In this month of August we are setting aside a period of 21 days to fast and pray as a church family. Scripture is full of examples of people fasting and praying for a variety of reasons. Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness being a notable one, and of course Daniel.
In Daniel 1 we read about Daniel as a young man being taken to enter King Nebuchadnezzar’s service. Daniel resolves not to defile himself with royal food and wine and asks to only receive simple food and drink – fruit, vegetables and water. We are told that Daniel looked healthier and better nourished than the other young men and that when he was presented before the King none were found to be equal in wisdom and understanding. This account gives us a strong and positive example that being set apart as the people of God is an ongoing lifestyle.
However Daniel also gives us another example (found in chapter 10) of a specific season of fasting, 3 weeks or 21 days where he ate no choice food, meat or wine.
Biblically speaking, fasting is a form of personal sacrifice, a setting aside of comfort, with the express purpose of increasing our awareness of the Lord and declaring our commitment to Him.
In this current season of prayer and fasting we are seeking to move into a deeper and fuller revelation of what God promises is our inheritance as His children.
We fast not because we have to or to twist God’s arm, but as a way of expressing our sincerity in seeking God Himself and His solution to specific trials people are experiencing as a result of our fallen world.
The fast will commence on Friday 14th August and finish on Thursday 3rd September when Marc Dupont joins us for a series of open healing meetings.
We invite anyone who is able and willing to join us for a Daniel style fast. For those for whom this is not possible you might like to consider fasting from social media, sweets, television, tea and coffee or however the Lord leads you.
What we fast from is not our focus but rather the main purpose is to intentionally set aside time to seek the Lord.
Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground, for it is the time to seek the LORD, that he may come and rain righteousness upon you. Hosea 10:12
When the Lord stirs His people to seek Him it's because He wants to be found by us.
Love and grace
Kathryn