DAILY PRAYER FOCUS
1. Humble ourselves. Asking for forgiveness for our sins and the sins of our land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)
2. Seeking God. Declaring our dependence on God in every area of our lives. (1 Chronicles 16:11)
3. His Kingdom come. Praying for the completion of the Great Commission and for revival in our generation. (Matthew 6:10)
4. Hear from Heaven. Invite the Presence of God in our church and our lives. Pray for souls to be saved, signs, wonders, miracles, and transformed lives. (Exodus 33:15)
5. Believing God for answered prayer to our specific needs – Connection Cards, Pastoral Care update cards, and prayer requests. (Philippians 4:6)
6. Praying for people to take next steps in their journey of faith to Know God, Find Freedom, Discover Purpose, and Make a Difference. (Ephesians 1:17-18)
We have elected to do a church-wide fast. This begins during the evening of Sunday, January 2nd, and ends on the evening of Sunday Januay 23rd.
Before you fast, decide the following up front:
1. The type of fast God wants you to undertake (such as the Daniel Fast, fasting certain activities/items, water only, or water and juices.) We recommend and are electing to do the Daniel Fast as a whole, but if that is unsafe for you we encourage you to find a method that will work for you.
2. What physical or social activities you will restrict
3. How much time each day you will devote to prayer and God’s Word
Making these commitments ahead of time will help you sustain your fast when physical temptations and life’s pressures tempt you to abandon it.
***Some persons should never fast without professional supervision.
While You Fast
Your time of fasting and prayer has come. You are abstaining from all solid foods and have begun to seek the Lord. Here are some helpful suggestions to consider:
The first few days are usually the hardest. As you continue to fast, you will likely experience a sense of well-being both physically and spiritually. However, should you feel hunger pains, increase your liquid intake.
For maximum spiritual benefit, set aside ample time to be alone with the Lord. Listen for His leading. The more time you spend with Him, the more meaningful your fast will be. (See Addendum 2.)
Begin eating gradually. Do not eat solid foods immediately after your fast. Suddenly reintroducing solid food to your stomach and digestive tract could have negative consequences. Try several smaller meals or snacks. If you end your fast gradually, the beneficial physical and spiritual effects will result in continued good health.
Here are some suggestions to help you end your fast properly:
If you sincerely humble yourself before the Lord, repent, pray, and seek God’s face; if you consistently meditate on His Word, you will experience a heightened awareness of His presence (John 14:21). The Lord will give you fresh, new spiritual insights. Your confidence and faith in God will be strengthened. You will feel mentally, spiritually, and physically refreshed. You will see answers to your prayers.
A single fast, however, is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh infillings of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need new times of fasting before God. A 24-hour fast each week has been greatly rewarding to many Christians.
It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. If you fail to make it through your first fast, do not be discouraged. You may have tried to fast too long the first time out, or your may need to strengthen your understanding and resolve. As soon as possible, undertake another fast until you do succeed. God will honor you for your faithfulness.
We encourage you to join us in fasting and prayer, making it a normal part of our lives, until we truly experience revival in our homes, our churches, our beloved nation, and throughout the world.
RESOURCES ON FASTING: