Prayer Guide


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Fasting/Prayer Guide Joel 2:12 “Even now,” declares the LORD, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” What is Fasting? Fasting is the Christian discipline of choosing to deny yourself of a need or a convenience for the sake of hearing from God more clearly. Fasting is always accompanied by prayer. The intent is that your hunger for food will prompt you to spend time in prayer. Why Should We Fast? We know that God is always speaking to us, but sometimes we are too busy, occupied or distracted so that we cannot hear clearly. Through fasting, we are denying ourselves physically, so that we can be more attuned spiritually. It is not intended to make us feel deprived and sorry for ourselves; the purpose of fasting is to prompt us to PRAY. Fasting is an effective way of communicating utter dependence on God — asking Him to intervene in ways only He can. For example, people like Esther, a queen whose people were facing the threat of extermination, called all those affected to fasting and praying (Esther 4:16 — read the rest of the book to find out how that ended!) How Do I Fast? Fasting typically involves abstaining from all food or some foods. But it can also mean abstaining for something else that is challenging to go without: Social media, screen time, favorite beverages, or even things like negativity or expressing your opinion. The key is to be intentional. Clear your calendar as much as you can for that day so you can spend more time with God in prayer. If this is your first time fasting, see below for example prayer sessions, tips and more.

A Few Thoughts About Fasting • • • • •



Fasting is expected as a Christian discipline: Though only small percentage of Christians regularly engage in fasting, Jesus speaks of it as something that God’s followers are all expected to do. In Matthew 6:15, Jesus says “when you fast…” — that’s “when,” not “if”. Fasting is intended to have internal impact rather than be an external practice: Joel 2:13 speaks of fasting as rending ‘your heart and not your garments.’ Fasting is a form of Sabbath: It allows us to take a radical break from what we typically do. We trust that in doing that, God will take care of us. Many of us come out of a fast with increased gratitude. Fasting can be for the sake of others: Many times during fasting, God makes our heart break for what breaks His heart. Isaiah 58:6 describes fasting by saying, ‘Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter?‘ Fasting can be for your sake: The same Isaiah passage (58:8-9) speaks a promise for each of us that comes with fasting: ‘You will cry for help, and I will say: Here am I.’



Getting Started For the Elmbrook Day of Prayer & Fasting we ask that you abstain from 6am-6pm on Friday, Nov. 2. That means you’ll most likely miss two meals. 1. Prepare: Intentionally carve out time for this. Mark the day on your calendar and, as much as possible, try to keep it free of additional commitments. a. Eat a medium or light meal as your last meal before you fast (Thurday evening, Nov. 1). b. Decide on a place where you will spend your prayer times alone. 2. Pause: You’ll be stopping several times in the midst of your day to pray. For many of us, pausing will be a sign of surrender — it can be a significant challenge because of our rushed lives. (TIP: Our texted prayer prompts can help serve as reminders to stop and pray. To sign up for these, text “pray” to 262.239.7707.) 3. Pray and reflect: Schedule two 30-minute breaks in your day for intentional prayer, journaling and reflection. These are times you set apart to dialogue with God and listen for His voice. The guided sessions provide ideas for how to use this time.

Prayer Session #1 (30 Minutes)

What you’ll need: Your Bible, a journal, a pen. Optional: A timer may help you avoid watching the clock. • Find a quiet place and start by asking God to guide your mind to be still. Declare God’s sovereign rule over everything that may be flooding your mind (10 minutes). • Slowly read Psalm 46. Read it a second time, this time highlighting the a few passages that stand out for you. Turn those passages into prayers to God (5 minutes). • What qualities of God do you see in this passage? What qualities of God do you need most in your life right now? Turn to Him in confession and prayer (10 minutes). • Did you sense God respond? Write a one-paragraph summary of your prayer time. (5 minutes)

Prayer Session #2 (30 Minutes)

What you’ll need: Your Bible, a journal, a pen, Next Steps card and Faith Promise card. Optional: A timer may help you avoid watching the clock. • Spend time thanking God for the resources He has given you (time, gifting, financial, influence, etc.). (5 minutes) • Read Isaiah 58 and highlight a part that stands out to you (5 minutes). • Spend some time praying for Elmbrook (the congregation, leadership, staff, future). Pick two areas of ministry God is calling you to serve in and pray over them (10 minutes). • Read through the Next Steps Card you received in your Homecoming Resource Bag, and circle an area that you sense you can start or continue serving in. (5 minutes) • Read through the Faith Promise Card you received in your Homecoming Resource Bag, and ask God to show you how to be part of his mission both in your service, and in your giving. Write this down on your Faith Promise card and in your journal (5 minutes).

Create Your Own Prayer Session

If you signed up to receive prayer prompts, you could spend your time responding as the prompts suggest: reading a scripture passage, in prayer, or journaling about a specific topic.