A Renewed Call to Fast and Pray

We believe God has called us to Prayer and Fasting as a church as a regular part of our devotional life, to wait on him, to seek his face and to hear his voice .  We believe God has called us to unite together in prayer and fasting and to pray for strength to fulfil God’s purposes for us. 

We are encouraging people to fast on Thursdays, this is also the day of our weekly 7.15am prayer meeting.

Previously a number of us have agreed together to set aside the first Tuesday of every month for a 24 hour period of Prayer and Fasting.

The Value of Fasting

The bible teaches that fasting should be a regular part of our Christian discipline along with prayer and giving. God doesn’t answer prayer because we fast but the act of fasting intensifies our faith and our prayers (Joel 2 - fasting and prayer came before a great outpouring of the Holy Spirit).

Prayer and Fasting leads to spiritual strengthening. 

Through it Jesus overcame temptation and took authority over the devil (Luke 4).

In Mark 9 we see fasting plays a role in the prayer for the healing of deliverance.

Fasting helps us to know God's will. Moses fasted 40 days for this purpose. In Acts 13:2 as the elders prayed and fasted the Holy Spirit gave direction.

The bible also records several incidents in which people fasted as an act of repentance (Jonah I; Samuel 7:6).

Fasting emphasises the wholeheartedness of our praying.  Isaiah 58 shows that fasting is linked with a life of total commitment to God, so if our life is not right with God we will reap no benefit from fasting.

We must each decide before God the type of fast we should enter into as we come humbly to seek his face.

Guidance on Fasting

Fasting can take many different forms and everyone can take part in some form of fast. Fasts range from a total abstinence from food to abstaining from certain foods. You should not go without liquid, but may limit yourself to just water or fruit juice.

You might decide to go on a total fast for 24 hours or a certain number of days, or to not eat any meat.  Many people have found it helpful to begin a 24 hour fast after their evening meal one day and finsh before their evening meal the next.  You may decide as a family on a particular form of fasting you will undertake together.

Guidelines for Personal Times of Prayer

Click here for guidelines for praying for one hour.

Do not begin with a preconceived agenda or prayer list. Simply come before God in an attitude of worship and wait for the Holy Spirit to guide your thoughts and prayers. You may find it helpful to read some verses from scripture, sing a song or hymn, or play a worship tape or CD. Do record any things you feel God is saying to you.

You may also decide to pray as a family or with your prayer partner or a friend.