Hey , welcome to Doing Life with Ken and Tabitha . We are so pumped that you're tuning into this podcast . It has been designed for people just like you . We wanna do life with you , share our wins , our defeats , our ups and our downs , in hopes that you'll grow closer to God and to the people that you love in your life . Sit back and enjoy today's podcast . Your fasting is when you build up your spirit . You're increasing your faith to believe for the healing .
Speaker 2You .
Speaker 1When you build up your spirit , you're increasing your faith to believe for the healing . You know what I'm saying . It's not like you did this and it qualified for something . It's just like that discipline actually positioned and postured you in a way to receive what God has already done through the cross . Hello , what's up ? Family ? Hey everyone , happy New Year . Come on , somebody . We have made it this far by faith . Come on , can I get something on the ? I don't know , give me some horns or something . 2025 . We are here , everybody . Come on , would you in the comments very quickly , if you were tuning in on YouTube or some kind of Social media , just tell us what do you believe in God for this year ? We want to be able to stand in faith with you . I feel like I should get a New Year's kiss .
Speaker 2Okay , thank you , that was just to be able to stand in faith with you .
Speaker 1And , man , I should get a New Year's kiss . Okay , that was just for you . You like that ? Huh , like that ? Hey , hey , everybody , man , we're pumped to be with you guys . I'm Ken . This is Tabitha . We've been married for 25 years . It's been the best 23 years of our lives . The first two years was horrible , but we learned a lot of what not to do .
Speaker 1So we are experts in what not to do and we are okay in what to do and we want to share the highs and lows that we've had relationally with you to help you avoid great sex and to diversify money and to love God and all that stuff .
Speaker 2But , sweetheart , but that's why we are here .
Speaker 1That is it .
Speaker 2Because you can learn from our mistakes , right ? Anyway , if you're new to this podcast , we want to say welcome . We're so glad you're here . We are praying for you . We are , and we think you're going to be blessed by this one , yeah .
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Speaker 1You know it has been our tradition for probably the majority of the last 20 plus years to begin our year with a season of fasting and praying . We call it 21 days of prayer and fasting , and so we just thought that we could just pay it forward to people . I know that some of the people that are watching they're new to fasting . Some of them are fasting experts but I just felt like we could create a conversation to kind of give some hacks and tricks to the trade and even inspire some people that have never fasted before , to put God first this year . What does this season mean to you ? The season of praying and fasting ? We're going to talk about prayer and fasting , made simple , but just overall . What does this mean to you ? Why do we do this ?
Speaker 2I think we fast and pray , you know , to draw closer to God . I think you know , for me , I am a very strong-willed person . I can be a stubborn person . You know I kind of have a lot of opinions , strong personality . I'm kind of all in or all out . You know what I mean and I find that whenever I fast and pray I try to make that a part of my lifestyle because it kind of breaks that strong will that I have .
Speaker 1Okay .
Speaker 2It kind of breaks that this is my way and my opinion and what I want to do , and allows me to lay that aside so that I can say , god , what is your way , what is your opinion , what do you want me to do ?
Speaker 1So good .
Speaker 2And the most intimate times that I have in my life with between me and God , are the times that I'm fasting .
Speaker 1OK .
Speaker 2And I set aside or I've consecrated a certain amount of time to just fast and pray .
Speaker 1So this is not like like we begin our year with 21 days of prayer and fasting , like we begin our year with 21 days of prayer and fasting and for our audience , if they want to join in with us , they can . We were actually started on this upcoming Monday , so coming through Sunday . So from now through Sunday you can do everything you can to kind of prepare what kind of fast you want to do , set up some meal prep , let people around you know we're going to give you some of the parameters so that you can have success and even how to end the fast we need to talk about that today , because sometimes you can just end the fast wrong and fall off the cliff , yeah , and so we're going to talk about that today .
Speaker 1But what , um , if you want to join in with us ? Starting on Monday , for 21 days , we're going to be in a season , and I will call it a season of seeking . It's a season where we limit distractions and our focus is on god , where we say no to things that we would enjoy to say yes to more of his presence .
Speaker 1Um , for me , um , fasting and praying is not just a 21 day thing . You should do it as a lifestyle , as the holy spirit prompts . Now , as a church and an Online audience , we want to lead people through . I just believe that how you start your year spiritually like this will be your best year ever . If it's your best year spiritually . If this is not your best year spiritually , it will not be your best year ever . So what do we have to do to make sure that we are sensitive to God spiritually , ready to obey his word ? I think fasting is just the perfect way to start off in a year . I really do .
Speaker 2Yeah , I think it's entering in with Thanksgiving . You know , like how the Bible says enter into his gates with Thanksgiving , into his courts with praise . It's kind of like this new year . God , I recognize you know , I want to recognize you in it , and as I'm goal setting , as I'm preparing for this year , I have goals in my business , with my family , in my marriage , personally , with my weight . I have all of these goals but , god , I want to put you first in it , and so I'm going to set aside a certain amount of time right now .
Speaker 2I'm going to set aside some food right now so that I can hear your voice , so that I can respond to your prompting .
Speaker 1Okay . So what is fasting to you ? How would you define it ? How would you explain ?
Speaker 2it . I think it is a spiritual transaction because there's fasting , which is you can fast , you can do intermittent fasting so that you can lose weight , you can fast for your health , things like that . But we're talking about a spiritual type of fast where it's fasting and praying .
Speaker 1Okay .
Speaker 2Okay , because we should pray all the time , right , so we're fasting and praying . We're not just fasting to go on a diet or just with staying from food to say , okay , god , if I don't eat anything , I know you're going to bless me food . To say , okay , god , if I don't eat anything , I know you're going to bless me , that's not what it is . Fasting is about preparing ourselves to be able to commune with God and hear from God .
Speaker 2Okay , and so I think for me fasting is it's spiritual , it's setting aside food and praying and seeking God .
Speaker 1Okay , is there other things that we can fast from , like media TV technology ? Would you consider that a fast ?
Speaker 2I think it is . You know generally , I think you know technically , you know fasting is fasting from food . But I think you know , whenever I do do a fast like we're going into this time , this is 21 days that I am going to set away . Also , I might not be on social media . I might not watch certain TV shows or TV at all . I might only read the Bible . I might fast from whatever it is that I feel would be taking my attention away from God . So we set the food aside , you know , because it's kind of there's a physical thing that happens there , but there's also like that , you know , for me , I come home , I'm preparing this food and doing all this stuff . It's just like , okay , let me take half the time , eat a little bit of this that I've prepared , so that I can spend the rest of that time , you know , focusing on God . So whatever would pull your attention , attention , away from God , okay , you might want to lay that aside . It might be video games , it might be watching , you know , youtube clips or whatever .
Speaker 1Okay , so technically , fasting in the Bible is about setting aside food , but you can also add other disciplines . Media , fast , you know , fast from toxic people , I think , fasting my God . How are you going to fast and still be involved in sin ? It might be a good idea to put alcohol on the side . It might be a good idea to stop cigarettes on the side . You know things like that . If you can do it , you know this is a great time to step up and say I'm going to give all of my attention to Jesus in this moment .
Speaker 2Yeah , you don't want to make it this natural thing . It is a supernatural thing that we're engaging in here right . As believers , you know . And so what ? What the ? I think what we don't want to do is say well , I'm just going to go on a fast with my church , with Ken and Tabitha . You know , we're going to go on a fast and you , just you don't eat certain food , you withhold food for 21 days , but you still do the same thing day in and day out . Right , you don't renew your mind .
Speaker 1You don't renew your behaviors , you don't let anything go . So to me , the 21 days is about letting go of certain things and picking up right things , and I think sometimes we focus on the food , but the focus should be on intimacy with Jesus . It should be . The focus should be on his word , the focus should be on his presence , the focus should be on spiritual things , and it reminds me of the scripture that says if you walk in the spirit , you won't fulfill the lust of the flesh . And the way you stop walking in the flesh is not by saying no , I don't want to do this and I don't want to do that in the flesh . It's by building up your spirit , and the more you're built up in the spirit , you won't want to do the things you used to do before . I feel like this is a season where we can put some things on the altar .
Speaker 1And then there's some things that we can kind of gradually put back in our life , and so I think you're like the fasting queen .
Speaker 2I think you're the fasting queen .
Speaker 1You say that , but I'm really not Fasting queen , wasn't a song about that , the fasting queen ? But yeah , I see you fast a lot . I see you fast a lot . Three day fast , that's my favorite Week fast . Yeah , you're on the fast right now .
Speaker 2Yeah week fast .
Speaker 1Yeah , you're on the fast right now , yeah , why , why ?
Speaker 2um , I think I've seen the benefits of it . So I started off fasting for spiritual reasons . Like you know , we would do fast 21 day fast at the beginning of the year with our church and , uh , maybe at the beginning in the middle of the year we do another fast , just to kind of reset and things like that . But what I found is that while I was fasting , I had this number one growth with God . He either answered a question that I had , he either showed up in a big way . There have been times when I fasted because I had a diagnosis , a health diagnosis . I fasted for 10 days , a short season , and then I went back to the doctor and they took the diagnosis away . It was , you know , it was gone . So I I received healing and fasting .
Speaker 1I was going to say they didn't take the diagnosis away . You got healed . Yeah , I got healed .
Speaker 2You know like they said well , I'm sorry , you know . I'm like , oh yeah , but so I ? What I found is that , number one , I grow , I see miracles happen . But I think the thing that I love the most about fasting is that intimacy with God . I feel like there's literally there's a breaking that happens whenever I fast , because I feel like it's funny , because my favorite fast is a three-day fast .
Speaker 2We might talk about like different types of fasts that you can do , but my favorite kind of fast is a three-day fast where I just do water . I do water , I'll do tea , maybe coffee . I allow myself a cup of coffee in the morning , but I'll do a fast . But it's like in the middle of day two . There is a kind of breaking that happens on the inside of me . The last time I did it , I remember being in traffic , the inside of me . The last time I did it , I remember being in traffic riding home . Right , I was by myself in the car and I was just sitting there and usually when I'm a little like edgy on the road , I had such compassion toward the other drivers and I remember sitting there thinking I was so much less fleshy on edge like ready to come back .
Speaker 2I was just totally at peace and I was just like , oh my gosh , this fast is really good for me . But anyway , that's just an example of there are things that happen while I'm in the fasted state that really just make me want to do it all the time . Of course I can't do that kind of thing all the time , but I thoroughly enjoy it .
I'm Googling right now what does the Bible say about the flesh , because I feel like this could almost be about how you crucify your flesh , because that's what a fast is to me . The fast to me is about Me disciplining my flesh to be more spiritually sensitive to the voice of God , the presence of God and the things of God , and we can go through the Bible a little bit and we can talk about the benefits of fasting , but I don't , I wouldn't encourage people just to fast for just the benefits .
Speaker 2I'm fasting .
Speaker 1now there are some times you can fast and what you're doing like you said you fasted and got healed where you're fasting is and what you're doing like you said , you fasted and got healed where you're fasting is when you build up your spirit , you're increasing your faith to believe for the healing .
Speaker 1You know what I'm saying . It's not like you did this and it qualified for something . It's just like that discipline actually positioned and postured you in a way to receive what God has already done through the cross the full manifestation of it . That's how I would look at that . But I'm reading a few scriptures here . It says um Romans 6 , 19, . The flesh is a slave to impurity and lasciviousness . Romans 7 , 25, . The flesh serves the law of sin . Galatians 5 , 24, . The flesh has passions and desires . Um Galatians 6 , 8, .
Speaker 1This isn't like this is like an AI interpretation of what it says . Let me look at this . I go to openbibleinfo . Oh , here's one those who are in the flesh cannot please God . Romans eight , eight . Romans eight , six . For to set the mind on the flesh is death , but to set the mind on the spirit is life and peace . Galatians five , 16 . But I say walk by the spirit and you won't gratify the lust of the flesh . I mean , people can Google this , but I think sometimes we got flesh gone wild . We just just do whatever , smoke , whatever , drink , whatever , hang out , whatever , listen to whatever . Oh , it's just flesh gone wild . And then we want to know why we don't have the supernatural move of the spirit or miracles happening in our life , or we hear the still small voice of God your flesh is too strong and your spirit is a baby . What you want to do is have a grown man spirit and a little baby flesh , but many people have it opposite . So you can jump in right here .
Speaker 2Yeah , I think you know , when I think about the Bible and I see , like , the reasons why people fast , do you remember Esther ? She fasted before she went and approached the King . You know like she fasted from food . So she was fasting because she needed wisdom , she needed the favor of God , she needed like , okay , I need to hear from you . I'm here , God , Tell me what to do . There was Daniel fasted . Daniel fasted in mourning and I think you can fast also out of reverence . The children of Israel , I think after they crossed the Red Sea , God told there was a point maybe it was when they made the bitter water sweet , but anyway , there was a point where God told Moses mark this day , fast and pray . It was in reverence of what God had done for them , in respect and honor . So I think that , again , fasting you can do it for different reasons . Again , fasting you can do it for different reasons , Just knowing that this is a spiritual transaction . It's something where I am laying down my own desires and my will to pick up God .
Speaker 1It's like I love chicken , but I'm going to put it down because I love .
Speaker 2Jesus more . Why do you have to bring up chicken ?
Speaker 1Because I love chicken , I love pancakes , but I'm going to set it down . So there are certain things that I'm saying no to so that I can say yes to the things that are priority in my life .
Speaker 2You know , I find it very interesting , because when you think it , some things are just a mystery . You know what I mean . Like , god is so amazing , and it's like how do you do these things ? How do miracle signs and wonders work ? We don't know , but we just know that they . You know they happen . But when it comes to fasting so there's a lot .
Speaker 2Now , fasting is a big thing . You have intermittent fasting , people fasting for healing and things like that . It's pretty miraculous , though , because God created our bodies . He created our bodies to heal all of that stuff . But anyway , what we find now like to the whole intermittent fasting phase is that , like , once you hit maybe and I don't have this exactly right , but 16 , after not eating for 16 hours , so you first eat a meal , your body goes to work .
Speaker 2Your whole body is working to digest this meal and do what it needs to do . Well , that's a lot of work for your body , but after you don't eat for so long now , your body begins to do other things . It begins a process of healing . So at 16 hours , your body begins a healing process . In fact , when you go to sleep at night , you go to sleep now your liver's doing something , your kidneys are doing something Every night , like clockwork . This is what starts happening . But if you eat , you interrupt that cycle , right ? So let's say 16 hours healing starts happening in one part of your body , 17 hours another part , 18 hours another part , and so the further you go away from that window where you ate , your body is healing . It begins to heal , it begins to detox , it gets rid of all of this stuff .
Speaker 2So you're talking about the natural benefits of fasting , which God created and made our body to do . That , If we take naturally what happens in our body , what God has created to do , and you compare that to the spirit realm and what happens to our soul , what happens to our spirit as in we are detoxifying our soul from all of those things that we're putting in that we don't need , that we begin to heal our soul with the word of God . So I think we see it mirrored even in the natural when we talk about fasting . You see that mirrored in the spirit realm , in our soul . What happens ? So there's great things that happen when we fast .
Speaker 1That's a great point . Yeah , so it's like God has fasting to heal us naturally , yes , and then God has fat , so we detox our bodies , but then we also detox our soul .
Speaker 2Yeah , why don't we fast more then ? I think it's hard to do , you know it's hard to do .
Speaker 1For somebody who's just starting out . What would be your advice to them ? Because it is hard . It's even hard for people to stop watching TV or stop playing video games . It's just like their flesh is like to stop drinking coffee . Somebody would rather take a bullet than stop drinking Starbucks . It's crazy . You would be amazed of the strongholds that we have and when we say no to the flesh so we can build our spirit . That flesh is like no , I gotta have that . And so what would be your advice to somebody who's just trying to start ?
Speaker 2I would say start small . I would say , the first time I went on a fast I did it with a church and it gave me community and I was excited about it . Other people were doing it and so it kind of made it a little more easy for me to do as well . But yeah , just start off small . And I think you know yourself so when you say small , like just fast from breakfast or just fast from lunch or just take a food out and start off small .
Speaker 1OK , that's the fasting side . Then the prayer side is going to be huge . Increase your time in prayer . Maybe take 30 minutes to be with God in the first of the day . 60 minutes to be with God whatever you've done . Maybe double it and say I'm going to spend extra quality time , I'm going to replace food with more of his word and more of his presence . Okay , I want to look at a couple of scriptures here to talk about fasting .
Speaker 1Matthew 6 and 16 , it says go out . It says , moreover , when you fast , don't be like the hypocrites with a sad countenance , for they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting . Or surely I say to you , they have their reward . But you , when you fast , anoint your head and wash your face so that you don't appear to men to be fasting , but to your father , who is in secret place , and your father , who's in season secret , will reward you openly . What sticks out to you from that ?
Speaker 2Um , you know , I just feel like Jesus is talking to you . Know the person . Uh , I think he's very , and to me it clarifies one of the reasons why you should not fast . You know you're not fasting to say look at me , everyone , I'm fasting . You're not fasting to get any of attention or to seem holy . And just because somebody fasts like you called me the fasting queen that doesn't mean that I'm more holy than the other person or more anointed than the other person . You know what I mean . It's just that's not why we're doing it , okay .
Speaker 1That's good . I like the part that says so . Your father , who sees in secret , will reward you openly , and I do believe that the most important place for us to master this year would be our secret . Lives like the sweet place and so I feel like
there . When it comes to fasting and praying , you know , quarterly I'll do prayer vacations and when I go away for two or three days I'll start off with fasting . I'll fast in the day , then I might eat lunch . I might get up at 6 am and then spend that time in prayer , six or so hours , seven hours , praying , and then kind of break the fast around lunch . Sometimes I might go to dinner . But I just feel like that's what I do secretly and God rewards that openly , and so I also .
Speaker 1And it's not saying that you got to hide your fast , Like hey , don't let other people know . No , I mean , we're fasting . It's okay to let other people know . I think it's talking about the spirit of trying to say , hey , look at me .
Speaker 2I'm doing this and I'm holier than thou , like walking around holding your stomach , like , oh , don't mind me , I'm fasting , I can't eat today Like , don't do that .
Speaker 1People definitely do that . 1 Corinthians 7 and 5 actually got out of the Bible because I wanted to read a few scriptures Verse number five and I would say this this is what's going to help some of you all this year .
Speaker 2This is what's going to help .
Speaker 1It's the living , breathing word of God .
Speaker 2The B-I-B-L-E .
Speaker 1The B-I-B-L God-inspired and I think it's important to know from Genesis to Revelation , it's all inspired from God . There's a lie of the enemy in the land that well , somebody's changed the Bible and it's written by man . I believe God and his sovereignty and all of his power is able to get his word into our hands .
Speaker 1It don't matter what king does , it don't matter what man does . I believe that this is a holy book . Not only is it holy , but it's living . That means that the more you read it , the more illumination and revelation jumps off the page . The thing about the word is that God says I'm watching over my word to perform it . He doesn't watch over our emotions . God doesn't even watch over our need . God knows he doesn't watch over our traditions , but he's watching over his word .
Speaker 1Jesus was the word made flesh In the beginning was the word . The word was with God and the word was God . You only love God as much as you love his word , and as much as you love his word is how much you love God . So when it comes to looking for spiritual truths , we have to look to the word , and this is what it says in 1 Corinthians 7 and 5 . It says do not deprive each other , except perhaps by mutual consent , for a time , so that you may devote yourselves to prayer . Now , what does that scripture mean to you ? What do you take from that ?
Speaker 1I understood it talking to like married people you know , and when it says deprive yourself because this is a relationship podcast , it's basically saying don't not have sex with each other unless you have mutual consent for a time of prayer , and I'll just put in the word fasting a time like we're in right now , and so have we ever done that before ?
Speaker 2We haven't , which I think is hilarious .
Speaker 1We've never done that before .
Speaker 2That's why I started laughing . I'm like , of all the things that the Bible says that you could do , that's one thing that we have never done .
Speaker 1We've never done that before , because it ain't a command . It's not a command it doesn't say and people take it as a command they feel like because they're fasting , oh , we can't have sex for 21 days . It does not say that . It says if you have mutual consent , the only time you should deny each other . Now there's a lot of people that ain't fasting but they deny each other .
Speaker 2So what if I say I we're fast , I'm fasting , I don't want to .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 2That's what I was saying . There's a lot of people denying each other . You can't do that .
Speaker 1Yeah , they're denying each other and they didn't fast . Now that's another podcast for another day . Us that way . Well , what about my body and my feelings and my emotions ? Do you know that when you get married ?
Speaker 2you have to die to self that the two have become one .
Speaker 1And if you're not in this relationship to serve your husband and you got to say this kind of stuff , won't you say it as a woman ?
Speaker 2I mean you already said it , no , say it again . Say it again what were you saying ?
Speaker 1No , your job is to serve me and my job is to serve you .
Speaker 1And at the crossroads of servitude and death to self is where healthy marriages are found . But some people can't hear that because the noise in their mind about what about me ? What about me ? What about my feelings ? What about my feelings ? No , I can never do that . I'm not just going to give him what he wants . That's why your marriage is jacked , why your marriage is jacked . I love you enough to tell you the truth . Your marriage is jacked , it's tore from the floor just because of that perspective . And so we've never done this .
Speaker 2We've never done this , but it's an interesting scripture .
Speaker 1It says that if you have mutual consent . You know , I don't know if we'd ever arrive at mutual consent .
Speaker 2I'm open . We never wanted to . I don't know we never wanted to .
Speaker 1I don't know . I'm open to whatever the Lord hath of us , but I'm thankful in 25 years .
Speaker 2I've never felt led you don't want to go 21 days without . Have we ever gone 21 days ? That's crazy .
Speaker 1We've been through some stuff too 21 days Maybe , when you first had a baby or something . One baby you had . What did you first had a baby or something ?
Speaker 2One baby you had . What did you have ? An episiotomy ? Yeah , three weeks you had to heal from that . Yeah , that was pretty treacherous .
Speaker 1Yeah , that was bad , that was bad there , but other than that , praise God , I'm not getting on that boat .
Speaker 2We're over with that season . That season's gone .
Speaker 1Acts , chapter 12 . Watch this what does the Bible say about fasting ? Acts , chapter 12 . I'm sorry I got to speak into the mic . Acts chapter 12 .
Speaker 2There you go . Can you hear me out there ?
Speaker 1I can hear you Acts , chapter 12 . I'm not out there , but I can hear you . Verse number two Read he had this . Doesn't feel right .
Speaker 1He had James , the brother of John , put the death with the sword . That ain't got nothing to do . I think it's supposed to be Acts 13 . I'm glad I know the Bible because I'm like that , don't feel right , that's in the wrong chapter , acts 13, . Watch this , verse 2 , I think this is it .
While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting , the Holy Spirit said set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I've called them . So it's talking about before they ordained and set aside Barnabas , saul , who became Paul , and Barnabas . The older leaders , the elder leaders , were fasting and praying before that dedication service . Anything jump out to you from that ? I like how you were talking about the different reasons we fast whether it be .
Speaker 1Daniel .
Speaker 2That's another one .
Speaker 1Here's another one when it comes to decisions that need to be made , decisions that need to be made . I'm fasting and praying and I'm seeking , if this is the will of the Lord , to ordain somebody , to make an investment , to marry somebody , to make a decision .
Speaker 2I don't know . Yeah , I think that's good . You know , I find that the clarity of mind and the ability for like quick , effortless decision-making is increased whenever I'm fasting , like if it is , you know , and that's why we fast for the new year , because it's a time of like goal setting , things like that . We're really seeking God to hear , like well , what are we praying about ? What are we doing here ? But yeah , I often fast like Sunday mornings because I'm in intercession and prayer for church , not me , buddy .
Speaker 1I need breakfast , lunch , I need fuel .
Speaker 2Yeah , it's a lot of services .
Speaker 1Yeah , but I thank God that I got a real spiritual wife and you pray and fast for me , thank you so much You're welcome Luke , chapter two , verse 36 . Let's see what this one says . Luke two and 36 , it says there was also a prophet named Anna and that's interesting the daughter of Penuel of the tribe of Asher . She was very old . She had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage and when was a widow until she was 84 years old . She never left the temple but worship night and day , fasting and praying .
Speaker 2There's all kinds of stuff in that passage , I think first shout out to the prophet Anna , who served in the house of the Lord .
Speaker 1And that's a whole nod towards women being used powerfully by God . So there's a prophet , she's a daughter , her name's Anna . She has a biblical space of leadership in the New Testament and she becomes such a woman of dedication and consecration that , as a widow , the Bible says she's 84 . She never leaves the house of God , she's fasting and praying . That's just dope to me . I can just imagine you know , we've been to Italy , I've been to some cathedrals and different things and just to think about I wouldn't consider her none necessarily , but just to think about a woman who has given her entire life just fasting and praying , and for us to do it one time a year , two time a year , three time a year , it's not really a big deal .
Speaker 2But what a great discipline . I just think of you know she was a prophet . I mean , how prophetic was she ? You know ? How many people did she pray ? Know how many people did she pray for ? How many marriages did she pray for ? How many young men and women did she pray for ? Like ? How many people did she you know ?
Speaker 1I pray we raise up more Annas in our generation .
Speaker 1I'm not talking about people that got to live at church and not have a job and not have responsibilities , People that are so dedicated to the kingdom of God . That's what I hear when I read that about Hannah . Her dedication was to the kingdom . You know how we have people that are like halfway in and halfway out and they don't want to be uncomfortable or inconvenienced at all To me when I see somebody who has that zeal and that fervency to where she never left the house .
Speaker 2I think she felt when , you know , because she was fasting , there's an intimacy that you get with God and it feels like almost like okay , that intimacy with God , that closeness with God . If I can be in the house of God , I feel like I'm at home .
Speaker 1She's living in a sweet place . I feel like I'm close . Yeah , somebody shout me out . She's living in a sweet place and that's where we want to be . She is living at a nine Isaiah 58 .
Speaker 1I'll give you one more , and this is verse number six , and this is what it says . It says it's not this the fast that I've chosen , only for a day for people to humble themselves ? Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed and for lying in sackcloth and ashes ? Is that what you call a fast ? Are they acceptable to the Lord ? Is not this the kind of fast that I've chosen ? To loose the chains of injustice , untie the cords of yoke , to set the oppressed free , to break every yoke ? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and provide the poor wanderer with shelter ? When you see the naked , clothe them and not turn away from your own flesh and blood . Then your light will break forth like the dawn and your healing shall appear quickly . Then your righteousness will go before you and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard . Then you will call and the Lord will answer when you cry for help . He will say here I am .
Speaker 1I think that there are so many promises that we can stand on in seasons of fasting . From Isaiah 58 . And I don't know what you heard in that . I heard that when I fast and pray I can believe God for healing , I can believe that his glory will be my rearward , so the manifestation of his presence , to hear his voice when I cry , he'll say , here I am , that I'll have a very present help , that it's not like a future help , but I can sense the presence of God when I fast . I also see in that I'm a responsibility to take care of the poor and the needy . So you know , you can't just pass by people without being moved with compassion in this time because I'm on a fast . No , this is a time to help those who need help , so forth and so on .
Speaker 1I mean , I think it's just loaded .
Speaker 2It's beautiful .
Speaker 1Yeah , those who need help , so forth , and so on . I mean , I think , it's just loaded .
Speaker 2It's beautiful . Yeah , you got anything else on that . I said it all .
Speaker 1Yep , you said it all Okay . So , as a fasting queen , tell us what are the different kinds of fast we ?
Speaker 2could do . Ah , different kinds of fast , okay , so you have a complete fast or a full fast , right , okay , and that's where you drink water and eat no food .
Speaker 1Okay , complete fast . What else ?
Speaker 2Jesus did a complete fast .
Speaker 1He did Right 40 days , 40 days , 40 nights 40 days , 40 nights , haven't done that myself .
Speaker 2I haven't either . I haven't gotten that long . I did a three day , three day Three day .
Speaker 1I've known people that's done 21 days . Maybe I'm not mature , I don't really have a desire to get there , you know , I am open to the Lord , you know . But that's what we call a full fast , complete fast . Water only , maybe some broth , maybe some juice . Okay , complete fast . What else we got Partial fast
.
Speaker 2Partial fast I think you have a partial fast would be maybe a Daniel fast where you , we , we , we get to Daniel fast from Daniel who fasted for 21 days for uh , just vegetables . I think it was vegetables , it was nothing good to the taste , and it was .
Speaker 1he even took it as far as not having certain lotions and things on . But I think that when you read about a Daniel fast , it's usually what ?
Speaker 2No sweets , no meat , it's fruits and vegetables . Yeah , 21 days of that , your breads and carbs , that's all comfort food .
Speaker 1You can also do a six to six fast , sun up to sun down . I'm not going to eat anything between 6 am to 6 pm . That would be like a partial fast . Those are pretty good . Anything else , you can fast from one meal , fast from breakfast , fast from breakfast , pass from lunch absolutely some people that doesn't mean anything .
Speaker 1You want to fast . That's challenging you , but not something that you're going to quit , right , you want something that's challenging . So some people they only eat one meal a day . That wouldn't be a good fast for you . Me , I eat four or five meals a day , so that would be possibly great for me you know um anything else .
Speaker 2Why is there something else ?
Speaker 1that I mean you got a fruits and vegetables fast that you could do .
Speaker 2Okay , yeah , it's just picking up , but it's still . It's either a little bit of food or no . Food is basically . You know , what I'm trying to do is give examples , and this is called fasting made simple , okay .
Speaker 1so what we're doing is we're trying to talk to people that might not have ever fasted before giving them some understanding .
Speaker 2You were just looking at me like there's another fast out there . I'm like that's it , You're just going to .
Speaker 1I'm just saying what other have you ? You only do three day fast .
Speaker 2That's all you've done . I'm just saying you want to take it outside .
Speaker 1Three day fast Just playing .
Speaker 2Yeah , so what were you saying ? Yeah , fruits and vegetables . You can do fruits and vegetables .
Speaker 1You can do fruits and vegetables with chicken only . You can do fruits and vegetables with fish only . I always take out snacks .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1Okay , so no chips , no candies . I usually do a drink water only . I always normally take out TV . Yeah , 21 days of TV . I only personally watch Christian programming for that time . So preach messages I still might watch . Anything that's going to build up my spirit . That's typically my typical fast for 21 days is going to be a reduction of media , a reduction of TV , a water only , and then every week I'm going to shift between a six to six to fruits and vegetables , and over those three weeks I'll shift it a six to six to fruits and vegetables and I'll , over those three weeks , I'll shift it a little bit , depending upon you , know just where I am and what's going on , how much I'm traveling or do I'm in the middle of a workout or what , what God's asking me to do ?
Speaker 2Okay , here's a big one Caffeine . You can fast from your daily cup of coffee . You can or you cannot . You know , there's some times when I do fast and I will still drink a cup of coffee . You can or you cannot . You know , there's some times when I do fast and I will still drink a cup of coffee , um , in the morning , cause I don't want to fall off the band , you know I don't want to completely , you know , just not be able to function in life , um . But then there were times where , um , I think I actually did it twice at the beginning of the year . We did this 21 day fast and I laid down coffee . I said , okay , I'm not going to do coffee . And then I didn't pick it up again for three years because the Lord spoke to me in that time girl , you're addicted , you don't need it . And I didn't drink coffee for three years and then I started drinking again . Then I did it again and didn't drink again for another year . Now I probably need to do it again .
Speaker 1It's time , it's time . That's what that whole segue was about the Lord using your words to minister to you .
Speaker 2No , Lord , I will do it if the Lord says so the Lord is saying but you can lay down things like that .
Speaker 2We have a friend , neil , pastor Neil , up in Gainesville , who the first fast he did he stopped eating ice cream but kept on smoking cigarettes . After he did the fast and found out he can eat he doesn't have to go without eating ice cream or he can live without eating ice cream every day . It just had this revelation in his mind that you know what ? I don't have to smoke cigarettes and he's been smoke free for years .
Speaker 1We hope so . No , it's been 15 , 16 years he's been smoke free .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1And that's the power of a fast . It really is so we believe that curses are going to be broken . Addictions are going to be broken as people jump in with us and the water's good . Um , this is fasting hard . And how do you prepare people for that ?
Speaker 2Uh , I think it can be hard and you know it can be okay . You know what I mean . Um , I think I've gotten to a point now in life where I've trained my body and I'm here for it . You know what I mean . So it's hard but it's okay , because I'm kind of used to this . I know what to expect .
Speaker 1So you're saying the more you fast , the easier it becomes ?
Speaker 2Yeah , yes , and no Meaning that I don't have to shut my life down Now . I've done fasts before to where if I fast and quit coffee , it's over for me right now . I just got to shut down Three days . Don't nobody talk to me that kind of thing , because I am detoxing , I'm doing all that stuff . So it depends on the person and what you're going through . Things like that . Sometimes I've been on a spiritual fast and just like oh my gosh , like the level of just like kind of maybe warfare as far as just praying and seeking God and reading the Bible and I do . I get so much growth in those times . Sometimes it's difficult . I don't know In those times if that makes sense , but I think it's hard . But it doesn't have to be . You get over it .
Speaker 1Okay , well , I've got like seven points for fasting made simple .
Speaker 1Just tap me if you want to jump in on any of these . But here's some key things . If you want fasting to be made simple , just tap me if you want to jump in on any of these . But here's some key things if you want fasting to be made simple . Number one choose what you want to give up Foods , media , alcohol , toxic people , toxic places , sin , etc . Choose what you want to give up . Number two determine how long you want the fast to be OK . Is it a three day fast ? Seven day fast , 21 day fast , 40 day fast ? There's some times that you need to continue your medication and you have to have food with the medication . So you don't want to break natural laws without having wisdom and prudence . Okay , you might want to continue supplements and vitamins if you take those et cetera , et cetera , definitely .
Speaker 1Number three communicate your goals to those you live with . I think those are huge because if you don't talk to the people that you live with , they can actually be used as the enemy to bring temptation around you . So there's sometimes you get on a little kick and when we have a certain food you're like it's harder for you because we are all not doing what you're doing . So I think if you communicate , hey , I'm going to be fasting , if you don't mind , don't have this stuff around me . Maybe that makes it a little easier , and then people will also give you space for the most important part of your fast , which is time in the presence of God . So , hey , guys , I'm not going to be here , I'm going to take about an hour and I'm going to just spend in the presence of God . If you could just give me some privacy , I think that's huge , all right .
Speaker 1Number four replaced what distracts you with more of God's word and God's presence . So I would really encourage people to increase your quality time with God , increase being in the sweet place and increase just reading the Bible , listening to message , whatever builds your spirit . Increase that . Number five would be expected to get difficult at a point , and so I've been on fast and it's like I start shivering like real cold , or my stomach gets upset or I get gas or something like that .
Speaker 1I said , it all authoritative like like I ain't , I ain't embarrassed , I don't care Gas or bubbly stomach or something like that , like I ain't embarrassed , I don't care Gas or bubbly stomach or something like that Stomach , and it's almost like , oh , am I doing something wrong ? Not necessarily , you might be doing everything right , but your body's releasing toxins and there are times when you feel so bad that you just got to adjust to fast . And you ain't got to feel bad and condemned about that , because fasting is not what you have to do , right . So it's not like if you just stop the fast or if you don't fast , you're a sinner . No , fasting is for your benefit , your connection with God , and so if you're in something that's just too hard , make a slight adjustment instead of quitting it altogether Absolutely .
Speaker 2Sometimes I've had to take a nap during a fast you know , and a little power nap , get back up again and go on with my day .
Speaker 1Yeah , but I think it's important to expect it , that I think there's some people that are I'm sorry , some people that are brand new to fasting and they're like oh yeah , this is going to be the greatest 21 days . Okay , I'm down . Don't hit me no more . It's like they don't realize how strong their flesh is .
Speaker 2Yeah , you might have it a point , but that's to be a part of a community is good too . Right , cause you experienced the same things here , I give you a tip for fasting and how to be prepared , and that is you know some breath mints some breath spray and the church some gum because when you're fasting , you know what I mean .
Speaker 1Just had a keto breath . Yeah , you get get that keto walking around here with a dragon .
Speaker 2No , don't say hi , to me .
Speaker 1I think it needs to be a ministry in church . Then we need to have mint ministers . There should be people that walk the aisles with buckets of mints , just in case you need . One Matter of fact , when you come in the front door , you should get a mint .
Speaker 2Don't ? We have mints just sitting around .
Speaker 1I don't know we used to . I haven't seen them in a while I just feel like , when it comes to like groups of people , I'm like what you call breath aware . You know you need to be self-aware . Yes , I'm like yo , give me a minute .
Speaker 2I am too . I'm breath aware .
Speaker 1I just wish everybody was breath aware . Podcast coming up soon . All right , number six um , have a plan of how to break your fast . So when you break your fast you don't want to just jump in to junk food again . Now I broke this principle last year and I paid for it . I suffered mightily . I think I remember , yeah , at the end of the fast I went there's this cupcake restaurant and then I got pizza . So I was having a get together at my house to break the fast and I ordered this pizza and ate these cupcakes . For the next two , three weeks my digestive system was tore up Three weeks . I might not even be good right now , I don't
know .
Speaker 1Because you know you have to bring introduce things slowly . You want to kind of . It depends on how your fast has been . Now , if you didn't cut out a lot , maybe it won't be that . But especially if you've been on a full fast or a fast where you just cut out all junk food , you want to bring things in very slowly . So sometimes you might even want to start with soup . Then you want to bring things in the next day . That's easy on the stomach .
Speaker 2Okay .
Speaker 1Anything else to how to break a fast .
Speaker 2Yeah , don't do what you did .
Speaker 1All right .
Speaker 2Plan it out . I think you know that's if you're doing . You know , because when you read in the Bible and stuff they broke , they had times of fasting but then they would have times of feasting and so I love that . You know , we usually break our fast with a feast , but it's usually not like we came off of eating nothing .
Speaker 1Well , my problem was it was too much sugar and too much grease . That was probably the problem .
Speaker 2It was the foods that you chose to eat .
Speaker 1I think we can still break it with a feast .
Speaker 2You just have to be discerning of what you can eat and I've done my three-day fasting and stuff , because I remember I break the fast with the family , but I know after three days I'm going to eat maybe some broth or some salad or something like that . I will eat before I even go into the feasting part with you guys . What about kids ?
Speaker 1fasting . Do we have our kids fasting ? Do you believe in that ? Yes , I do ?
Speaker 2We teach them the principles , but we don't make them fast , we don't make them .
Speaker 1But they just jump on because that's just the culture of our home . It's been that way ever since they were born , but they don't go hard like we go hard .
Speaker 2Yeah .
Speaker 1They might give up TV . Yeah , I remember when they were younger , they would give up their favorite food .
Speaker 2I still have a video of Hannah when she fasted from like eating sweets and things , and she went to the closet and she got this big fat marshmallow and just stuffed her mouth .
Speaker 1After the fast was over .
Speaker 2After the fast . Yeah , she stuffed her mouth and she's dancing like this with the big marshmallow in her mouth . I think that might have been like her first serious , like knowing you know what she's doing fast .
Speaker 1I think it sets kids up , even if they don't fully understand it the culture of . There's a season of our life at the beginning of the year where we're going to put something down .
Speaker 2That's it . Don't have to be nothing too deep .
Speaker 1We're going to put something down for God .
Speaker 2Yeah , I've always included the kids . Maybe it was just like oh no , we're not eating pizza because we're fasting . You know , if they're four years old , you know what I mean . So we don't eat pizza all the time and then we break the fast with the pizza just to teach them . You know what we're doing .
Speaker 1I would also say there are certain things that you should put down when you fast that you want to consider never picking up again . Now for you and I , we haven't drank alcohol in . I think we are celebrating . We just celebrated 24 years of being sober . It's not something that we have a part of our life . It's not something that I want in my life . It doesn't add value to me and make me closer to Jesus , but there's if I started to drink , there's a huge possibility that it could lead me astray and make me do dumb stuff . So we decided years ago it wasn't a part of , and we have more joy than ever . I believe that there are some casual drinkers out here that might want to ask the Holy Spirit hey , is this something that I need to put down in the fast and then , after the fast , consider doing life without it . Why , if you look at Dr Amen , who is a secular neuroscientist and even secular physicians and people are now coming out Talking about how alcohol actually Damages the brain I'm talking about like one glass a day .
Speaker 2Well , because there was a big push years ago .
Speaker 1Antioxidants and all this stuff About one glass of wine .
Speaker 1But now they're realizing as they begin to study and Dr Amenis , he studied , I think he said , thousands of brains and he does not drink . And he's probably in his 60s . He doesn't drink Because he knows what it does to drink and he's probably in his sixties . He doesn't drink because he knows what it does to the brain . And so for spiritual reasons and for even natural reasons , that might be something you know . Nobody can give you a law and say don't do that , but you can live at a higher level of revelation . That might be something to say . Do I need to put that back in my life ? For us has been no , 24 years one of the best decisions we've ever made . But then there's other things you know , like pornography and other sins and other foods that honestly just aren't good for you . Maybe don't run back to those .
Speaker 2Some fast food , that favorite fast food . You know , and you know that you shouldn't be the doctor's telling you you know , look at that blood pressure , look at your blood sugar . You know , just leave it there .
Speaker 1Leave it there , leave it on the altar . I'll give them one more , we'll be done . Fasting is not just a one time a year thing . We want to live a fasted lifestyle , and so after the 21 days as we go through the year , always just say Holy Spirit , what would you have of me ?
Speaker 1And be sensitive , and so I can't tell you how many times I fasted this past year . It wasn't a lot , but I would say maybe two or three times more . You know , maybe you more than me , but it's not a law . It's not like I'm less spiritual or more spiritual because I do or I don't , but we just want to live a lifestyle where I'm saying no to the flesh and yes to the spirit . And I think , if we do that and we combine it with crazy times of prayer , crazy times of being in the presence of God , studying the word of God , putting the word of God in our heart and in our mouth , that we might not sin against God , this is going to be our best year ever , because it's our best year spiritually , Amen .
Speaker 1Well , we're out of time for today , people . Hey , happy new year . This is the way that we're going to get started . Is anybody here ready to turn up for Jesus this year ? If that is , you , make sure that you send us some of your goals . We want to pray for you . Any prayer requests that you might have . Drop us a review , drop us a line . Let us know that you're with us , that you're a part of our community . We've got a great year this year . We're writing a marriage book that hopefully will be out soon , and we've got some masterclasses . We're going to be releasing Anything that we can do to bring value to your life .
Speaker 2Absolutely .
Speaker 1Yeah , and so if you're new to our podcast , make sure that you hit the subscribe button on YouTube . Hit the download button if you're on other podcasts , so that you can be the first to get the content when it is released . Also , also , also , I forgot , a live conference . Tickets for AC25 are now open . Y'all Come on there . Y'all Listen . We do a conference in the beginning of November that people from around the world come to , and we want to invite you to it Now . Listen , these tickets are just open for a few days , okay , here in January . Then they'll go offline and they'll come back at full price again in the spring , but you can get some early bird pricing right now
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Speaker 1Thousands of people , okay , will be coming to Orlando to have an encounter with God . You say , what kind of conference is a live conference ? It is an encounter conference and an equipping conference . We want you to have an encounter with God where your life will never be the same and be equipped to be everything that he's called you to be . We believe this three days could change the next 30 years of your life . You know what ? Grab somebody else with you , tell somebody to come along with you , get your ticket today . You can go over to our website right now and do that . Hey , we love you guys . We'll see you next Thursday . God bless you , peace .