While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me .... for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13:2
BIBLE READING PLAN
Day 1 Daniel 1-3
Day 4 Daniel 10-12 Day 7 1 Peter 4-5 Day 10 Joshua 9-12 Day 13 Joshua 20-22 Day 16 Galatians 3-4 Day 19 Nehemiah 4-6 |
Day 2 Daniel 4-6
Day 5 Habakuk 1-3 Day 8 Joshua 1-4 Day 11 Joshua 13-15 Day 14 Joshua 23-24 Day 17 Galatians 5-6 Day 20 Nehemiah 7-10 |
Day 3 Daniel 7-9
Day 6 1 Peter 1-3 Day 9 Joshua 5-8 Day 12 Joshua 16-19 Day 15 Galatians 1-2 Day 18 Nehemiah 1-3 Day 21 Nehemiah 11-13 |
MESSAGES
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PRAYER & FASTING
Fasting goes hand-in-hand with prayer. Plan to set aside the time you would normally spend on meal preparation and eating (or whatever you choose to fast from) for focused time with God. As a companion to this experience, we encourage every person to join with us for Rolling Hills Bible Reading Plan. During these 21 Days, we also have a 21 Days Small Group that will meet Wednesdays at 6:30pm starting on January 8th where you can participate and hear reflections from that weeks’s reading and join with others who are fasting. Email [email protected] to join the small group.
WHY FAST?
As we begin this New Year of 2020, we want to make room for God to work in our lives. So many of us are asking God for breakthroughs. Breakthroughs in….
Our relationships… Our finances… Our health… Our Church… Our Faith.
Most of us have lived long enough to realize we need something more powerful than a New Year’s resolution to bring about the kind of transformation we long for. We need God and the power of His Holy Spirit! So as we begin this New Year, we want to make room for God to to do what only He can do.
Jesus taught his disciples to engage in spiritual practices that can help us make room for God in our lives. That’s why we are inviting everyone to join us from January 6th – January 26th for 21 Days of prayer and fasting. Great leaders in the Bible fasted and prayed routinely, including Moses, David, Jeremiah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Jesus and the disciples. We are hoping and praying for God to do tremendous things in our lives, but first we must make room for Him to work in us.
In Matthew 6:16, Jesus addresses fasting when he tells the disciples, “When you fast…”. Notice Jesus says “when” not “if.” Jesus assumes that we will fast. Though fasting is assumed, it is not required. We don’t have to fast. We get to fast. Like all intentional spiritual practices, fasting should not be legalistic – we are not earning approval from God through fasting.
Our relationships… Our finances… Our health… Our Church… Our Faith.
Most of us have lived long enough to realize we need something more powerful than a New Year’s resolution to bring about the kind of transformation we long for. We need God and the power of His Holy Spirit! So as we begin this New Year, we want to make room for God to to do what only He can do.
Jesus taught his disciples to engage in spiritual practices that can help us make room for God in our lives. That’s why we are inviting everyone to join us from January 6th – January 26th for 21 Days of prayer and fasting. Great leaders in the Bible fasted and prayed routinely, including Moses, David, Jeremiah, Isaiah, John the Baptist, Jesus and the disciples. We are hoping and praying for God to do tremendous things in our lives, but first we must make room for Him to work in us.
In Matthew 6:16, Jesus addresses fasting when he tells the disciples, “When you fast…”. Notice Jesus says “when” not “if.” Jesus assumes that we will fast. Though fasting is assumed, it is not required. We don’t have to fast. We get to fast. Like all intentional spiritual practices, fasting should not be legalistic – we are not earning approval from God through fasting.
TYPES OF FASTING
There are several different ways you can practice fasting. Here are some examples:
During this 21 day fast, you can choose to fast for one day, one day a week, one meal multiple days a week, multiple days per week, etc. 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.
- Complete Fast – In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.
- Selective Fast -This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the “Daniel Fast,” during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.
- Partial Fast – This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.
- Soul Fast – This fast is a great option if your circumstances prevent you from fasting from food, you have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, 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 the duration of the fast.
During this 21 day fast, you can choose to fast for one day, one day a week, one meal multiple days a week, multiple days per week, etc. 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.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
During a fast you may feel weaker than usual, irritable, and find difficulty concentrating. You may also get a headache. This is normal. You may need to restrict certain physical or social activities during your fast. Let your physical challenges draw you to a deeper dependence on God.
Do not be discouraged if you struggle the first few times you fast. It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. God will honor your desire to experience his presence through this practice.
After the fast, share any insights or promptings you sensed from God during your fast with someone in your Small Group or by emailing Pastor Matt at [email protected]. Let’s encourage and challenge each other by sharing what we hear from God as we enter into these 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting!
Courtesy of: Community Christian Church
Do not be discouraged if you struggle the first few times you fast. It takes time to build your spiritual fasting muscles. God will honor your desire to experience his presence through this practice.
After the fast, share any insights or promptings you sensed from God during your fast with someone in your Small Group or by emailing Pastor Matt at [email protected]. Let’s encourage and challenge each other by sharing what we hear from God as we enter into these 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting!
Courtesy of: Community Christian Church