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Join us this January for a time of prayer and fasting. We want to start the new year seeking the Lord and intentionally removing distractions by fasting so that we can make more time with him and hear more clearly fro him. I want to encourage you to consider how you might participate in both the prayer and the fasting. 

In January we will be doing a sermon series on prayer called "Prayers that Shook the World." We will look at the prayers of some of the heros of the faith and how their prayers should shape our prayers. 

I also want to encourage you to think about how you can spend more time in the word. We will be providing a reading plan on the book of exodus. You'll find that plan by clicking here and you will be able to see what others are saying about it as they read. If you want to develop a more thorough reading plan you can read our post “Developing a Bible Reading Plan."

 

If you are new to fasting and wondering what it is and how to begin let me give some explanation to that. Throughout Scripture when people turn to God in desperation, it is often done with prayer and fasting (Jonah 3:7, Dan 9:3). Fasting is the discipline of refraining from food to demonstrate deep contrition for sin and a greater dependence on God. We want to demonstrate and cultivate that same attitude and dependence.

Prayer and fasting involves removing certain activities in order to make room for pursuing God. Consider what you might remove (fast) and what you might add in to pursue God (pray).

Fast: There are a variety of ways to fast. Some people fast all food for multiple days, some have fasted on certain days (ex: Monday and Thursday), some fast certain foods for certain periods of time (ex: sweets, dessert, meat, etc) or fast certain activities (ex: watching television, news, social media, etc).

Prayer: As you fast (remove things), also consider what you might add into your life to pursue God. Consider making time to consistently read Scripture and pray through what you read. If you are not consistently at church then consider what you might change to prioritize the gathering of God’s people. If you are not experiencing prayer and fellowship with other believers then consider what you might do to make room for it.

As you enter this time, be open to how God might work and pray for him to show you more of himself. 

 

Commitment Card. We are providing a commitment card as a way to express what you will do in this time of fasting (you can fill out at the church). Pray through what God is leading you to do and make a commitment next Sunday January 11. These cards are encouraging for the church to receive and see how people are participating, but we mainly do it as many have shared how helpful it is to make a commitment and hold themselves to it. 

You can check the boxes below that you want to follow or write in your own commitments for prayer and fasting. 

I commit to Fast (what and when)

  • Food all day on Monday and Thursday.
  • Refraining from television, social media for 21 days.
  • ____________________________________________
  • ____________________________________________

I commit to Pray (what and when)

  • 30 minutes everyday to read the Bible and pray.
  • Read one chapter of the Bible every day and pray.
  • ____________________________________________
  • ____________________________________________

Commitment Card

 

This commitment card is a way for you to express what you will do in this time of fasting. Pray through what God is leading you to do and make a commitment Sunday January 11. These cards are encouraging for the church to receive and see how people are participating, but we mainly do it as many have shared how helpful it is to make a commitment and hold themselves to it. 

 

Check or complete the boxes that pertain to you.

 

I commit to Fast (what and when):

  • Food all day on Monday and Thursday.
  • Refraining from television, social media for 21 days.
  • ____________________________________________
  • ____________________________________________

 

I commit to Pray (what and when):

  • 30 minutes everyday to read the Bible and pray.
  • ____________________________________________
  • ____________________________________________
  • ____________________________________________

 

I am praying and asking God to:  ________________________________________________________________________________________