My friends Karis Kononiuk, Antoinette Johnson, and I fasted for Ramadan!
{Antoinette and I on a cold, rainy day at the beach in Jaco, Costa Rica after walking and praying for people}
{FAST-en your seatbelt! Travel day to the Dominican Republic and fasting debrief with Karis. Antoinette was in a different part of the country!}
Ramadan is the Islamic Holy month. In 2021 Ramadan was from April 13th – May 12th. Muslims believe fasting, without eating and drinking, during daylight hours allows them to grow spiritually and become closer to their family and Allah.
My friends and I chose to fast and pray for God to move during the month of Ramadan. Karis has a deep heart and calling to serve people in Islamic countries. Antoinette wanted to pray for countries to open to the gospel. I was praying for my heart to break and soften into a greater desire to spread Jesus’ name.
Please soften my heart to people who don’t know you, give me your eternal, love filled glasses to see people as you see them, please bring people across my path who don’t know you. I desire more boldness to speak YOUR name and truth, and a quicker willingness and sensitivity to operate in the gifts of the Spirit. Give opportunities to people who live in Islamic countries to speak your name….
For 30 days, from 5:30am to 5:30pm, Karis and I didn’t eat food. We continued to drink water, Gatorade, and other hydration drinks. Antoinette gave up sugar through the day as her fast! We served full days of ministry in the 90° heat of Jaco, Costa Rica including children’s VBS events, painting light posts, construction and cleaning work, and cooking for our squad. God provided the strength and endurance to continue! Many times we would wake up at 5am to have an early breakfast and pray together before the sun came up.
Fasting was a new experience for me! I tried fasting by myself one day in early April without prayer or a specific reason and it was a STRUGGLE. God revealed how food was so hard to give up, hidden fears about how my body would respond to fasting, and His forgiveness and deep love for me when I fell short and broke that day’s fast early.
Fasting during Ramadan had a specific purpose. I experienced and felt the difference in my body when my heart was focused on Jesus during the days or when I was distracted or self-centered.
Prayer precedes fasting in nearly EVERY area of the Bible where fasting is mentioned. Fasting changes the way we pray by heightening our awareness and dependence on God over our physical needs.
If a spiritual reason is not clearly defined, fasting is simply a timed trial. It is a diet of drudgery instead of a deliberating delight.
If prayer is not a part of fasting, the day is a hard, meandering journey without the refueling of encouragement and conversation with God.
I chose to intentionally pray every hour I was awake. My hourly prayer alarms would go off during team time, meals, or in the middle of a ministry activity.
Sometimes the prayer would be quick internal, “Please break my heart. Give me boldness and hunger to speak your name. Thank you Lord for your goodness, faithfulness, sovereignty, and LOVE.” Other times I could go kneel and pray for a longer time in a separate room or secluded corner. My greatest joy was to pray with my team and squad mates: “Rachel, your alarm is going off.” “YES! Would you like to pray with me?”
The Kellys, a sweet family from my church, came for vacation to Costa Rica and brought medical supplies and gifts from my mom! My alarm went off while we were chatting and we had a beautiful time of intercession and prayer.
If you choose to fast one meal, one day, or one aspect of life (social media, sugar, coffee) and give intentional time to prayer… WOW! God sees and loves to celebrate your choice to focus on prayer and intimacy with Him.
{HUGS}
Rachel
Resources to continue learning about fasting:
Bible Passages: Isaiah 58, Matthew 6
Website and App: The Joshua Project Unreached People of the Day https://www.joshuaproject.net
Podcast: Breakaway Ministries Understanding Fasting
YouTube Video of the Podcast Sermon:
Book on Fasting: Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life Chapter 9 by Donald Whitney is STELLAR!
You are Amazing girl. I am so proud of you and Love you Lots
Wow Rachel, what amazing growth the LORD will bless you with as you seek him through fasting! Thank you for setting all of us at home an example! I love how honest you are in your posts because fasting is super hard. I have only tried it a few times and experienced a lot of the anxiety you described. I think the LORD is preparing your heart and spirit to enter the Islamic countries. Continue to pray for a change of heart towards Muslims. I can’t wait to hear what God does with that prayer!
Rachel, I loved your comments on fasting and prayer. It is so true. Fasting without a strong and definite, Spirit-led goal is just drudgery.
God bless your Journey!
Love and miss you! {HUGS}
Thank you for your sweet encouragement and truth! I’m excited to see how the LORD continues answering prayers! {HUGS}