November 18-24
Join us as we draw close to God as a church through the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting. We will set aside one week this Fall to seek God in prayer and deny ourselves normal comforts so that we can hear from God more clearly as a body of believers. The week will culminate with a special prayer service where we will invite God to bring revival to our community.
Nov. 18-24 Schedule:
- November 18 – Start of the Week
- November 20 – “Come and Pray” Meeting in the Prayer Room (6:00pm)
- November 24 – Prayer Service in the Sanctuary (6:00pm)
What is Fasting?
Fasting is, most commonly, to deny yourself food for a given period of time. Biblical fasting is a spiritual discipline that people engaged in throughout both the Old and New Testaments. The purpose of fasting is to draw closer to God by:
- Denying yourself the basic desires of your mind and body
- Placing yourself in a position of dependence on God
- Devoting each moment to worshiping God and listening to His Holy Spirit.
Click here to watch a video
from the Bible Project explaining biblical fasting.
“We are creatures of the senses. Our minds are helped by what comes to us in concrete form. Fasting helps to express, to deepen, and to confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain the Kingdom of God. And Jesus, who Himself fasted and sacrificed, knows to value, accept, and reward with spiritual power the soul that is thus ready to give up everything for Him and His Kingdom.”
Andrew Murray, With Christ in the School of Prayer, pp. 59-60
How do I Fast?
There are so many different ways to practice fasting. We invite you to participate in whatever way you can! Here are some ideas:
*Please modify as needed for health reasons, and also consider whether it would be supportive for you to meet with a therapist or doctor as you think about engaging in this practice.
1. Fast from a Single Meal Each Day
Give up one meal each day in devotion to God throughout the week. Instead of eating food during regular mealtimes, stop and pray.
2. Fast from Multiple Meals Each Day
Give up multiple meals each day throughout the week. One way to do this is to fast until sundown. By doing this you can devote yourself to God throughout the day and eat a meal in gratitude to God in the evening. Again, trade regular mealtimes for prayer times.
3. Fast for a Full Day
Give up food entirely for twenty-four hours, devoting yourself that day to prayer and dependence on God. If it goes well, consider doing this more than once.
If a full day is too much for your body or soul, try fasting for a more feasible time frame. The goal is to devote ourselves to God, not to harm our bodies or minds.
4. Fast from Certain Foods or Comforts
If fasting from full meals isn’t feasible for you for whatever reason, consider fasting from unhealthy foods or from something like media/entertainment. Deny yourself a regular comfort for the purpose of devotion to God.
Note: It is important to give up something you actually depend on or use regularly. It doesn’t do you much good to give up something you won’t miss anyway.
Come and Pray
Join us in the Prayer Room at 6:00pm on Wednesday, November 20 to pray with other believers as a group. This group meets weekly on Wednesdays and is open to anyone who wants to attend. During the week of prayer and fasting this is an opportunity to be encouraged by others, to share with others what you are experiencing, and to lift up prayers to God.
If you would like more information about this group, contact Pastor Matt Blackaby.
Prayer Service
Join us in the Sanctuary on November 24 at 6:00pm as we walk through a special prayer service based entirely on God’s words found in 2 Chroncles 7:14:
“If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14
Together as a church we will invite God to bring revival to our community as we walk through the process of humbling ourselves, praying, seeking the face of God, and repenting of sin.
We will also have opportunities in the service for people to share the ways that God has been moving in their lives throughout the week of prayer and fasting.
*Childcare will be provided during the service.
More Resources
If you would like more resources on prayer and fasting as spiritual disciplines, feel free to check out Practicing the Way. This organization, led by John Mark Comer, a former pastor at Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, produces discipleship resources for those looking to grow in spiritual disciplines. They have an entire unit on fasting that is free to access!