Fasting is mentioned throughout Scripture. Refraining from meals or eating was instructed and requested in various circumstances and times. Fasting helps to illustrate and add to our hunger for God. Through fasting, we put our stomach where our hearts are to give added intensity to our ache for Jesus. *Fasting is never commanded for all believers, but the Bible does give us lots of good reasons to fast including:
Fasting before making an important decision (Acts 13:2, 14:23).
Fasting to overcome addiction (Isaiah 58:3-7).
Fasting for God’s intervention (2 Samuel 12:15-17).
Fasting to show humility (Psalm 35:13).
Fasting in response to grief or mourning (Psalm 35:13, Esther 4:3).
Fasting to request God’s protection (Ester 4:15-16 Ezra 8:21-23).
Fasting to set apart leaders for Christian service (Acts 13:2-3).
Fasting with repentance (Joel 2:12-15).
Fasting as a leader who desires God to work amongst your people (Jonah 3:6-10). *Resource from Erin Davis
We are fasting and praying together because during these days of the pandemic, social and political strife, and uncertainty in many of our lives and families, we have a sure place to go. The Eternal, All- Knowing God who is over all has made a way for us to know Him and be in relationship with Him when we recognize our deep need for Him and respond through faith in the life, death, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. Not only has He made a way for us to know Him, He has made a way for us to communicate with Him through prayer.
We invite you to approach the throne boldly with us to seek the Lord in humility and trust. We invite you to pray through these five points utilizing the Scripture included throughout the day. For each of the five points, we’ll ask God to shape and fuel our minds, hearts, attitudes, and actions SO THAT He will be made known to and through each one of us individually and as a group of women as we follow Jesus together.
We suggest that you pray for the first two points in the morning, two in the afternoon, and one in the early evening. Then we’ll have the opportunity to gather together outside on the CBC campus at 7pm to pray together. Even if you can’t be with us for that gathering, we still would love to know if you’ve joined us in fasting and prayer throughout the day, so please email Heidi Fulk (heidi@cbcjoy.org) with any responses or thoughts from the day.
We’re praying for and with you!
Praying for Yourself
o Mind: Being Rooted and Grounded in the Word
o Heart: Love of God Evident
o Attitude: Ongoing Examination of our Life and Repentance
o Actions: Acting on the Word
Scripture to Pray:
2 Timothy 2:15—Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the Word of truth.
James 1:22,25—Prove yourselves doers of the Word, not merely hearers who delude themselves... an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
Psalm 139:23-24—Search me O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way,
Ephesians 5:1—Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for you, as offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Praying for Your Family
o Mind: For a Framework for Truth
o Heart: Love of Christ that Radiates
o Attitude: Willing and committed to reading, study, and instruction in God’s Word
o Actions: Being an Example of Christ—particularly parents
Scripture to Pray:
2 Timothy 3:16,17—All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequately equipped for every good work.
Ephesians 6:1—Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.
1 Timothy 1:5—The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.
Deuteronomy 6:5-7—You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up.
1 Corinthians 16:14—Do everything in love!
Praying for Our CBC Family
o Mind: Understanding need for Unity in Body
o Heart: Humble and Ready to Serve with Purity of Heart
o Attitude: Edifying and Building Up
o Actions: Using Gifts for His Glory
Scripture to Pray
Psalm 133:1—Behold, how good and how precious it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!
1 Peter 3:8-9—All of you be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted, and humble in spirit; not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead; for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing.
Philippians 2:3-5—Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus.
I Peter 5:5b-6—...all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.
1 Thessalonians 5:11—Encourage one another and build up one another.
Ephesians 4:29—Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
1 Corinthians 12:24-26—God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to the member that has lacked, so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice in it.
Praying for Our Neighbors
o Mind: Recognizing and Seizing Every Opportunity
o Heart: Loving Neighbor as Self
o Attitude: Ready to Give a Godly Response
o Actions: Reaching Out and Serving Community
Scripture to Pray
Ephesians 5:15-16—Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil.
1 Peter 3:15—Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.
Romans 13:9b-10—You shall love your neighbor as yourself. Love does no wrong to a neighbor, therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Galatians 6:9-10—Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we no not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.
Praying for Our Country
o Mind: For people to Turn or Return to God of Truth
o Heart: Humble Ourselves Under the Mighty Hand of God
o Attitude: Submitting to All Leaders God allows while asking God for Godly Leadership
o Actions: UpholdGodlyValues
Scripture to Pray
Proverbs 9:10—The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
Proverbs 29:2—When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when a wicked man rules, people groan.
1 Timothy 2:1-4—I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
Romans 13:1 Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.
Micah 6:8—He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?