Do you struggle to be still in the midst of this chaotic life? I mean, life is busy, racing past a mile a minute and we have to keep up or get left behind. But God says Be Still and know that I am God. How do we learn to be still? Will you come with me on a journey, a 40 day fast, a journey to be still and know God more? This article will serve as the 40 day fast guide to help you get started.
Will you come with me on a journey, a 40 day fast, to be still and know God more? Get the 40 day fast guide free here! Click To TweetWhy Join a 40 Day Fast?
Today is a great day to Know God more. We are on the eve of Lent at the time of this writing.
Do you fast during Lent? Lent, the 40 day fast leading up to Easter, is a wonderful time to focus your heart on the resurrection of Christ. Having discovered How to Fast and Pray in a Way that Pleases God I was inspired to participate in a group fast years ago and quickly became a fan.
Fasting alone is amazing, but fasting corporately is something you can’t describe – only experience.
Before you ask, “Do you have to be Catholic to fast during Lent?”, I am a protestant. I believe that if you follow Jesus, adhere to the Bible, and walk as a disciple of Christ, your denomination does not matter.
“Then the disciples of John *came to Him, asking, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but Your disciples do not fast?” And Jesus said to them, “The attendants of the bridegroom cannot mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them, can they? But the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” (Matthew 9:14-15 NASB)
Jesus said we would fast. Anyone following Jesus can fast regardless of the time of year.
So whether it is nearing Easter or another time of the year altogether I would challenge you to try a time of fasting and see what God can do.
Is It Possible to Fast 40 Days?
As I write this I know how foreign the practice of fasting is in general so I know you have questions.
- What is the significance of a 40 day fast?
- Can you not eat for 40 days?
- Did Joshua fast 40 days?
- What are 40 days fasting prayer points?
- How to break a fast with prayer?
Moses, Joshua, Elijah, and Jesus are among those noted in the Bible who practiced a 40 day fast.
While fasting in Biblical times centered around giving up food, either all food or some foods, for a time, not all fasting did.
Caution: Fasting from all food and drink is risky for your health. Consult your doctor before beginning to make a wise plan based on your specific needs.
It may be possible for you to fast from certain foods for the next 40 days. You may also choose to fast each Friday from red meat, sweets, or social media. Whatever you choose to give up for the next 40 day fast I would love to support you!
Related: 27 Fasting and Prayer Scriptures for Spiritual Breakthrough
A 40 Day Fast Guide
When God called me to take my first 40 day fast I wish I had a guide. Through a lot of trial and error I found my way, but whew was it tough.
Since then it has been a joy to mentor hundreds of believers in their journey to spiritual breakthrough!
Want to go deeper? Check out A Beginners Guide to Fast and Pray: Taking Spiritual Warfare to the Next Level. This is a short read (about 1 hour) that will help answer all your questions.
Types of Fasting for Spiritual Breakthrough
There are many types of fasting for spiritual breakthrough. Many. The Daniel Fast is a wonderful example of being creative about what you give up to seek God for satisfaction!
I am writing this to serve as a 40 day fast guide. It will include Bible Verses to focus your time of fasting and fasting prayer points each day!
Related: How To Choose The Suitable Type of Fasting
What Will You Fast From?
Can I challenge you to fast a portion of time?
In this season, God is teaching me how to be still. Learning how to be still and know God begins with time.
Time is a commodity that shows your heart. Time is a fast that helps us begin fasting like Jesus. Jesus made time with God a high priority!
- How do you spend your time every day?
- Does God get any of your time?
- Is It the first of your time?
- Does God get the best of your time?
My best time is not my first time. I am not a morning person. Are you? Honestly, if someone dares to speak to me within my first hour awake they will regret it.
But God asks for my first fruits… the first of my time, talents, and resources.
Related: Adding Fasting and Prayer for Marriage Blessings
40 day spiritual fast testimonies
40 day fast Bible verses
Seek First The Kingdom of God
Do You give God the first bits of your time every day?
God is relationship-focused. Relationships only thrive if they are given our best. Our best attitude, our best time, our best intentions.
Do You give God the first bits of your time every day? God is relationship-focused. Relationships only thrive if they are given our best. Our best attitude, our best time, our best intentions. Click To Tweet
Do you give God the best of your time every day?
What is your best time? My best time is about noon. I’m awake, all the kids are fed, busy and cooperating, most of the housework is done and I can really get into whatever I am doing.
I don’t give that time to God, I work. If I am behind on chores I get caught up. If I have time I write or do other business-related things. When all of that is done I read a book, deep clean some area in the house, plan things…
God is far from my thoughts. I am far from being still. God does not get my best time any day – other than Sunday.
Related: The Top 10 Most Powerful Books on Prayer and Fasting
What Fasting Does Spiritually
Do you struggle with Anxiety? For me, it comes in waves, goes away for seasons then sneaks back in to wreck my world.
Unsuspecting. Unyielding. Undermining my best-laid plans.
Once I was diagnosed with an auto-immune disease, fatigue began to plague my everyday life. Anxiety follows it.
Fasting Fights Anxiety
Over the past few years, God has been narrowing my world, taking away one thing after another.
“Trust Me,” He whispers.
“Lean on My understanding,” He reminds.
“Cast your cares on Me,” He repeats.
“Be Anxious for nothing but in everything through prayer,” He emphasizes.
As this year plods on I have felt dry, disconnected, and fearful.
My quiet time has become a routine and I need to hear God’s voice. To hear God’s voice I dig into God’s Word
“He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”” (Psalm 46:10 NASB)
Fasting Feeds Your Soul
When I struggle with anxiety what I need is to be in God’s Word. For this 40 day fast, I will be digging into the word and sharing it devotional style here.
A 40 Day Fasting Bible Study.
These 40 posts will be different. Not long, Not really How-To style. Just 5 – 10 minutes’ worth of time with God.
Be sure to download the 40 day fast Bible Verses to help keep up with the study. The study will focus on the bible verses about being still and how to apply them to our daily lives.
How do you Fast Time?
I am fasting my time. The first 5 minutes of my day and then the best 5 minutes of my day. Will you join me?
- Set a reminder on your phone.
- Prepare for the scheduled time.
- Will you get up 5 minutes earlier?
- Maybe you can take your lunch to work so you can carve out 5 minutes mid-day.
- Plan what you will read in the Bible.
- Be ready for distractions and frustration during the designated time.
Will you join me for this 40-day fast? Drop a comment “I’m in” and I’ll be lifting you up in prayer throughout the series.
The FREE 40 Day Fast Guide with 40 Day Fast Bible Verses
Be sure to download your reading guide with all 40 day fast Bible Verses. Then keep up with the 40 day fast devotionals here.
Each day as the articles are written they will appear here to help you keep up with the reading.
This 40-day fast guide is broken up into 3 sections.
- Understanding the phrase “Be still and know”.
- How to obey, “Fear not.”
- Applying, “Fear not,” and “Be still,” by abiding in Christ.
Understanding the Phrase, “Be still and Know”
Understanding the phrase, “Be still and know God,” is really at the heart of any time of fasting. That is why we are focusing so much time on understanding the original language and seeing how to apply the passages to our lives today.
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How to obey, “Fear not”
Once we understand what it means to be still and know God, we can begin to feel the fear ease. However, it is still hard to obey the command, “Fear not.” In this section of our 40-day fasting guide, we will take several weeks to see how to let go of fear.
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Applying, “Fear not,” and “Be still,” by abiding in Christ
So far in our fasting, we have focused on being still with God. Next, we learned how to set aside our fear. Finally, we will begin looking at how to abide in Christ every day. Abiding in Christ is a lifelong endeavor but looking at each area will help us let God shine His light on areas He wants to help us grow.
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in HIM,
Tiffany of Hope Joy in Christ inspires Christian Women to grow in faith, live out Biblical Marriage Principles and raise Godly Children. Join the Wives Only Facebook Group here or keep up with her through Pinterest.
Day 40 –
If you enjoyed this you would also like these Posts:
- How to Become a Strong Prayer Warrior and Why
- Be a Biblical wife to an Ungodly Husband
- 5 Reasons God Calls His People in a Fast with Hope
Such an awesome idea! I committed to doing a daily quiet time quite a while ago. As you are not a morning person, this wouldn’t work for you, but I asked God to allow me to wake up at 4:30AM so I could do my quiet time, and the Holy Spirit has made it so that it has never been a struggle!! For you, it would have to be a different time, right? God bless you!
LOL yes, a different time for me Janene! I love that you are already doing that – it is a habit that makes a difference.
This a great way to walk through the Lenten season. I will be mindful to listen to His voice through this season and to lean into His faithfulness. Thank you.
So glad it blessed you Maryann. Praying you will join us and invite your friends 😉
These are great tips!
So glad it blessed you STeph. Praying over you now.
Knowing God more seems to be a theme for me today. Great post, Tiffany!
IKR!?!?! I see it everywhere right now. God is clearly speaking!
I was just discussing with my friends what we are going to do for this time of lent. We have decided to try to lean into God more.
I love that Rachel!
Confession: I haven’t decided what I’m fasting yet. I’m officially late! I’ve been thinking it through and we’ve cut out so much just as a part of our lifestyle, at this point I think fasting (for me) is more so what I am committing TO DO instead of what I’m committing to cut out. I’m still mulling it over.
I hear that Lo. I am fasting Time… which is harder than I thought it would be. Giving him 10 minutes in the morning and 10 minutes in the afternoon.
This is great inspiration to go through the Lent season, thank you!
So glad it blessed yoU Leigh.
Thank you, Tiffany for being real about your own struggles. I think we all have a habit of giving God our leftover time rather than our best time. I am a morning person, but often I am struggling to get to work on time. I really need to revisit the idea of getting up earlier, to give Him my best time. Thank you for this timely reminder as we head toward Easter. – Amy
http://stylingrannymama.com/
That is the truth… it’s hard to give Him my best. Praying this 40-day Fast will help reset that for us all.
Tiffany, I love that you said our first 5 minutes and our BEST five minutes, I’m being honest when sometimes I feel like I have given God my leftovers instead of my first fruits. Thank You for creating the awareness in my heart as I walk through this Lent season. My prayer in this Lent season is God would stir my heart with His Word and reveal those things which I need to learn to grow closer to Him.
Amen to that Prayer Sheila!
Such a great journey to go through during lent!
I am so excited about it Amber!
I did a social media fast for a couple of weeks at the end of last year and it was amazing how much more peace and calm I felt!
I agree! Taking time off of Social Media… even just one social media makes life much more peaceful.
I’m in.
Praying for you now Browynne.
I’m in for the fasting time and Be Still, even though I’m starting late.
Praying over you now Lynne. There is no “late” 😉 Today is a great day to choose to know God more!
I would have liked to join also, is it too late?
There’s no such thing as too late! Today is a great day to take a step closer to knowing God and Being Still with Him.
I’m in!
Praying over you this morning Teneisha.
I’m in!!!!
Praying over you this morning Latoya.
Hi Tiffany, thank you for your love and being real.I am in for the 40 day fast,I need breakthrough
Praying for you as you lean into God through this time of fasting, Lorrian!
I’m in
Praying over you now sarah!
I too also suffer with not giving God that dedicated time, church on Sunday, a season of change, then a whirlwind of chaos. I will also dedicated 40 days of God’s time fast.
Praying over you now Kantrella!
Just wondering if you are doing this 40 day fast again this year.
Yes. I am starting Wednesday 2/17 and can’t wait to see what God will do!
I’m in…..thanks for you help
Standing in prayer with you today, Elsie.