particular sin or just the feeling of weakness, ask for it. This might be a feeling of physical or mental weakness. Sometimes, we must ask the Holy Spirit to help us fast to overcome some challenges. If you are convinced God has revealed something to you in a dream or vision, ask the Lord to bring this to fruition. Also, if you want a specific thing from the Lord ask for it, but I always ask the Lord only to grant it if it is his will. Before you begin to pray for others, ask the Lord to give you more compassion and patience for them. Do not shy away from praying for those who have rubbed you the wrong way.

  • The first group of people are my current and prior wife’s side of the family.  I try to expand this to adults I know through them. If you are aware of a specific sin a family member is struggling with, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal this to them. You can only pray according to the knowledge you believe to be true about a person.  As you pray for anyone, your ultimate desire is that person would make it to glory. I am always asking the Lord if he has a specific word for a person.

  • The next group of people is my family.  I have 16 siblings and a large number of nieces and nephews.  Again, you are praying according to your knowledge of where your siblings are in their spiritual walk.  Also, if you have a specific request, then cover that.

  • The next group is for your adult age children and people you have met through your kids.  I recall on one occasion as I was driving to work, the Lord told me to go and pray over my step son’s friend who was in the hospital fighting for his life.  The doctors could not find out what was wrong and his body was not responding to medicine.  I remember after praying for this person, he said the scariest thing about dying is not knowing what happens afterward.  Thank God, that he recuperated because he was not ready to meet his maker.

  • The next group is for your grandchildren, extended family member grandchildren and other small children you know. This could be close friends or just people in your neighborhood. If you can, try and get to know your neighbors. Some little ones are not at the age of accountability, so you are just praying that the Holy Spirit will reveal himself to them at the appropriate time.

  • The next group is the church. I am praying to have the Holy Spirit convict the pastors and teachers to proclaim the entire council of God. Based on what I am hearing from the pulpit and students I have interacted with, a watered down message of salvation is being given. For whatever reason, I am not hearing the full cost the soul must pay to enter in. Also, I am asking the Holy Spirit to give our church more discernment because we are in the final hour. Next, I cover the specific request from the individuals who have come up for prayer after the service.

  • The next group is my street witnessing list.  Because the world is ready for the harvest, I am asking the Holy Spirit to increase the boldness of the church and send more individuals out to witness in public. Then I cover the individuals I have met through my campus ministry and when I am just out in public. Most of the time, I wear a John 3:16 shirt when out in public.

  • I finish the session by thanking the Holy Spirit for helping me get through another session and the specific gifts given to me from the Lord. My typical one hour prayer schedule is Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Finally, always ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your understanding of the Bible and correct anything you might have said in error.

Fasting Guidance

These words came directly from the Lord during the time I was miraculously healed from my herniated disc.  I remember these words came in about five minutes total. Obviously, these words were for me so you should always seek the Lord before going into a fast. I included the heading but the 24 hour period was given by the Lord.

Length: 12:00 noon or whenever you start for 24 Hours

Before starting have a reasonably balanced meal but don’t over eat as you want to be in need prior to finishing fast.  Pray when starting and every 3 hours. The subject or length will be given to you by Holy Spirit.  Every 3 hours have water or little juice if you feel physically unable to continue but pray before taking juice to have Holy Spirit strengthen.  Continue fast until you retire for bed. 

During Fast Day:  Focus

Try not to allow your thoughts to wander too much and monitor daily activities etc. the programs you watch on TV and music you listen to during fast, if you feel they’re not consistent with your daily objective, stop!.  Do normal things and don’t appear to fast to anyone around you and only tell if asked.

Breaking Fast:  Communion

Regardless of where you are, break the fast by observing communion.  If you are an unbeliever receive Christ as your Lord and Savior before observing communion.  If you don’t know how to be saved or have never observed communion have someone spiritual lead you.  Pray that Holy Spirit will humble you and don’t appear religious or hypocritical.