Our 21 days of unbroken prayer & fasting is on! (Sun Oct 30th – Sat Nov 19th) If you haven’t signed up for a time slot, feel free to jump in at anytime. You can pick a slot here. Ok, here is a reminder about what we’re praying about. (Of course, you can pray about other things but these have our attention as a church family)
Prayer Themes:
1) Re-surrender: Throughout our spiritual journeys the Lord continually checks our attitudes (our hearts) to see if they are still right. Truly, the only acceptable offering we can give is to be a ‘living sacrifice.’ (Romans 12:1) ‘Dead sacrifices’ are just that. They’re dead! It’s Christians who surrendered once but it’s been so long since they’ve really given up something that’s very important to them. So, the Lord comes along & challenges us with something to test our loyalty & confidence in Him. (Remember God’s testing of Abraham in Genesis 22) Nothing or no one can ever become more important than pleasing Him. Remember, we are ‘living sacrifices.’ In other words, we continually live our lives totally surrendered to him. & just like Abrahams’ test, whatever the Lord ask you to do will challenge you to the core. It will be a real sacrifice. If it’s not, than how will He (& you for that matter) know whether or not you are still truly surrendered? But here’s the twist. A person who surrenders to the Lord in reality isn’t loosing anything even though it may seem that way for a moment. In reality, a person who surrenders & continually re-surrenders to the Lord is only gaining everything! So, pray: Lord, I want to do what you want me to, just tell me & I will do it.
2) Pray over the 5 critical initiatives in our ‘I Love My Church’ campaign. If you’ve forgotten what they are you can read all about them here.
3) Read & meditate on Psalm 84 throughout the 21 days. Try to commit it to memory.
4)Pray: Lord, what can you give through me over the next 3 years towards the ‘I Love My Church’ campaign?
After some time thinking & talking to my wife here are the things that I am committing to fast from (the subtractions) & the things I’m committing to fast to (the additions).
*SUBTRACTIONS-No alcohol, TV or intentionally eating my favorite foods (When it is up to me I will order or choose foods that I normally would not eat…like salads & soups. I’m already depressed!)
ADDITIONS-I will commit to memory Psalm 84. I will journal daily what I’m hearing & praying. I will be in the prayer room for the 4 am slot Wed, Thurs & Fri. I will intentionally bless someone—by giving something, buying something or helping with something—everyday of the fast & journal my experience.
*Sundays I will not be fasting. Sundays are when Christians celebrate!!
Oh Lord, help me to surrender anew to what is best & that is always you & your will. Open the eyes of my heart. Help me to see reality—to see you & how I ought to be. Amen.
