Corporate Prayer and Fasting
A Call To Corporate Prayer and Fasting
Hello, this is Pastor Ryan! I hope you are having a great week and I look forward to being with you this Sunday! In preparation for prayer night on February 7th I have felt prompted to include a 24-hour fast. I know this can be intimidating, especially for those who never or rarely fast. There also may be medical reasons to consider before proceeding. I’ll share some options you can try below. Our fasting period will be from Tuesday, 8:00 pm to Wednesday 8:00 pm. Prayer night begins at 6:30 pm and concludes around 8:00 pm.
The Purpose of Fasting
Fasting is mentioned throughout the Bible and is done for a variety of reasons. When we fast food we deny a basic necessity and desire of our body and turn our focus on spiritual and physical dependency on the Lord. The purpose of our fast and prayer night is to submit our flesh and our bodies to the Lord, demonstrating our heart of hunger for more of Him. When Jesus was fasting for 40 days, Satan came and tempted him with food. Jesus countered Satan’s temptation with this profound truth: “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Overall, the key purpose of breaking from eating is to spend more concentrated time pursuing God through prayer, reading the Word, and spiritual reflection. Time and energy used for meals are now focused on coming to the table of the Lord and finding our satisfaction in Him.
Practices in Fasting
A traditional, Biblical fast, also known as, a full fast, typically means no food for 24 hours, but drinking plenty of water is allowed and recommended. If you are brand new to fasting I would encourage you to try the full 24 hours but if it’s something you need to work up to then you could do a partial fast. A partial fast is skipping a few meals or restricting your calorie intake by half or less. Some people will drink bone broth and water to help them get used to fasting for 24 hours. If you can’t fast food for medical reasons you can choose to fast technology, television, entertainment, or whatever would free your time. Some may choose to fast both food and technology for 24 hours. Let the Lord lead you on this.
Considerations for Fasting
I am by no means giving medical advice and recommend you seek your family physician for counsel if you are unsure of your health conditions and still want to participate fully. There are many views and personal experiences we all could share but here are common insights for fasting from our friends at Focus on the Family:
Don’t fast when you are sick, traveling, pregnant, or nursing. People with diabetes, gout, liver disease, kidney disease, ulcers, hypoglycemia, cancer, and blood diseases should not fast.
Don’t fast if you are in a hurry and are fasting for immediate results regarding some decision. Fasting is not magic.
Stay hydrated. Always drink plenty of water.
If you are new to fasting, begin fasting for one meal. Spend the time with God that you would normally be eating.
Work up to longer fasts. Don’t attempt prolonged fasts without guidance. Check with your doctor before attempting long periods of fasting.
You may feel more tired on days you fast. Adjust responsibilities appropriately. (Expect your tongue to feel coated, and expect to have bad breath.)
Don’t break your fast with a huge meal. Eat small portions of food. The longer the fast, the more you need to break the fast gently.
Here are a few recommended scriptures to reflect on during your fast but of course let the Lord lead you as you spend time in fellowship with Him.
Isaiah 58
Nehemiah 1
Psalm 63
Luke 4
Matthew 6
Here’s what I’ve learned with my journey in fasting: I can fast longer than I think and feel…and the more I fast the easier and more enjoyable it gets. God sustains and does a powerful work in you through these moments of consecration. Additionally, you won’t be alone. Not only will God be present, but many others will be fasting with you. I hope to see you at prayer night on Wednesday and look forward to hearing testimonies of what God does through this fast.
Sincerely,
Pastor Ryan