February 3 - FEBRUARY 10 | 7 Days of Prayer & Fasting

“A diet changes the way you look, but a fast changes the way you see.” —Lisa Bevere

Why Fast?

What fasting does spiritually is draw your heart in humility nearer to the heart of God. And when you are humble and near the Father, you can hear His voice answer prayers. You can feel his breath move, you can see the future He has for you in hope and joy. The reward of fasting in the Bible is always a closer walk with God, healing either spiritually or physically and peace even when life is hard.

We desire that this becomes an annual practice for our church community. For 7 days we are dedicating our hearts to prayer and fasting in order to seek God for the new year! Our hope for you is that you would experience God in a new and fresh way. 

What is fasting?

Fasting is simply withstanding from something in order to focus our attention and efforts towards God. When we partner this with prayer, we are able to see God do the miraculous! We believe prayer is a pivotal part of fasting. (Biblical References: Daniel 10:1-3, Exodus 34:28, Nehemiah 1:4) There are several types of fasting available to choose from. The one you choose is between you and God. He will honor your best sacrifice.

1. Fasting is a Christian discipline to break the power of the flesh in our life.

2. Fasting is not about getting from God, but rather getting to God.

Fasting Schedule | February 3 - FEBRUARY 10

We want to jump start our corporate fast with specific days that we can do together:

Mon-Tues: Negativity Fast—>into a Positivity Feast

Psalm 34:3 does not say, “O magnify the problem with me.” it says, “O magnify the Lord with me.” Are you ready to break out of patterns of negativity and self-limiting beliefs? Can you imagine what would happen if you invested 2 days focusing on thankfulness, God's promises, and the finished work of the cross?

wed: Lunch or dinner fast—>into a Scripture feast

During this time, take a walk, quiet your heart, and listen to scriptures through the Bible app. Allow for your hunger to remind you of how much you need God.

ThurS: Media fast (social or streaming)

Instead of leaning into television or your “discontentment device” spend time as a family talking about God. Create an environment where worship music and conversation surrounding the good things that God has done becomes the focal point of that day or evening.

Fri-Sun: pick a personal fast

Challenge yourself to get alone with God (make more room in your quiet times before the Lord) and ask Him questions about who you are? Ask Him questions about what He thinks about life’s situations? Ask Him questions about how you should lead, love, and learn in this next season?

Mon: break the fast

Join us for Team Night, Feb 10 — 7p

types of fasting

Negativity / Entertainment: 

• Social media

• YouTube / Television

• Secular music

• Gaming

• Complaining & Criticizing

When you fast, be intentional with prayer. Make a point each day to pray the following with us:

adoration

Adoration is an act of praise and worship. Adoring the Lord means offering him the affections of your heart and paying honor to him for his mighty power, wisdom, strength, goodness, mercy and love.  

Praying this: You are a loving Father. You are constantly by my side in every walk of life. Wherever I go, you are there waiting to show yourself to me. I belong to you and you belong to me. Thank you for never leaving me or forsaking me. I love you. In Jesus name, Amen.

confession

In the act of confession you are asking God to remove your old, sinful ways of living. God is faithful and just to forgive sins. Through confession we are healed and made new because of Jesus. When you repent of a specific area (Repentance: Meta-noia. Greek word meaning “change of mind”. Yet the full meaning is somewhat more. In the New Testament, the word meta-noia implies “making a decision to turn around, to face a new direction. To turn toward the light.”) ask God to transform you into the opposite (ie- ask for joy instead of depression).

Praying this: Father, would you help me renew my mind. Transform my desires to match that which you desire. I will say your truth over my situation today. I say you are a Good God. I say yes to faith and no to fear. I say yes to Your truth over my understanding. In Jesus name, Amen.

thanksgiving

Thank God for what he has already done in your life and reflect on the many blessings in your life. Thank him for his faithfulness in keeping promises in your life, those of your family and friends, and the circumstances in your life.

Praying this: Thank you Father, that you are faithful in keeping your promises to me. Thank you for the many blessings you have provided in my life. (list some of those blessings…) Thank you for purpose and this gift of life. I will steward it before you so that I may serve those around me. In Jesus name, Amen.

supplication

Ask the Lord to give you the desires of your heart. Align your heart with His will through reading and praying Scripture. Remind God of his promises to you.

Praying this: I offer up my will to be in line with yours, God. Grant me the desires of my heart, that they may serve your purposes for my life. Your ways are higher and worth following. I say yes. In Jesus name, Amen.

Mediation Scriptures

Fasting Negativity 

Philippians 4:6 Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, 7 then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. 8 So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising him always.

Fasting Entitlement 

Psalm 7:17 But I will give all my thanks to you, Lord, for you make everything right in the end. I will sing my highest praise to the God of the Highest Place!

Ephesians 5:19 And your hearts will overflow with a joyful song to the Lord Jehovah. Keep speaking to each other with words of Scripture, singing the Psalms with praises and spontaneous songs given by the Spirit! 20 Always give thanks to Father God for every person he brings into your life in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fasting for Freedom

Isaiah 58:6 Is this not the fast that I choose: To release the bonds of wickedness, To undo the ropes of the yoke, And to let the oppressed go free, And break every yoke?

Fasting for Spiritual Strength

Matthew 4:4 People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Ephesians 3:14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.