50 Days of Prayer – Week 3

A few of us decided to kick off our 50 days of prayer by fasting.  Everyone views fasting differently.  Some see it as impossible while others can do it with ease due to the practice they have put into it.  There are different ways to fast.  Some people do strict water only fasts, others try juice fasts while others make a specific sacrifice like coffee, chocolate or a form of technology.  The point is to allow the fasting to have an effect on our spiritual lives.

Whenever we go through a new experience we like to evaluate if it was a meaning and worthwhile practice.  But what if we don’t see the effect?   We don’t always know the effects of our efforts right away.  I am thinking about the act of walking daily or eliminating sugar in your coffee.  These small acts aren’t noticeable at first but have a large impact over time.  Another example would be; I don’t notice when my children are growing because I am with them every day.  But as I chart their growth on a wall I notice they are still growing.  This is true of our fasting and prayer as well.  Fasting is strange in the way as we cannot always see any effects other than suffering through hunger or self-denial.  Sometimes we won’t notice a thing but we can trust that God is noticing.  Jesus tells us this when he speaks on fasting in Matthew 6:16-18;

16 “When you fast, do not look sombre as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Let me conclude with asking have you ever tried fasting?    This week as part of our 50 Days, would you consider adding this discipline to your life?  I recommend starting small, such as fasting one meal or eliminating a specific food or beverage.  If giving up food isn’t possible, consider fasting something other then food.  People have been doing Facebook fasts, hobby fasts, even something like skipping watching a favourite show and using that time to pray.  Whatever you do, the Lord is watching and He is listening over these 50 Days of Prayer.
 
This Week’s Prayer Focus: 
Try fasting this week.
 
Prayer Events Happening This Week:
Wednesday, March 20th – 6:30 pm – FUEL:  The Adult discussion on Listening to God
Sunday, March 24th  -10:00 am – Pre-Service Prayer
Sunday, March 24th – 6:00 pm – Listening Prayer Meeting

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