Christian Leadership Ministries
Monday Ministry Minutes
Monday Ministry Minute #14
Fasting and Prayer
Spending time in fasting and prayer has become a lost art in our fast
(no pun intended) moving culture. Perhaps that is indicative of a
culture that has placed little importance on humility and repentance.
Why do the Scriptures encourage us to fast and pray? Let me steal some
reasons from Bill Bright's book on fasting, The Coming Revival.
- Fasting is primarily a means of restoration. It helps us focus our
attention on the important details of life.
- It brings purification of our body, soul and spirit.
- It increases our spiritual receptivity to God's leading.
- It brings about yieldedness and brokeness to our lives.
- It calls for sacrifice and self-denial that refocuses our vision.
- It produces power in our lives because we learn to submit to His plan,
His timing and His purposes.
I have done several long-term fasts this past year that have really helped
me to focus on my relationship with God. They have helped me to pray in a
more focused way to believe God for great things. I have also committed to
fasting one day each week to help maintain that focus. Let me encourage you
to participate as well in a discipline that can bring transformation to our lives.
Scripture: Joel 1:14 - "Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon
the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God,
and cry out to the Lord."
Action Point: Pick a day this week that you will set aside as a fast to the
Lord to pray about a special need like the Veritas Forum. You might want to
get someone else to partner with you in this time.
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