We invite you to join us for 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting starting January 27th
Below you will find a guide that will help you get the most out of your 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting.
What is fasting?
We see fasting used for millennia by almost every major religion and culture across the world. In short, fasting is refraining from food for spiritual formation. Fasting was used in the Old Testament for dedication, preparation, grief and repentance. When God stepped into history through Jesus, a shift took place. As a result we see fasting begin to be used for communion with God, expectation of God moving, and the acknowledgment we have now tasted and seen the kingdom and nothing else will satisfy.
Why should I fast?
We are asking all of us to participate in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting to prepare us for what God will do in and through us this year. Through the book of Acts, prayer and fasting would regularly precede a sending out or a movement of God amongst the people. We believe God wants to use us this year and we want to be ready. What part will you play in what God is doing?
What will our fast entail?
Fast from something you love.
It will include fasting for those 21 days from something we love and value. It could be a hobby, a distraction, a vice or even a near and dear idol. Deciding what this will be for you can be difficult. So here’s a couple questions to guide you as you decide what you will fast from over the next 21 days. Ask yourself: Where/what do I go to to distract or avoid? Where do I get defensive? And what may work best, ask someone else what they think would be good for you to fast from. And if you do, what do you hope they don’t bring up? Because that might be the very thing.
Fast from food on Saturdays
It will also include a fast from food on Saturdays and we will break fast Sunday following our gathering with the church. It’s a beautiful opportunity for you to break fast with others from the church in your home or out. We understand that not all of us have the ability to do this part of it because of health reasons or because a past addiction or struggles it may not be safe for you to. That is okay and we encourage you to join with us in the first part, but for the rest of us, we will choose to set aside food for all of Saturday into Sunday.
Listen to this episode of the New Story Podcast where Piece and Jeremy talk about the history of fasting and its relevance for our church today.