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Prayer & fasting.

If I am honest, neither comes easily. At the start of the new year, our pastor announced we would begin a monthly day of fasting, corporately. Each month, a list of prayer requests gets posted to our church’s Facebook. We know the third Wednesday we fast…sun-up to sun-down. Yesterday was our second day of fasting.

Can I just say that this is probably one of the most beneficial & profitable suggestions that Pastor Steve has initiated?

Can I just say that something is beginning to happen?

From the perspective of this layperson, may I share what I see beginning to happen:

  • we are all praying for our church, united & with purpose
  • community is being built as we share & talk about it throughout the day on Facebook
  • YES!!!! Facebook is being used for God’s glory & for His purposes
  • prayers are being offered not only for the church but for individuals & their needs
  • we are praying
  • we are fasting
  • we are being changed
  • God is building relationships among His people that are loving, trusting & safe

A verse that has been used to so often call people & churches to prayer is:

If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14  NIV).

At times, I think familiarity can so rob us of all that this verse is saying to us. What if we were to put it this way…

“If you, (insert your own name), who are called by My name, will humble yourselves to realize your great need of Me in your life & seek Me in your life & situations & turn from the things you know separate you from Me, THEN I will hear from heaven, forgive you of your sins & will heal……..”

  • your body
  • your finances
  • your situation
  • your relationships
  • your mind
  • your broken & wounded heart
  • that which seems impossible to be mended

Do you see what I see? There is no limit to what our God will heal in our lives if we only humble ourselves before Him & pray. And fast.

Prayer changes. Prayer changes situations, people, relationships. Prayer changes us.

This morning, I am sitting in deep appreciation for a pastor who is calling his people to pray & fast. Pastor Steve, may God bless you deeply & richly as you lead us in His ways. And may He smooth the challenges that lie before you in finishing your PhD. And yes, I  did pray about that as well yesterday 🙂