NeuroTalk Support Groups - Day of Fasting!

I know this is a personal thing according to one's beliefs, but I received this in my email and decided to pass it on including links. I am familiar with Damascus Roads Ministry. It is run by an adult with Autism and his family, but not familiar with the other ministries.

Judy

Subject: [Damascusroad] A Call to Fast for Autism on April 23
Sharing this information.

A Call to Fast for Autism on April 23
Dear Daily Prayer Subscriber,
As many of you know, April is Autism Awareness Month here in the United
States. In the several years since we have been involved in the cause of
autism, we have been very pleased to see that with each passing April,
more and more awareness of and programs devoted this devastating
disorder have been presented in the media. Sadly, however, with each
passing April, more and more children and families are devastated by the
diagnosis.
This April, Paulette Britton, mother of Sam, was impressed to call for a
Day of Prayer and Fasting for those affected by autism. We commend
Paulette for this great effort. We at Children of Destiny fully endorse
this opportunity to join with many others from around the world in
fasting and lifting our prayers before the Lord on behalf of those
afflicted with autism. Therefore, we are asking that you would consider
joining with us as we humble ourselves before the Lord in Prayer and
Fasting for our children and adults with autism. The official fast is
for 24 hours and runs from sun up on Monday, April 23 until sun up on
Tuesday April 24.
Why Fast?
For the Christian, fasting is an essential part of spiritual life. Even
Jesus agreed that some things simply could not be accomplished without
fasting.
Fasting removes spiritual clutter and puts us in a better position to
receive from God. By fasting, we make it possible for the Lord to reveal
Himself to us in a greater way, not because He speaks more clearly, but
because we can hear Him more clearly.
Why is that? Because fasting is a sacrifice of submission and worship
unto Him. It is because we have given up something temporal in order to
pursue something eternal. To the degree we allow ourselves to hunger
after God is the degree to which we will be satisfied by Him.
The fruit of our fasting is God's to decide. We cannot manipulate God
through it, but we certainly can please Him. Fasting almost certainly
will produce a deeper covenant relationship with Him. Isaiah 58, the
great chapter on fasting, offers us a list of additional benefits that
fasting can produce including deliverance, giving, guidance, healing,
increased protection, spiritual cleansing, answers from God, increased
fruitfulness, and restoration of spiritual things that have been lost
(This material has been adapted from the book Possessing Your
Inheritance by Chuck D. Pierce and Rebecca Wagner Sytsema, pp. 134-135).
Of course, we are asking that you join us in this fast as we
specifically ask God to heal children and adults with autism. Paulette
suggests that you make a specific list of what you are asking God for as
you fast. Doing so is essential because it not only focuses you in
prayer, but also allows you to go back later and see how the Lord has
moved.
Here at Children of Destiny, we recommend that this list not just be
generic, such as "God, please heal Nick of autism," but rather a list of
specific issues related to the autism. For example, potty training,
aggressive behaviors, language, running away, digestive disorders and so
forth. The reason for doing this is so we can see the hand of God moving
in very specific ways as issues on this list improve. Not only does it
encourage us that God is moving on behalf of our loved one, it also
increases our faith for the whole miracle!
Please Join Us
Again, the fast runs from sunrise on April 23 to sunrise on April 24.
Many will likely choose to fast from all food. However, if for any
reason you are unable to fast for the entire 24 hour period, or are
unable to fast from food, please consider joining us anyway. Perhaps you
can consider a fast of any beverage other than water, or perhaps you can
abstain from sugar. We ask that you are wise in making your decisions to
fast and do not compromise your health in any way. If you have health
issues and are not able to consult with your doctor before Monday,
please consider fasting in some other form -- perhaps from television or
reading for pleasure. Also consider asking your children or granchildren
to fast as well. If a food fast is unwise or unwelcomed, kids could also
be encouraged to fast from video games or other daily indulgences.
Again, we thank Paulette for putting together this great initiative. She
has put together a web site containing all the information necessary to
participate. We encourage you to visit her site at
http://www.asdPrayandFast.com.
Please pass this information along to your friends and family and
listmates.
We would be thrilled to hear of your plans to participate, and also of
the answers to prayer you see!
Blessings,
Jack and Rebecca Sytsema
Children of Destiny
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