A Great Message about Waiting by Paul David Tripp

The Doctor's Office Over the past few years, I've been to the doctor's office more times than I would like to count. I don't like seeing the doctor, because it's a reminder that my health is out of my control. But there's another reason I don't like seeing the doctor - the dreaded waiting room. I don't know about you, but I like to be very productive and efficient with my schedule. Few things in life annoy me more than wasted time. And in the doctor's dreaded waiting room, wasted time thrives! You know the drill - you'll have a 10:00am scheduled appointment, but you won't be seen until at least 10:45am. At one of my recent appointments, as I flipped through a mind-numbing amount of magazine pages waiting for the minutes to pass slowly by, the Lord reminded me: waiting is a theme for his children. Here are 5 things about waiting that we need to remember: 1. Waiting Is Inescapable: Abraham and Sarah waited decades for their promised son. Israel waited for centuries to be delivered from Egypt, then another 40 years for the Promised Land. The Old Testament prophets waited for the coming of the Messiah. We all wait in anticipation for the Second Coming of Christ. Don't be surprised when you have to wait; it's part of the history of God's people. 2. Waiting Is Refreshing: Waiting immediately announces that we're not in control. When God calls us to wait, He's lovingly refreshing us of the fact that Someone wiser and stronger is in charge of the narrative of our lives. God is God and we are not. Sometimes we need to be put in our place (see Job 38), and waiting is one of God's refreshing tools. 3. Waiting Is Revealing: Whenever I'm forced to wait, I find that I'm easier to agitate, prone to rude words and behaviors, and focused more on my pleasure than other's needs. Just like God uses waiting to announce his kingship, he also uses waiting to reveal the selfishness of my heart and make me seek restoring and redeeming grace. 4. Waiting Is Productive: Psalm 27:4 says, "Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage." This means that God never wastes our waiting, frivolously prolonging what we get at the end of the wait. Rather, waiting is fundamentally about who we become as we wait. Waiting should always build character. 5. Waiting Is Temporary: One day, the former things will pass away (Revelation 21:4), and that includes waiting. In the meantime, God intends that waiting would make us hungry for eternity. This life isn't our final destination; it's a preparation for a final destination, and waiting is meant to produce in you a God-honoring dissatisfaction with the status quo. So the next time you're in the waiting room at the doctor's office, or the next time you're stuck in traffic, or the next time you find yourself waiting for a late spouse or child, don't just grumble and moan. Remind yourself that waiting is biblical, that waiting is beautiful, and that the God who calls you to wait is loving. Waiting is changing you, and it's also helping you to be a tool of change in others who are waiting. Find joy in that wait! God bless Paul Tripp

Reflection Questions How did you respond to waiting this week? Be specific about your thoughts, words, and actions. Has your waiting produced a faith that's stronger or weaker? How so? The next time you wait, why don't you take time to count your blessings instead of grumbling!

From the Shepherd's Heart....Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Good Wednesday to you.  It's CHURCH Night!!  GLORY.  I can't wait.

Meal, Adult Bible Study, Student Worship, Arrow Kid's Clubs and nursery - a place for everyone all beginning at 6:10.

We are in our last days of our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.  I pray you are enduring until the end.  Spiritual warfare has been real for me .... physically and emotionally.  How do I know when I am in spiritual warfare?  When things happen to me that have no other explanation as something happening or coming against me at the same time when I am seeking a deeper walk with the Lord.

Spiritual warfare is not real when life is good and I'm living like a good Southern boy. But when I seek to deepen my relationship with the Lord and then I begin realizing things are happening out of the ordinary.

"Stand firm in the Lord" - Philippians 4: 1

Don't weave.  Don't turn back.  Remember - your enemy is not flesh and blood.  Ephesians 6:12.  Don't get mad at someone other than Satan for what is happening.  Stand firm.

I will share Friday what a special day we are believing God for this Sunday as we end the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.

This Saturday....

The Rainsville Ministers invite you to participate in a joint community prayer meeting on Saturday, January 27 at Broadway Baptist Church beginning at 9:00 a.m.  The first hour will be a joint Prayer Service with The Church of the Highlands via internet and then at 10:00 will have a local only prayer time for our community and area churches.  The Rainsville community and its churches are invited to attend.

How to Actually Pray for Anyone by Eve Stipes

“Praying for you.”

How many times have you said this to someone and then walked away, intent on praying, only to come up blank when you start to pray? Just totally unsure of what their soul really needs or how to pray effectively? You might have a few requests to start with, but beyond that, what should you pray about?

Or, maybe you wake up in the middle of the night with a specific person on your mind and you feel the urge to pray for them. You’re not going to call them up and ask what you can be praying for at 2 a.m. but beyond a general sense of what they might need prayer for, you’re at a loss.

Fortunately for us, the Word of God has a lot of examples of what to pray for one another, and for our own souls. A few years ago, I came across a helpful list from John Piper, that has really changed how I pray – both for myself and for others. For believers and unbelievers, friends, family, and sometimes even strangers. I have it written on the inside cover of my Bible and I come back to it often and pray through it for the people I love.

How to Pray for the Soul—Yours or Another’s¹

1.  An inclination to God and His Word – “Incline my heart to Your testimonies and not to gain.” Psalm 119:36
2. For the eyes of your heart to be opened – “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things from Your law.” Psalm 119:18
3. For your heart to be enlightened – “That the eyes of your heart may be enlightened.” Ephesians 1:18
4. For your heart to be united for God – “O Lord, I will walk in Your truth; unite my heart to fear Your name.” Psalm 86:11
5. That your heart will be satisfied with God and not the world – “O satisfy us in the morning with Your lovingkindness, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.” Psalm 90:14
6. That you will be strong in joy – “That God would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man.” Ephesians 3:16
7. That your strength in Christ will produce good deeds for others so that the glory of God is seen in your life – “That [we] will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord . . . bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Colossians 1:10

So, when you wake up in the middle of the night with a nudge to pray, or you’re getting into your car after coffee with a friend you’re burdened for, or when your brother is really your heart but you haven’t talked with him in a while, or you want to pray for your waitress but can’t catch her to see if there’s a specific thing he or she wants prayer for, or when you’re praying for your kids… here’s a good place to start. Pick one, or pray through all seven.

And for the things that just feel too deep to reach with our words? The people whose hearts need more than our words can express in prayer?

“Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” Romans 8:26-27

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday - Life is Precious by Kevin DeYoung

Life Is Precious

Life is precious.

Every human life. After all, a person’s a person, no matter how small.

At 18 days, the baby’s heart begins to beat.

At 21 days, it pumps its own blood with its own blood type through its own circulatory system.

At 28 days, its eyes, ears, and respiratory system begin to form.

At 42 days, brain waves can be recorded and reflexes are present.

At 7 weeks, you might see an image of your baby sucking its thumb.

At 8 weeks, all body systems are present.

At 9 weeks, before most women show (or maybe even know) that they are pregnant, the baby can squint, swallow, move its tongue, and make a fist.

At 11 weeks, the baby has fingernails and makes spontaneous breathing movements.

At 15 weeks, the baby has an adult’s taste buds.

At 16 weeks, the genital organs are clearly differentiated, and the baby can grasp with its hands, swim, kick, turn, and do somersaults not even felt yet by the mother.

At 17 weeks, the baby can dream.

At 18 weeks, the vocal chords work, and the baby can cry.

At 20 weeks (the time of your ultrasound), the baby has hair on its head, weighs a pound, and is a foot long. The child can recognize its mother’s voice.

At 24 weeks, well over half of all babies in this country survive premature birth, and the number goes up exponentially every week thereafter.

And these children do not have a right to life?

Are bigger people more deserving of protection than smaller people? Does your three year old have more rights than your three month old because she can talk? Does a teenager have more rights than a four year-old because he can drive? Do your rights as a human person change when you’re in your car, in your home, in a suit, in your bathrobe, or underwater? Does your environment change what sort of rights you have as a person? Why should those inches down the birth canal change the rights that child has as a human person? “Well, the baby is completely dependent upon the mother.” Does the person who relies on daily insulin injections to live have less of a right to do so? What about the person who has to go multiple times a week for dialysis, or they will die? Do they have less of a right to live? What if you have to take pills every morning to keep your cholesterol down so that you don’t die a premature death? Do you, because you are dependent upon those, have less of a right to live?

Every human life is precious. Unborn life is precious. Children with special needs are precious. Aging parents are precious—even when they don’t remember because they’re suffering dementia, they’re still made in the image of God. Children or parents who are non-verbal, those in a wheelchair, and those who are completely dependent upon you or doctors are precious. All of life matters to God. If we have our eyes open, we can see this in even the most surprising places in the Bible, like in the lex talionis of the Mosaic law. You see it in imago Dei. You see it in the incarnation where God entered the world as a helpless babe.

Defend, honor, and give thanks for life—yours, your children’s, and your parent’s. May we all pray, work, and labor–no matter what political party we’re a part of or who we voted for–so that every human life is protected, prized, and considered precious.

From the Shepherd's Heart....Wednesday, January 17, 2018

As you can see, we have cancelled services for Wednesday, January 17. 

Upward Basketball season begins Saturday at 8:00 a.m. with games.  Due to the large number of children involved, we are having to add an additional hour to our Saturday schedule.  So, we are beginning at 8:00.

Thanks to Whitney Wigley for her excellent leadership in planning, promoting and preparing us for what looks like will be an excellent season.

Come one Saturday and watch.  It is so much fun plus getting to represent our church as we welcome so many people from outside our church.  If you can help with greeting, keeping clock, helping with concession stand or cleaning, then contact Whitney. 

10 Ways to Pray for Your Community by Chuck Lawless

Frankly, I think the North American church is weak. I love the church, and I know there are strong, faithful, Great Commission-oriented churches on our continent – but I think we generally lack the power of God on what we do. One reason for our lack of power is our lack of prayer. Here are some practical ways to counter this problem by praying for your community: 

1. Pray for schools as you drive by them. Intercede for Christian administrators, teachers, and students. Ask God to use them as light in the public school system.
2. Pray every time you hear a siren. That sound is most often a signal that somebody has a problem – and somebody else is putting his or her life on the line to help them.
3. Buy a local newspaper every week, and pray for community needs. That means, of course, that folks still read local papers. Even if you do so online, you can still pray for the obvious needs as you read. 
4. Pray for pastors as you drive by Christian local churches. Pray they will walk with God, preach His Word, and make disciples who make more disciples.
5. Pray for people who attend other places of worship in the community. As you drive, watch for places where people who follow other world faiths worship. Ask God to open their eyes to the truth of the gospel and to give them courage to step out for Christ.
6. Pray for people you regularly see. That would include that gas station clerk, your bank teller, and anyone else whose path you cross with regularity. See every one of them as people who cannot be saved apart from a personal relationship with Jesus.
7. Pray for your healthcare providers. After all, they’re somewhat responsible for your physical well-being, and they often deal with life-and-death issues. Yet, we too seldom pray for these folks.
8. Pray for the families who live around you. I may be wrong, but I suspect most believers pray very little for their neighbors—if they even know them. If you’re going to pray for them, getting to know them helps a lot.
9. Pray for government officials. If you want to take a risk, find email addresses of your local officials, email them, and ask the how you might pray for them. You might be surprised, one way or the other . . . .
10. Pray for children you encounter. Whisper a prayer for every child you see. Even in our country, you might be the only person who prays for that child today. Or ever. 

From the Shepherd's Heart...Friday, January 12, 2018

This Lord's Day we continue to think about the subject of prayer as Bro. Zac Gardner preaches "Praying for the Kid in Sodom" based on Genesis 19:29. 

Sunday night Bro. Isaac Mays will be preaching.

I am praying for you as you faithfully continue through our 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting and the devotion "HEAR What the Spirit Says."

From the Shepherd's Heart...Wednesday, January 10, 2018

I am praying for you, church family, as you are beginning your 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting this week.  Tonight, we will gather for some time of music, prayer and proclamation.  But more than anything else, we will gather for encouragement. 

If you have started this adventure (and even, if not, but are still thinking about it), I want you to know you are on a good track.  God will work and is already working.

I am delighted to announce a new prayer meeting has been added for this month and this is such an important meeting because it is a corporate prayer meeting of our community. 

The Rainsville Ministers invite you to participate in a joint community prayer meeting on Saturday, January 27 at Broadway Baptist Church beginning at 9:00 a.m.  The first hour will be a joint Prayer Service with The Church of the Highlands via internet and then at 10:00 will have a local only prayer time for our community and area churches.  The Rainsville community and its churches are invited to attend.

Also - church don't forget as I announced this past Sunday, Broadway Baptist Church is hosting the 21 Days of Prayer emphasis from The Church of the Highlands each Monday through Friday at 6:00 a.m. and on Saturday at 9:00 a.m. through January 27.  The sessions last for exactly one hour and are in the main auditorium of the church.

I am planning tonight to deal with the issue of Philippians 4: 2 "in the Lord."  Our unity is in Christ, first and foremost.  I look forward to our gathering.

Upward Basketball practices have begun with games beginning January 20. Pray for Whitney Wigley and all our coaches.  It's going to be a great season.

Fasting and Prayer as Your Spiritual Worship by Ronnie Floyd

Fasting And Prayer As Your Spiritual Worship

By Ronnie W. Floyd

The disciplines of prayer and fasting are not reduced to a formula or a hoop that we are to jump through as if we are a kind of spiritual circus. Nor are they physical tests or exercises in mental discipline. True prayer and fasting are attitudes of the heart and cries of the soul. God's Word has a strong rebuke for those who fast for the wrong reasons or in an improper manner. I have never seen God respond favorably to prayer and/or fasting based on false pretenses or impure motives.

Improper Reasons/Motives

Prayer and fasting are improper when a person seeks:

 • To fulfill selfish desires and ambitions.

• To attempt to manipulate God.

• To elevate one's status or personal agenda.

• To promote false piety, legalism, or religious duty.

Improper Manner

Prayer and fasting are improper when they:

  • Draw attention to personal glorification.

• Are attempted without sufficient seriousness and respect.

• Are conducted while intentionally continuing to sin.

• Are conducted while continuing to pursue selfish desires in pleasure and business.

• Are conducted while promoting or continuing injustice, oppression, or impropriety.

• Are conducted without drawing aside daily and dedicating ample time for sincere seeking,

quiet communion, and devoted prayer with God.

God-Honoring Fast

The Bible is filled with references to the prayers and fasting of His people. In Matthew 6, Jesus placed fasting on the same level as praying and giving. He said, "When you fast, when you pray, and when you give." I wonder why Christians today and churches in our generation don't place fasting on the same level as praying and giving?

Jesus, by His example and His teaching, demonstrates that prayer and fasting are important and integral ingredients in the lives of His followers. One purpose of prayer and fasting is to bring our hearts to a place of being filled with a sacrificial love that results in godly attitudes in our lives. True fasting will draw us closer to God and His purposes.

I can't explain why God has chosen prayer and fasting as the gateway to supernatural power. One thing I do know: scripture, prayer, and fasting are the ways believers humble themselves in the sight of the Lord. When we humble ourselves, He promises to exalt and lift us up at the appointed time (I Peter 5:6; James 4:10). God also indicates that He will give grace to the humble (James 4:6). Again, 

II Chronicles 7:14 indicates the importance of humbling ourselves before God.

Fasting brings a sharp focus to the dramatic difference between our physical and spiritual natures. Eating is one of the most fundamental things we do as physical beings. One of the most natural desires is for food. Without proper nourishment we die. By exercising our wills and depriving ourselves of food for spiritual purposes, we acknowledge our spiritual natures and honor our Creator-Father. When we deny the natural for the purpose of calling upon God to do the supernatural, He will enable and empower us to experience the supernatural.

Through fasting, we confirm the words uttered by Jesus in the face of temptation during His forty-day fast, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Through prayer and fasting we forsake our own physical needs and the creature comforts of this world and call upon God as the Originator, Giver, Source, and Sustainer of all life, especially our own. We exalt Him as our hope and salvation. True spiritual fasting will result in submission and devotion to God.

God Blesses When Our Fasts...

 • Focus on Him and honor Him. (Although you will receive spiritual blessings, these are not proper motives for fasting.)

• Have spiritual purposes. (Although you may realize certain physical benefits, these are not proper motives for spiritual fasting, e.g. for weight-loss purposes.)

• Cause individuals to humble themselves and submit to the authority of God and His Word.

• Cause individuals to acknowledge and repent of sin.

• Deprive our natural desires and lusts to focus on the spiritual.

 A Practical Guide

Even when we honor God by praying and fasting, this does not mean that our heavenly Father will grant everything on our wish-and-whim list. God will only work and bless in ways that are consistent and in harmony with His will and purpose. One of the primary functions of prayer and fasting is to help us discover what His ordained purposes and will are for our lives.

I have included some practical helps and hints that are rooted in my own experience-guidelines that I follow as I fast and pray.

Spiritual Suggestions

No. 1 - If God does not call you to fast, don't fast! Most people don't have a call to fast possibly because they're not totally open to God's leadership, have not been taught the biblical foundation for fasting, or are caught up in other types of sin that interfere.

No. 2 - Determine in advance the length of the fast God is calling you to undertake.

No. 3 - If God calls you to a fast, He has specific reasons and purposes in mind. Before you fast, determine the purposes of your fast and write them down, e.g., "Lord, I am fasting for the spiritual purposes of:

   • Spiritual revival and awakening in the church of America.

• Spiritual revival and awakening in my own local church.

• Spiritual revival and awakening in my own personal life."

 Under each of these major headings there could be several subpoints about what you are trusting God for in each of these areas.

 No. 4 - Identify, confess, and repent of all revealed sin before and during your fast. Continue to ask the Holy Spirit to search your heart and reveal any concealed area where you feel separated from God. Unconfessed sin and disobedience will hinder your prayer and fasting.

No. 5 - Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit's prompting in all areas of your life, since God will often require you to seek reconciliation or restoration in broken relationships.

No. 6 - Pray fervently and continually.

No. 7 - Absorb large quantities of scripture into your life through hearing, reading, studying, memorizing, and meditating on God's Word. Ask God to reveal what He wants you to read and study in His Word.

No. 8 - Always reserve time to be still and quiet before the Lord.

No. 9 - Keep a journal of your purposes for the fast. This should contain specific prayer requests, written prayer, devotional thoughts, and spiritual insights you are gaining during your fast. For example, I hand write many of my prayers to God. I also document whatever I feel God is teaching me, even though they may seem insignificant at the time. I include the specific day and time in the journal entry. These daily writings have been a consistent source of encouragement, strength, and insight long after the fast has ended, reminding me, often months later, of God's direction and calling for my life.

No. 10 - Skipping meals alone will not result in a meaningful fast! You must set aside time to pray and seek spiritual insights. Dedicate at least as much time as you would normally spend in food preparation and eating for prayer and the study of God's word.

No. 11 - Consider praying audibly in a kneeling position. At times, try getting on your face before God. This may help foster an attitude of humility in prayer and keep you focused on your purposes.

No. 12 - Praise God verbally and in song for who He is and what He has done: Worship Him.

No. 13 - Use scriptural prayers during some of your prayer time.

No. 14 - Ask God with whom, when and how you may want to share your fasting experience when it has come to an end. If God so allows it, your testimony can challenge, inspire, and help increase the faith of others. Always give God the glory for what He has done in your life.

Physical Suggestions

No. 1 - As a precautionary measure, check with your doctor before beginning your first fast.

No. 2 - Eat mainly raw foods and drink plenty of water for a few meals before you begin your fast.

No. 3 - Decrease the size and frequency of meals before beginning your fast, especially a prolonged fast.

No. 4 - Determine in advance what kind of fast you will undertake, e.g., total abstinence, water only, water and juice, etc. I recommend water-and-juice fasts. They help you accomplish the spiritual and physical purposes of the fast, while at the same time, they help you to maintain your energy level and your health.

No. 5 - Avoid chewing gum during the fast. Chewing activates the digestive processes. 

No. 6 - Days two through four of the fast are often the most challenging.

No. 7 - When drinking juice on a fast, unsweetened and non-acidic juices seem best. Tomato and orange juices are hard on the stomach, unless greatly diluted.

No. 8 - Most of my juice was prepared at home. Since I knew I would be entering a prolonged fast, one of the purchases I made was a professional juicer.

No. 9 - If you (a) undertake a water-only fast, (b) plan an extended fast, (c) have a medical condition, or (d) are taking medication, you should consult a medical doctor familiar with fasting before you begin your fast.

No. 10 - Consult other resources on fasting.

No. 11 - You may need to restrict some of your physical activity during the fast, especially rigorous exercise.

No. 12 - Sudden movements, especially standing up quickly, may cause temporary dizziness or light-headedness.

No. 13 - Expect some physical, mental and perhaps, even some emotional discomfort. Headaches, sleeplessness, and irritability often accompany a fast, but don't allow the fast to become an excuse for improper actions and attitudes.

No. 14 - You will likely experience some weight loss during a fast, but the weight usually returns quickly once the fast is broken.

No. 15 - It's important always to consider the feelings of others, particularly family members, when planning a fast. For example, to plan a fast during a holiday or a family reunion could unnecessarily offend others or draw attention to yourself. Ask God for the right time to conduct your fast.

No. 16 - Some people, even those with good intentions, may try to keep you from fasting; others may encourage you to end your fast before the appointed time. You should anticipate this and be prepared with a kind, yet resolved, response.

No. 17 - End the fast, especially an extended one, gradually. After my prolonged fasts, I eat only soft foods for at least a couple of days (baked potato, soup, yogurt, etc.). I begin with small portions and gradually increase my intake. I then move to other foods that are more easily digested. I often wait five or more days before returning to a full meal. Returning to normal eating patterns too quickly after a fast can cause serious medical problems, and may also minimize some of the physical benefits of the fast.

From The Power of Prayer and Fasting by Ronnie W. Floyd. Pages 197-204. Broadman & Holman Publishers. Copyright © 1997.

Scriptural Fasting Information:

 Esther 4:16 A three (3) day fast for crisis.

Daniel 10:2-3 A twenty-one (21) day partial fast where he ate no pleasant food

(no meat, sweets, etc.). This fast is for revelation.

 Psalms 35:14 Ezra 8:23

II Kings 21

I Samuel 30 Luke 4

One-day fast for self-examination; examine your heart. One-day fast for deliverance.

A fast lifted judgment off of Ahab. No day specified. Three day fast for healing.

Forty (40) day fast for dominion (God must lead you into this fast).

As with any fast, you must check with your doctor, especially if you have a current medical condition.

Fasting Suggestions as we prepare for 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

This Sunday we kick off "21 Days of Prayer and Fasting" around the theme of a devotion that I have written "HEAR What the Spirit Says."  You will receive your devotional guide in Sunday School or they will be available in the foyer.

"Fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose."

Your Level of Participation:

Enter into time of prayer and fasting at whatever level you can.  Prayerfully consider your limitations as you determine your level of participation. Some cannot participate in a food fast due to health reasons, pregnant, or other reasons.  However, even those limitations can find a way to participate in this time of fasting;  or a part of it.  

If your fast cannot be food focused, then seek to fast from something else that is a regular part of your life:  social media, TV, internet, sports, hobby, etc. Whatever activity that you sense is exerting too much influence on your heart or time and we need to fast from it to regain a more biblical perspective. 

Abstaining from food is the most powerful, but fasting from other things can have powerful benefits.  
Remember, the details are not as important as the spirit in which you participate.

Primary Purpose of Fasting?

The fast is a spiritual discipline designed to better connect us with God.  As a church, we are fasting in order to deepen our relationship with God, to better HEAR His voice and to walk with less distractions in obedience.  

Fasting is not some kind of hunger strike that is forcing the hand of God to move.   

You use the time you would normally eat to pursue God.  Fasting is a biblical practice and a spiritual process that God anoints powerfully.  Fasting is not a diet;  it's a spiritual discipline.  As you neglect yourself to purse God, you are winning the war against the flesh.  The walls come down when you approach God with this kind of focus, intentionality, and passion.

There is no mandate in the Bible to fast except on the Day of Atonement.  But fasting is assumed just as is praying and giving (Matthew 6).  Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength.

Types of Fasts:

*  Absolute Fast (no food/drink)  Ezra 10: 6; Esther 4:16; Acts 9:9

*  Normal Fast (no food, drink only liquids such as water and juices).  This appears to be what the Lord did for 40 days.  This is the most common type of fast.

*  Partial Fast (certain foods are given up).  This is what Daniel did in Daniel 10:3.  One could give up a meal or a particular kind of food.  Daniel fasted for 21 days.

Online resources helpful for fasting:

Jentezen Franklin - great resources and a free e-book
Daniel Fast
Ronnie Floyd - Fasting and Prayer as Your Spiritual Worship - GREAT article - a MUST read

Donald Whitney article on Fasting