Acts 13:1-2
“Now in the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’”
God changed the direction of two men’s lives (Saul/Paul and Barnabas) during a time of fasting. During their fast they heard and obeyed God’s voice. They became great missionaries and church planters. They each fulfilled God’s will for their lives by submitting to His Lordship and happened while they were fasting.
Fasting Challenge: Fast one day each week for the next five weeks.
- You choose the day this week and the type of fast.
- The purpose of this week’s fast is to submit to the Lordship of Christ. Ask Him to show you the “want” or “desire” that hinders your obeying Him and then submit it to His Lordship.
Prayer Challenge: Pray for two different church members each day for the next five weeks.
- Pray for two different people each day this.
- These should be fellow members for whom you do not normally pray.
- At the end of the week, you will have prayed for 14 members.
Encourage the rest of us by sharing your experience with us.
- In the comments section below, share with us how it’s going.
- Tell us what you’re learning or God is saying to you.
- We can encourage each other by sharing our experiences.
- What day did you choose for your fast? Mention it below so we can be praying for you.
Pastor Steve Hogg
Thank you Steve for the challenge. I’ve actually been thinking recently about why it’s been so long since I’ve fasted and your challenge moved me from thinking to doing.
I’m doing a partial fast on Mondays. I’m not used to going to bed hungry but I survived 🙂
Doug,
I’m glad you “survived.” Praying your partial fast on Mondays accomplishes much in your life.
I’m very excited to learn God’s plan for me and our church as we renew our commitments through fasting. I’m starting my normal fast today and plan to make my days of fasting a time where I also abstain from secular radio. I’ve been focusing on the fact that “our citizenship is in heaven” and that means denying our own worldly appetites to focus on God’s plan for us.
Gales,
I look forward to hearing about the things God shows you these next five weeks.
As 7 pm approaches I am well into my day of fasting. I guess it actually began last night after dinner, and will continue to tomorrow’s breakfast. Many times during the day I found myself reaching for food out of habit. A number of times during the day I have found time to pray and reflect. On one such time I opened my Bible randomly to Philippians chapter 2. “Imitating Christ’s humility.” Verse 3 spoke to me. “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourself.”
It’s amazing how much we do merely from habit. I rejoice with you that you’ve been hearing His voice today.
I recently did a 21 day “Daniel fast” leading up to Easter. During that time my eyes were opened to so much and it actually paved the way that brought me from Florida to here. I have fasted and prayed over problems in my life with great breakthroughs and have even practiced fasting once a week in the past (although I’ve not done that for a while now) and have been planning to fast again this summer but keep letting excuses get in the way. I’m glad for your challenge. I follow a church on podcast who does a corporate fast for 21 days to start each year and I’ve always wanted to be a part of a church who fasts corporately. It’s such a powerful and important spiritual discipline. There are so many references to fasting in the Bible, it does not say “if” you fast but “when” you fast. There are some great fasting reading plans on the you version bible app for anyone who may want to go a little deeper into the topic. I find Sundays are a great day to fast since I also observe a sabbath on that day…so because it’s a low key no work day that I can focus on God and my family, I don’t struggle too much with weakness or inability to get through my day same as I would on a day I have to work. I also stay off electronics for the most part when I fast and/or observe a sabbath. Sometimes I’ll start my fast with dinner on Saturday so I can break my fast with a family dinner on Sunday.
Since I don’t know many people in the church I’ll be praying generally over leadership and volunteers this week.