A Call To Fast

We've been challenged this week to fast together as a church during a 24 hour period (Phil suggested sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, but it's your own choice as to when this week) and we just wanted to take a few moments and provide some items for us as a church body to pray for during the fast and to discuss some reasons as to why we do fast and how exactly we should fast.

First, here are a few prayer points to lift up during your 24 hour fast with your family:

1. Pray that as men we would not be afraid to step up to the plate, but would lead our families with integrity and conviction.
2. Pray that as women we would have the courage of Esther and humbly devote ourselves to the Lord.
3. Pray that God would bring revival to our families and subsequently to our church.
4. Pray that as families we would delight to spend time together in God's Word.
5. Pray that we would become families (men, women and children) who are passionate about prayer.

So why do we fast anyway? In the Bible prayer is often times accompanied by fasting (see Nehemiah or Esther) and is usually seen as a time of intense supplication, worship or repentance. Wayne Grudem lists some excellent reasons as to the purpose of fasting:

1. It increases our sense of humility and dependence on God.
2. It allows us to give more attention on prayer.
3. It is a reminder that just as we sacrifice to some small part of our comfort to God (not eating) so we must continually sacrifice all of ourselves to God.
4. It is a good exercise in self-discipline (strengthens our ability to refrain from sin). (Hebrews 5:8; 1 Peter 4:1-2)
5. It heightens our awareness of spiritual things as we concern ourselves less with material things (food).
6. It expresses earnestness and urgency in our prayers.

We look forward to how God will move mightily in our midst as we gather back together this Sunday!