January Fasting and Prayer Guide
As we start 2025, we want to humbly pray and seek God’s face as a church. We are planning a special worship and prayer meeting on Wednesday, January 29th, from 7-8:00pm. All are welcome and preschool care will be provided for young ones.
We invite you to fast and pray one day, or some portion of a day, each week leading up to that special night. As we collectively humble ourselves before God, we will be seeking his will for our lives, our church and community for 2025.
The Practice of Fasting:
- Fasting can help recalibrate our heart from the pleasures of the world (food, media, etc.) to the pleasures of God and the world to come.
- People fast for a variety of reasons; in 2023 even 10% of Americans utilized intermittent fasting merely for weight loss benefits, without concern to spiritual benefits.
The Biblical Basis of Fasting and praying:
- God’s people fasted to humble themselves and seek God (Jud. 20:26, 2 Chr. 20:3, Ez. 8:21).
- Jesus had the expectation that his disciples would fast (Matt. 6:16-17).
- The early church fasted and sought God’s will (Acts 13:2, 3, 14:23).
The Method of Fasting:
- Fasting from food (for those who are able to health wise) may involve skipping a meal and devoting that time to praying. Start with skipping breakfast and work up to skipping lunch and beyond. Always drink plenty of water. You may initially experience hunger, energy lag, and increased irritability, but try not to let your fast hinder you (Mt. 6:16-17). If you have any concerns whether you can fast from food, please consult your doctor.
- Fasting from media may involve turning off devices or digital content and devoting that time to praying.
Weekly Focus:
Week 1 – Pray that God would give us a passion for him this year.
Week 2 – Pray that God would give us a hunger for his Word this year.
Week 3 – Pray that God would move mightily in our church this year.
Week 4 – Pray that God would use us to help save many people this year.