CHURCH-WIDE FAST

Supplemental reflections during fasting

SUN Jan. 9: The Power of God is working in my life —

His divine power has given us everything needed for life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. (2 Peter 1:3)

MON Jan 11: God is mindful of us and will bless those who fear Him —

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint,
    and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary,
    and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles,
they shall run and not be weary,
    they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)

WED Jan. 12: God is meeting all my needs — 

The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. (Psalm 34:10)

THU Jan. 13: I will walk in the love of God…I desire him above all others and all things —

Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world—the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride in riches—comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and its desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

FRI Jan 14: We will KNOW the love of God — 

Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who maintains covenant loyalty with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations (Deut. 7:9)

SAT Jan 15: We will be filled and led by the Spirit — 

So then, brothers and sisters, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— for if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. (Romans 8:12-14)

SUN Jan 16: We will delight in honoring Him and pleasing Him — 

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. (1 Col 10:31)

MON Jan 17: We will be sacrificially devoted to one another —

“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. (John 15:12-13)

TUE Jan 18: We will be perfectly united — 

Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. (1 Cor. 1:10)

WED Jan 19: We will love our community and help them know God — 

“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

THU Jan 20: We will encourage and serve one another in love -

"Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; 10 love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers." (Romans 12:9-13)

Let’s remember to pray specifically for the needs of the different parts of our church family as we continue to fast and focus on the Scriptures each day:

FRI Jan 21: (Family Prayer Focus: Our singles) I will be steadfast and walk in the assurances in God's promises - 

For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. And we want each one of you to show the same diligence so as to realize the full assurance of hope to the very end, so that you may not become sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:10-12 NRSV)

SAT Jan 22: (Family Prayer Focus: Our families) -

"Praise the LORD! Happy are those who fear the LORD, who greatly delight in his commandments. Their descendants will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. (Psalm 112:1-2 NRSV)

SUN Jan 23: (Family Prayer Focus: Our marriages) I will persevere and never give up! -

"Then Jesus told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. He said, "In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, 'Grant me justice against my opponent.' For a while he refused; but later he said to himself, 'Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.'" And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?" (Luke 18:1-8 NRSV) 

— Adapted from “The Power of Prayer and Fasting: 21 Days That Can Change Your Life” by Marilyn Hickey

Monday, January 24: (Family Prayer Focus:  Our children of all ages)

[1] At that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" [2] He called a child, whom he put among them, [3] and said, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. [4] Whoever becomes humble like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. [5] Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me. (Matthew 18:1-5 NRSV)

Tuesday, January 25: (Family Prayer Focus: Our sick, weak and hurting)

[1] Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. [2] Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. [3] Those who eat must not despise those who abstain, and those who abstain must not pass judgment on those who eat; for God has welcomed them. [4] Who are you to pass judgment on servants of another? It is before their own lord that they stand or fall. And they will be upheld, for the Lord is able to make them stand. [5] Some judge one day to be better than another, while others judge all days to be alike. Let all be fully convinced in their own minds. [6] Those who observe the day, observe it in honor of the Lord. Also those who eat, eat in honor of the Lord, since they give thanks to God; while those who abstain, abstain in honor of the Lord and give thanks to God. [7] We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. [8] If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's. [9] For to this end Christ died and lived again, so that he might be Lord of both the dead and the living. [10] Why do you pass judgment on your brother or sister? Or you, why do you despise your brother or sister? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. [11] For it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall give praise to God." [12] So then, each of us will be accountable to God. (Romans 14:1-12 NRSV)

[15] Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise---the fruit of lips that openly profess his name. [16] And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. [17] Have confidence in your leaders and submit to their authority, because they keep watch over you as those who must give an account. Do this so that their work will be a joy, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you. (Hebrews 13:15-17 NIV)

[5] Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” [6] Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. [7] He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. [8] And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God's people. [9] And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. [10] You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:5-10 NIV)

Let’s close the fast thanking God and acknowledging all His ways

Friday, January 28: Thank God specifically for who He is mentioning as many of His traits as you have time for

[1] Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. [2] Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits--- [3] who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, [4] who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, [5] who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. [6] The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. [7] He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: [8] The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. [9] He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; [10] he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. [11] For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; [12] as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. [13] As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; [14] for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. [15] The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; [16] the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. [17] But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children--- [18] with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts. [19] The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. [20] Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. [21] Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. [22] Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, my soul. (Psalm 103:1-22 NIV)

Saturday, January 29: Thank God for all of the ways He has already acted and will act on our behalf in 2022

[1] Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord, my soul. [2] I will praise the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. [3] Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save. [4] When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing. [5] Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. [6] He is the Maker of heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them---he remains faithful forever. [7] He upholds the cause of the oppressed and gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets prisoners free, [8] the Lord gives sight to the blind, the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down, the Lord loves the righteous. [9] The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but he frustrates the ways of the wicked. [10] The Lord reigns forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord. (Psalm 146:1-10 NIV)