Prayer & Fasting

Prayer & Fasting

Your prayer life is a journey. You will begin to see the fruits of your labors as you become a person who lives a lifestyle of prayer and fasting. 

What I have found is that everyone has their own story. Everyone has their own encounters with Christ. 

My desire for you, as you become a person of prayer, you will be stirred with a fresh hunger and desire to grow in your relationship with God. 

UNDERSTANDING PRAYER & FASTING

Develop a prayer life:
 
I want to give you 5 quick points of making prayer become a lifestyle. 
  1. Prayer must be a priority 
    1. When you read your bible, God is talking to you. When you pray, you talk to God. 
    2. The Bible says that when you pray, go into your closet. The word closet is used 4 times in the NT. Meaning you need to find a place of privacy to spend time with the Lord.  
    3. Why make it a priority? 
      1. Prayer is a sin killer
      2. Prayer is a victory giver
      3. Prayer is a power enhancer
         
  2. Prayer must have time given to it
    1. Our lives are based off schedules. We schedule work. We schedule date nights. We schedule church. We schedule our meals. But we don’t schedule our personal time with God. 
    2. When you pray, you build a wall of protection. When you pray the angels of heaven come and surround you and your family.
    3. Daniel 6:10 – Daniel prayed 3 times per day giving thanks to God. 
    4. You may be thinking I have kids or I have a job. Guess what, yep, you do. Guess what? Yep, you have to give time to it. It must be a priority. You give priority to things that are important to you.  
       
  3. Prayer must have a place
    1. Luke 5:16 – Jesus went to a desolate place and prayed. 
       
      You have to find your place where you continually go. It can be your car, bedroom or wherever. But find a place you can go often and get alone and seek God. What is amazing, when you find that place and you go there often, you will soon begin to go there and it is almost as if, God is there waiting for you. What happens is you set your exception in that place. 
       
  4. Prayer must have a pattern
    1. The reason why you don’t pray is you don’t know how. You have to practice and when something is hard, it is easier to just make excuses not to do it. 
    2. We have to become skilled at praying. When we are becoming skilled, we want to copy the best. Jesus prayed and we want our prayers to resemble the prayers of Jesus. Look up some verses in the Bible that refer to Jesus praying and pray those verses. 
       
  5. Prayer must be vocalized
    1. Now I am not saying every time but when you are going after Jesus, you need to be serious about it. 
    2. Luke 11:3 When you pray, say… It doesn’t say meditate. It doesn’t say think about it. You have to pray out loud. Allow me to encourage you, that during this prayer and fasting session, spend time praying out loud. 

How to Begin
Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.

Preparing Spiritually
Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).

Deciding What to Fast
The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.

Deciding How Long
You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.

What to Expect
When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.

How to End
Don’t overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

Why should I fast?

  • Are you in need of healing or a miracle?
  • Do you need the tender touch of God in your life?
  • Is there a dream inside you that only He can make possible?
  • Are you in need of a fresh encounter?
  • Do you desire a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord?
  • Are you ready to have heightened sensitivity to the desires of God?
  • Do you need to break away from bondages that have been holding you hostage?
  • Is there a friend or loved one that needs Salvation?
  • Do you desire to know God’s will for your life?

1.  PRAYER (Ezra 8:23)

Throughout the Bible, fasting is associated with prayer. For example, Jesus fasted and prayed during some of the most intense moments in His earthy life. 

2. SEEKING GOD (Judges 20:26)

The act of fasting can soften our hearts, remove worldly concerns, and make us more receptive to His leading in our lives. 

3. GRIEVING (1 Samuel 31:13)

Fasting is often a natural response to grief and we see examples of fasting and grieving throughout Scripture. David and his men, wept and fasted after the death of Saul and his sons (2 Samuel 1:12)

4. SEEKING DELIVERANCE (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)

In Esther 4:15-17, Esther called her people to fast and pray for deliverance before she was to approach the king. 

5. REPENTANCE (1 Samuel 7:6)

Fasting demonstrates the seriousness of our sins and a commitment to returning to God. 

6. HUMILITY (1 Kings 21:27-29(

We need our God but also our position under His authority in our lives. Fasting is a physical manifestation of our need for God. 

7. KINGDOM WORK (Nehemiah 1:3-4)

Nehemiah fasting over the devastation of Jerusalem illustrates that we can fast and pray for a particular facet of God’s kingdom work 

8. MINISTRY (Isaiah 58:3-7)

This shows our need for God as we serve others and giving of ourselves for their benefit. 

9. OVERCOMING TEMPTATION (Matthew 4:1-11)

Jesus fasted in the wilderness and in this was able to overcome the temptation of the enemy. 

10. WORSHIP (Luke 2:37)

Fasting shows we are pursuing God for life and sustenance – placing Him above all else in our lives. 

Listen to this message...

This is Pastor Dwight Thompson. This sermon is titled, “My Most Unforgettable Character.” Dwight went and spoke at a church just 5 years after he started preaching. He talks about his experience while at this church of what happened when a group of people started praying and became relentless in their prayer. 

Listen and be encouraged. 

Play Video

PRAYER & FASTING SCHEDULE

Fasting in the biblical sense is choosing not to partake of food because your spiritual hunger is so deep, your determination in intercession so intense, or your spiritual warfare so demanding that you have temporarily set aside even fleshly needs to give yourself to prayer and meditation. – Wesley L. Duewel

Fasting is an intentional abstention from food (or any craving) for a set period of time to seek God’s will through prayer. Through fasting and prayer, we humble ourselves before God so the Holy Spirit will stir our souls, awaken our Church, strengthen our families, and draw our communities to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

This may be the first time some of you are participating in the Christian discipline of fasting and we want this to be a positive, life changing experience. We have therefore proposed several different levels at which you can participate.

FASTING FOR BEGINNERS LEVEL: This is a great option if you have never abstained from food for lengthy periods or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for a set duration during the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast. You can choose not to view any media from 6:00 pm to midnight, and spend that time praying at the top of each hour. You can also skip one meal each day, and spend that mealtime praying at the top of each hour. So, if you skip breakfast and spend that time in prayer.

FASTING FOR INTERMEDIATE LEVEL: You can do what’s known as the Daniel fast. The Daniel Fast eating plan is like a vegan diet with more restrictions. The only beverage is water and the primary foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. There are no sweeteners on the fast and no processed foods or chemicals. During this fast, set aside four times during the day to pray: 9:00a.m, 12:00noon, 3:00p.m, and 6:00p.m. If you are an early riser, add a 6:00a.m prayer time.

FASTING FOR ADVANCED LEVEL: In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option during the duration of the fast. Certain medical conditions do not allow for some to engage in a food fast. If you have health concerns, seek the advice of a physician before fasting from food. Before fasting, you may be tempted to eat a large meal to stock up. This can have some negative effects on your body. It is best to wean yourself from food. Make your last meal before the fast a light meal consisting of fruits and vegetables. Stay away from greasy or oily foods. When breaking your fast, do so slowly. If engaging in an extended fast, ease your body back into a normal pattern by eating a light diet consisting mostly of fruits and vegetables. After a few days, you can begin to eat meats again.

MY PRAYER & FASTING SESSION FOR JANUARY:
  1. What am I going to fast?
  2. What time of day am I going to spend focused time in spiritual growth?
  3. What do I hope to gain from this intensive? 

Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling! (Psalm 43:3, ESV)

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13, ESV)

PRAYER POINTS: Pathway Church

  • Pray that God would make it clear that every ministry at Pathway Church is a work of His Spirit.
  • Sunday Gatherings – pray for visible evidence of the Spirit’s work where life transformation takes place. 
  • Preaching – pray the Word would penetrate the hearts of people.
  • Worship – pray people would have an encounter with the Holy Spirit.
  • Tech – pray that our message and songs would reach into new territory through online.
  • Pathway Kids – pray that our kids would follow Jesus all the days of their lives. 
  • Missions – pray for our finances and ministry efforts will have maximum reach.
  • Serve Teams – pray that people would serve out of the strength God supplies
  • Pray that the Holy Spirit would lead us; and that His will and direction for our church would be evident every step of the way.
  • Pray that in all we do, God would be glorified and would bring fame to His name in Cleveland County and beyond
  • Pray that our services would be thriving and developing disciples that transform our communities for Christ
What are some thoughts and reflections God impressed on your heart during day one?

I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. (Psalm 32:5, ESV)

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9, ESV)

PRAYER POINTS: Humility

  • Pray that God would humble our hearts and help us submit to His plans.
  • Pray for godly sorrow that leads to repentance, which results in a spiritually healthy congregation.
  • Pray that we would embrace the forgiveness of Christ and in turn extend the same forgiveness to others who wounded us.
  • Pray for boldness in confronting sin and for wisdom on how to do it with grace and love that leads to restoration.
  • Pray that the Lord would sweep our “house” clean of any impurities and welcome His Holy Spirit to come in a fresh new way.
  • Pray for a foundation in the Word of God to be laid and for willing submission to Biblical principles in God’s people.
What are some thoughts and reflections God impressed on your heart during day two?

Make known to the children of man your mighty deeds, and the glorious splendor of your kingdom. (Psalm 145:12, ESV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. (James 1:5, ESV)

PRAYER POINTS: Wisdom

  • Pray for godly wisdom as we seek what is next for Pathway as start our 2024 year. 
  • Pray for attentiveness to the Holy Spirit’s voice in all we do.
  • Pray for the members of Pathway Church.
  • Pray for the family members of Pathway Church
What are some thoughts and reflections God impressed on your heart during day three?

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6:10–13, ESV)

PRAYER POINTS: Protection

  • Pray for spiritual protection around our congregation; that God would protect us from deception, temptation, and plans of the enemy that would wound people along the way.
  • Pray that God would cause confusion in the camp of the enemy and that He would crush any works of Satan that will lead to confusion or chaos in our church and families.
  • Pray that our church becomes a doorway for people to grow deeper in their relationship with God.
What are some thoughts and reflections God impressed on your heart during day four?

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20–21, ESV)

PRAYER POINTS: Evangelistic

  • Pray that God will draw to Himself families and singles in our region that are far from God.
  • Pray that Pathway continues to broaden our scope of influence in our community.
  • Pray that God would lead us in determining the best strategy to disciple people to become fully devoted to Jesus.
  • Pray for the supernatural works of Jesus to be manifested so that the surrounding community would be transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
  • Pray that our generosity would increasingly grow so that we can reach more people for Jesus.
What are some thoughts and reflections God impressed on your heart during day five?

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28–30, ESV)

PRAYER POINTS: Rest

  • Pray that the peace of Christ’s salvation will invade our hearts, minds, and steady our souls.
  • Pray that we will be able to rest and enjoy our families, friends, and neighbors.
  • Pray that we are can look back and thank God for all that He has done in our own lives with joy-filled hearts.
  • Pray that we can look back and thank God for all that He has done in and through the ministry of Pathway.
What are some thoughts and reflections God impressed on your heart during day six?

And Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says will come to pass, it will be done for him. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. (Mark 11:22–24, ESV)

PRAYER POINTS: Faith

  • Pray that God will grant us bold and courageous faith for the future of Pathway.
  • Pray that we become people of great faith in our daily lives.
  • Pray that people will come to Pathway and have a desire to grow in their faith.
  • Pray that we have crazy faith. Faith for the impossible. Faith to see the way that God sees. 
What are some thoughts and reflections God impressed on your heart during day seven?

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