​​Welcome to our sevendays of prayer and fasting, I can understand that right from the start that many of you will have questions, concerns and apprehensions regarding this opportunity to pray and fast for 7 days. While this document aims to serve you by providing some information around prayer and fasting, it won’t ever be exhaustive or the final authority on the subject. Please talk to a Pastor/Elder more if you have concerns.
​
Our week of prayer and fasting will be aided and accompanied by a prayer and devotional guide for each of the seven days that includes a central Biblical passage, a brief devotional thought, reflection questions, and a prayer.
​
The goal of fasting is simply to draw nearer to God. Biblical fasting always has to do with eliminating distractions for a spiritual purpose; it hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out. It also enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God and prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives. Remember, your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and, most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. There is no obligation. Everyone is free without any condemnation to choose if they participate or not.
​
If you have never fasted before, I just want to acknowledge your devotion and believe whole heartedly that you won’t be doing so in vain. Fasting has been a major emphasis in the lives of many of the great spiritual leaders throughout history. John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist denomination, fasted every Wednesday and Friday and required all of his clergy to do the same. Effective ministers of God from the apostle Paul to Martin Luther to John Calvin made it a continual part of their walks with God. None of those men had a “formula fast” that was the only “right” way. Fasting is about the condition of the heart, not the number of days etc. So, let’s examine what the bible teaches and then we will look at a few different types of fasts.
​​​​​​​​​​
​
What is the purpose of fasting?
Fasting is designed to intensify our dependence on God by weakening our dependence on food and other things. How does it do that?
Fasting reveals and heals our dependence on food (and other things) and instead allows us to place our dependency on God instead.
Richard Foster says, “More than any other discipline, fasting reveals the things that control us. This is a wonderful benefit to the true disciple who longs to be transformed into the image of Jesus Christ. We cover up what is inside us with food and other good things, but in fasting these things surface. If pride controls us, it will be revealed almost immediately. David writes, “I humbled my soul with fasting” (Psalm 69:10). Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear—if they are within us, they will surface during fasting.”
​
Fasting teaches us that we can go without getting what we want and survive. Fasting can free us from having to have what we want. Therefore, fasting can teach moderation or self-control, not only in relation to food, but in other areas as well. It teaches contentment. (I Timothy 6:6)
Fasting expresses and deepens our hunger for God. Richard Foster says, “Fasting reminds us that we are sustained “by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God:” (Matt. 4:4). Food does not sustain us; God sustains us. In Christ, “All things hold together” (Colossians 1:17). Therefore, in experiences of fasting, we are abstaining from food or other activities and feasting on God’s Word.
Fasting must always, first and foremost, centre on God. It must be about Him.
​​
​
We eagerly wait on what the Lord will do for us, in us and through us during these very special seven days.
​
I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. - Ephesians 1:17-19a
​
​
​