CityHeart Families!

Please note: It sometimes takes time to build the discipline to fast. Be patient with your child as this may
be a new experience for him or her. Always be encouraging and give them gentle reminders. You know your child best, so pray and ask God for wisdom. Then, introduce this guide to fasting when you believe they are ready and allow God’s Holy Spirit to do the rest!

Here are a few things to help explain fasting to your children as they begin.

• Fasting causes us to rely on God

Our flesh is selfish and weak. When we take the time to fast, we are denying something WE WANT. God wants to help us as we fast. Just ask and depend on HIS strength.

• Fasting Helps us be Filled with the Fruits of the Spirit
When we feel irritable, we can grow our capacity under stress and choose to show goodness, gentleness, and self -control instead.

• Fasting Opens our Heart to Hearing God's voice
When we empty ourselves of our most basic needs or wants, it helps us put our full attention on God.

• Fasting Gives Power to our Prayers
The prayer that is powered by both faith and fasting can be the very thing that unleashes God’s promises in our lives.

• Fasting helps us to Consume God’s Word
When we deny ourselves something we want and take time to read God's Word, God will use the opportunity to fill us with his understanding.

Fasting in the Bible: Here are some scriptures to reference about fasting:

Exodus 34:28, Ezra 8:21-23, Isaiah 58:6, Daniel 9:3, Joel 2:12, Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 4:2, Matthew 9:14-17, Acts 13:3, Mark 9:29 (NKJV), and Luke 2:37.

Allow your child to choose one thing that they would like to fast from each day and then spend more time praying and reading their daily devotion.