THIS CONSECRATION IS TO HELP PRIORITIZE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD AND FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON WHAT MATTERS MOST, WHETHER
YOU HAVE A GREAT PRAYER LIFE OR NO PRAYER LIFE AT ALL, A POWERFUL WAY TO PERSEVERE THROUGH THE 2ND HALF OF THE YEAR.
We’re thrilled that you’ve decided to set aside the second part of the year. For a focused and intentional time of Bible reading, meditation, prayer, and fasting. 2021 was a year filled with unexpected moments of challenges and difficulties but also a year where we were able to see God’s intentional hand and care in our lives. We’ve felt Him sow seeds of patience, trust, joy, and peace; this year, we truly believe we will continue to see the fruit of all that has been sown. The 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting is a tool to help you focus your heart and mind on your relationship with God.
BIBLE READING PLAN
WHAT TO DO
Throughout our time of Prayer and Fasting we invite you to join us in the following ways:
One
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook. Read along with us in scripture by utilizing the Daily Scripture Guide and the Prayer First Guide to deepen your understanding of prayer.
Two
Set aside time each day for reading the Bible and praying. A Daily Scripture Guide and a Prayer First Guide has been provided as well as different types of fasts for you to consider. Be sensitive to the Lord’s leading when choosing your fast.
Three
Join us each Sunday Morning at 10:00 AM and as we collectively seek the Lord and His Word. If you’re unable to attend services in person, join us online. There’s nothing better than being with the Body of Christ in corporate worship and prayer!
FASTING
Why do we fast? As a believer in Christ, our objective in fasting is to abstain from something, typically food, to help create an added awareness of our weakness and our need for God’s strength. It takes our surrender to God to a new level, showing Him that a relationship with Him is central to every aspect of our lives. Dedicating ourselves to prayer and fasting brings us to a new level of spiritual dependence and renews our perspective, commitment and resolve.
CHOOSING YOUR FAST
Let’s be reminded that fasting isn’t a form of punishment for the sins you’ve committed since Christ took care of that for you on the cross. It’s the decision to disconnect yourself from your dependence on the world and yourself.
Here are examples of the different types of fasts that you might consider:
Complete Fasting:
Talk to your doctor and consult the Holy Spirit before you participate in this option but a complete fast is just that. For Passion Week Fast, you would only drink liquids (i.e. water, light juices, etc) for the entire day or designated portions of the day. We’ve seen this type of fast in the Book of Esther. Queen Esther called the entire nation of Israel to fast for their deliverance (Esther 4:16). It is amazing how long a human body can stand without food, but not without water. However, if God is calling you to this kind of fast, always follow His leading first.
Selective Fast:
This is the most common type of fast since the Bible talks about abstaining from certain foods or drinks. The Daniel fast found in Daniel 10 is one example of a selective fast (no meats, breads and sweets for the week). Whole 30, Vegan/plant based and Paleo meal plans are popular food choices as well.
Intermittent Fast:
This was a common type of fast for the Hebrew people. For this fast, you’d designate certain times of the day for fasting. For example, no eating from sun up to sundown or choosing to eat only in the morning or the afternoon.
Soul Fast:
A Soul fast typically means removing luxuries and indulgences outside of food. Its purpose is to guard the types of things that enter your mind and heart during this season. This includes but isn’t limited to social media, music, movies & TV, smart phone usage or screen time either for a certain period or the entire period.
READING THE BIBLE
One of the most powerful disciplines you can develop to become more like Christ is to simply read the Bible. If you then create space to meditate on what you’ve read and have a conversation with God about it for the our Passion Week Fast, you will be amazed at how much you will grow spiritually.
If reading the Bible has been a struggle or difficult for you in the past, try using the YouVersion Bible App. It has many different devotional plans for you to choose from. We have a few suggested plans that we recommend you to try during our fast.