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Table of Contents MY 21-DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING PLAN............................... 4 PART 1: PRAYER ......................................................... 5

CREATING A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER ................................ 6 PRAYER MODELS ...................................................... 8 MODEL 1: THE LORD’S PRAYER ................................. 9 MODEL 2: A.C.T.S. PRAYER ...................................... 13 MODEL 3: THE HOUR OF PRAYER ........................... 16 MODEL 4: PRAYING SCRIPTURE ..................................... 24 MODEL 5: PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT ......................... 30 MODEL 6: WARFARE PRAYERS ............................... 31 MODEL 7: PRAYING FOR THOSE AWAY FROM GOD .................................................................................. 35 MODEL 8: PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS .................. 38 IMPROVE PRAYER EFFECTIVENESS .................... 39 PART 2: FASTING ..................................................... 42 ABOUT FASTING ..................................................... 43 TYPES OF FASTS ....................................................... 46

FASTING AS A FAMILY – WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? ...................................................................................... 47 APPENDIX ................................................................ 50

INTRODUCTION The Bible talks a lot about prayer – corporate prayer, intercessory prayer, and individual prayer. When we develop our personal prayer time, we are more effective when we come together as a church to pray. Prayer is simply the way we talk to God and He talks to us. The disciples could have asked Jesus to teach them anything, but they asked him to teach them to pray. This was His response:

“When you pray, don’t be like the hypocrites who love to pray publicly on street corners and in the synagogues where everyone can see them. I tell you the truth, that is all the reward they will ever get. But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6 NLT

When prayer is combined with fasting, it amplifies our conversations with God and helps us be more sensitive to the Spirit. This booklet is designed to help bring joy into your time with God. When you discover daily conversation with the Lord, you’ll experience the presence of God that will change your life and the lives of those you are praying for. Blessings!

Pastors Nate & Jodi Ruch

My 21-Days of Prayer & Fasting Plan Focused seasons of prayer and fasting are a great way for you to grow in your personal prayer time. It’s important for you to plan and include others.

1) WHAT I AM FASTING FROM: Decide the type of fast. (See page 46). ___________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

2) WHEN I WILL PRAY & FAST: Set the time, place and location for your focused prayer time. _________________________________ ____________________________________________

3) WHY I AM PRAYING & FASTING: Determine the reason and focus of your personal time of praying and fasting._____________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

4) HOW I WILL INCLUDE OTHERS: Plan how you will join others in prayer at church and add it to your calendar. ________________________ Write a plan to include family and loved ones in your 21-Days of Prayer and Fasting? __________________ ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________

Part 1:

Prayer

CREATING A LIFESTYLE OF PRAYER “Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.” Mark 1:35 NLT Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something we just do every now and then, but when it’s a lifestyle we cultivate. To understand how to have a lifestyle of prayer, we can look at the example Jesus gave during His life on earth. Here are five ways to ignite your personal prayer time with the Lord:

1) Make regular appointments with God and keep them. Have a certain time - Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. Make a daily appointment with God— whether it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the evening—and faithfully keep it. Have a certain place - Jesus had a specific place He went to pray. Having a designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and frees us to worship and pray out loud. 2) Remember to Whom you pray. Do you know people of other religions pray to different Gods? Remember to Whom you pray! You are praying to the ONE and TRUE LIVING GOD, the Heavenly Father in Jesus’ name. The God of the Bible who has the power to change everything! 3) Realize God responds to prayer. Prayer is a conversation. You talk to God and He talks to you. He responds to prayer. YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS OF PRAYER IS TO KNOW GOD. Prayer is a vehicle for a conversation. It is not a one-way conversation; we need to give God the opportunity to speak to us.

4) Leave the results up to God. When you pray, know that you put your requests in God’s hands and leave the results up to Him. Don’t stop praying. We are not in charge. Ask God how you should pray and then pray according to His will. Bring your burdens to Him and leave them there. 5) Plan out your prayer time. When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave them a prayer outline. We call it “The Lord’s Prayer.” This outline, along with several other tools, is available in this guide. As we pray every day, our plan for our prayer time can vary. Whether it includes worship music, Biblereading, or time to listen to God, it doesn’t always have to look the same. It just helps when we have a plan for connecting with Him regularly. When you are intentional with developing your prayer time, you will connect with God in such a powerful and intimate way!

PRAYER MODELS HOW TO USE THIS SECTION We don’t have to follow a specific formula to talk with God, but practicing different ways to pray can help us find deeper connection with Him. This section gives you several prayer models, but you don’t have to master them all at once. You can select a different prayer model each day in any order you want and even spend a few days on the same model as you become more comfortable in your prayer life. To get started, choose which model you want to use today in prayer. As you pray, focus on the process the model reveals, giving yourself time to pray intentionally. If your mind wanders, use the model to help you stay focused. The goal of this guide is not to overwhelm you, but to help you get comfortable with different biblical models of prayer so your prayer life can become more natural, effective, and enjoyable. The most important step is committing to regularly entering God’s presence through prayer. While prayer does take commitment and discipline to develop into a daily habit, we also want to remember that it’s a “get to” not a “got to.” It’s a privilege to be able to come to God in prayer.

Model 1: THE LORD’S PRAYER The Lord’s Prayer is often recited in churches or at religious events, but there’s so much more to this prayer. Jesus provided this model as an outline to teach us how to pray in a way that connects us to God, aligns our priorities with His, and helps us live dependently on Him. This model takes us through each part of The Lord’s Prayer, showing us how to pray the way Jesus instructed.

Once Jesus was in a certain place praying. As he finished, one of his disciples came to him and said, “Lord, teach us to pray….’” Luke 11:1 NLT “...Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your Kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV

CONNECT WITH GOD RELATIONALLY “OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN...” So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when He adopted you as His own children. Now we call Him, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NLT God loves for us to come to Him in this way—as His children who love Him and want to spend time with Him. Proclaim your personal relationship with God, addressing Him as your loving Father and thanking Him that you are His child.

WORSHIP HIS NAME “...HALLOWED BE YOUR NAME...”

There is power in God's name. Here is a list of some of His names to help us worship Him specifically and personally: • God is Righteousness—He makes me clean • God is Sanctifier—He has called me and set me apart • God is Healer—He heals all my diseases • God is Banner of Victory—He defeated my enemies • God is Shepherd—He speaks to me and leads me • God is Peace—He is my peace in every storm • God is Provider—He supplies all of my needs

The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10 ESV Speak God’s names out loud. When we proclaim who He is, we not only worship Him, but we also remind ourselves how powerful and great He is.

PRAY HIS AGENDA FIRST “...YOUR KINGDOM COME. YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN...” We know God's will is perfect, and we acknowledge His wisdom and sovereignty when we pray His agenda first.

Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and he will give you everything you need. Luke 12:31 NLT Spend time focusing on what God is focused on. His priorities include: • The whole world to know Jesus • Blessing for those in authority—parental, spiritual, governmental, work-related, school • Caring for the poor • The Church around the world • Freedom for those in bondage

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Accomplishing His purpose in our lives

DEPEND ON HIM FOR EVERYTHING “...GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD...” God promises to supply all our needs, and He wants us to trust Him to provide. I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the LORD, who made Heaven and earth! Psalm 121:1-2 NLT Ask God for what you need today. Bring your requests to Him and trust Him enough to hand them over to Him fully. It may help to open your hands before God to physically show your surrender to Him. Problems can either be ours or God’s; they can’t be both.

10 PRAYER FOCUSES • Faith Life • Marriage/Dating Life • Family Life • Work/School Life • Ministry Life • Financial Life • Physical Life • Social Life • Attitudinal Life • Emotional/Mental Life

FORGIVE AND BE FORGIVEN “...FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE OUR DEBTORS...” When we turn away from our sins and receive His forgiveness, our hearts are more prepared to forgive others as well. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV

Ask God to check your heart and life and show you areas where you might need to ask for His forgiveness. Ask Him to forgive you and to help you forgive others. We can even choose to forgive people in advance!

ENGAGE IN SPIRITUAL WARFARE “...AND DO NOT LEAD US INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE...” The Bible makes it clear that we have an enemy who is trying to steal from us, kill us, and destroy us. As we pray, we take our stand against the enemy and fight from a place of victory through Jesus as we’re empowered by His Holy Spirit. There is power in God’s Word, and every lie the enemy has told us can be replaced with God’s truth.

For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12 NIV Ask God to show you any lies you’re believing, or spiritual warfare happening in your life, expose the enemy, and help you understand and receive His truth. Simply speaking the name of Jesus has great power in the spiritual realm. The Bible tells us in James 4:7 that if we resist the devil, he will flee from us. Through prayer, we can resist him and walk forward in freedom.

EXPRESS FAITH IN GOD’S POWER “...FOR YOURS IS THE KINGDOM AND THE POWER AND THE GLORY FOREVER...” Ending our prayer time by claiming God's authority and power helps focus our minds on the truth and hope of who He is and what He can do.

"O Sovereign Lord! You made the heavens and earth by your strong hand and powerful arm. Nothing is too hard for you!" Jeremiah 32:17 NIV

Remind yourself of God’s power and then return to praising Him and declaring your faith in Him: • “Yours is the Kingdom” – all authority belongs to You • “Yours is the Power” – all mightiness flows from You • “Yours is the Glory” – Your victory will be complete

Model 2: A.C.T.S. PRAYER The A.C.T.S. model is an acronym based on the Lord's Prayer, but with thanksgiving included. This model is great for beginners and can help you pray more effectively.

A = ADORATION During this time, focus directly on God, adoring Him for Who He is-- His names, His character, His roles, etc. Worship and praise God with your heart, mind, and voice.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands. Psalm 63: 3-4 ESV “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty—the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Revelation 4:8 NLT

C = CONFESSION When you acknowledge Who God is and adore Him for all that He is, confession is a natural follow-up. For, we cannot stand before the throne of a holy

God with sin between us and our Savior. He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins! a) Ask God to search your heart for areas that displease Him.

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that oﬀends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. Psalm 139:23-24 NLT

b) Allow God to cleanse your heart from unconfessed sin.

Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit[a] from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and make me willing to obey you. Then I will teach your ways to rebels, and they will return to you. Psalm 51:10-13 NLT C) Confess and repent of specific sins.

We are writing these things so that you may fully share our joy. This is the message we heard from Jesus[b] and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin. If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness. 1 John 1:4-9 NLT d) Accept His forgiveness and cleansing. “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins.” Jeremiah 31:34b NLT

Now I am glad I sent it, not because it hurt you, but because the pain caused you to repent and change your ways. It was the

kind of sorrow God wants his people to have, so you were not harmed by us in any way. For the kind of sorrow God wants us to experience leads us away from sin and results in salvation. There’s no regret for that kind of sorrow. But worldly sorrow, which lacks repentance, results in spiritual death. 2 Corinthians 7:9-10 NLT

T = THANKSGIVING This is a time for prayers of thanks for what God has done. Thank Him for salvation, the many blessings in your life, protection, provision, open doors, opportunities, and His gifts to man.

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:4-5 NLT

S = SUPPLICATION Prayers of request. This is the time to ask God for His divine help to meet needs, solve problems, work in someone's life.

Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. Ephesians 6:18 NLT

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. This is good and pleases God our Savior, who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. 1 Timothy 2: 1-4 NLT

Model 3: THE HOUR OF PRAYER In his book, The Hour That Changes the World, Dick Eastman suggests that one divide an hour into 12 periods of five minutes each. After five minutes you change to another form of prayer. Here is how you can pray for an hour:

1) PRAISE AND WORSHIP This is an expression of admiration and devotion to God.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness. Psalm 115:1 NLT • Worship God for who He is: the One who created you – for His unfailing Word – for your salvation – that you are included in His purpose…It is to exalt

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and honor God. It is to acknowledge God for who He is, to exalt God with your words, your whole being and with your attitude in prayer. Worship Him for His Name. His righteousness, love, holiness, omnipotence, greatness, faithfulness, omnipresence, His Word, His Creation, His work of redemption, etc. You may want to choose a different theme for each period of praise and worship. Expand on this theme as much as possible, meditate on it and ponder on the practical implications for your life and the lives of other people.

2) WAITING ON THE LORD This is an act of surrender to, and of love and admiration for God, (often wordless worship)

“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world.” Psalm 46:10 NLT

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This is a time of silence before God. Where I spiritually close the door to any influence from the world. Where I enter into His presence by an act of faith. It is a time to worship and praise God for who He is. During this period of silence we tune in to God Himself and direct our whole being to Him and commit ourselves to Him anew. We rejoice in and over His presence.This is a time of deep personal and intimate communication between God and ourselves; it is me as the limited and finite being coming into the presence of God as the unlimited and infinite Being. We make sure at this point that we are in contact with God. This time of waiting on the Lord cannot be hurried; there is no place for impatience and haste during this time. During this time you think of nothing but God the Father, His Son Jesus your Redeemer, and the Holy Spirit. You need not express your thoughts in words. Concentrate

on your relationship with the Lord and your love for Him.

3) CONFESSION OF GUILT AND SIN Confession of sin and humility is an act of admitting my sinfulness to God and of cleansing me as the Temple of God, allowing me entrance into His presence.

Surely the arm of the LORD is not too short to save, nor his ear too dull to hear. But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Isaiah 59: 1-2 NIV If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9 NIV

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This is the time to confess my sins by name, admit that I am wrong and turn from my sins and accept God's forgiveness. Where I ask God to cleanse me of any form of pride and lack of love. This is a time of introspection and allowing the Holy Spirit to reveal all unconfessed sins. We receive our salvation and the forgiveness of our sins solely through the blood of the Lord Jesus. On the grounds of His death on the cross. When confessing my sins I don't ask God to change my circumstances, but that He will change and forgive me.

4) PRAYING SCRIPTURE This is to feed myself spiritually and to pray according to God's agenda and revelation.

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This is Word-enriched prayer – The Word is our prayer manual. It is to pray God's promises to Him. God's promises in the Word create faith in our hearts.

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In the first place, the Bible is a book that needs to be believed and obeyed. During this time I ask God; "Lord, what promises can I claim for me, what commands must I obey, what warnings I must pay attention to?" We must remind the Lord of His promises in the Word day and night. As we read the Word we must ask the Lord how to apply it in our lives and in our prayer time.

5) WATCHING This is a time of spiritual observation (perception), to be on the look-out, to be spiritually aware of matters to pray for.

Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2 NIV

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A time to be especially wary and alert for the possible onslaughts of the devil. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to show you the plans, methods, strongholds and strategies of the evil one. To be alert to any prompting of the Lord. To be mindful of any revelation from God. Ask for insight, discernment, wisdom, to know on what to focus and what your priorities should be. To understand the will of God and where He wants to use you today. To ask the Lord what is on His heart and on His agenda. Are there things reported in the news that we should pray for such as economic problems, political unrest, wars, etc.

6) INTERCESSION This is to pray for others, to concentrate on the needs and distress of other people, to stand in the gap for someone else.

I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 NIV

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To pray for God's purpose in the lives of others. To stand between God and other people and pray for their needs – to ask for mercy and grace. It is a spiritual position before God – to remain standing until you have the assurance that God heard and release you of the burden to pray for this issue. It is God's method of getting His children involved in His plan for the world. When you intercede you stand at God's side and you work with Him for the salvation or benefit of someone else.

"Spiritual warfare" may be included in your time of prayer. Pray and ask the Lord to show you through the working of the Holy Spirit where the powers of evil is at work. On the authority that you have in Christ and in the Name of Jesus bind the evil forces, break their strongholds and resist them. Resist the devil; don't give him a hold in your life. Jesus conquered the evil one on the cross. We, the believers, must proclaim this victory on all spheres of life. This aspect of spiritual warfare will also be part of the prayer periods of watching, petition and personal prayer.

7) PETITION This is for your personal needs.

Give us today our daily bread. Matthew 6:11 NIV Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Philippians 4:6 NLT

He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request. 1 Chronicles 4:10 NLT To pray for my "daily bread." • I bring my own distress, emotions, crisis situations, needs and desires before God. • I come to God in total dependence and humility and ask Him to provide for all my needs. I come to God as His servant and child. • I am specific with my requests, but I do not impose or be prescriptive. • I come in faith and trust as a friend of God. • I come to the Father and pray for personal needs, and I pray expectantly even for the smallest things. • I guard my heart from selfish motives.

8) THANKSGIVING This is a time to acknowledge our appreciation to the Lord for His care and protection and for who He is.

Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT

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Think about the day and thank God for His care and provision for you and for others. Thank the Lord for new things He has done, and still do, spiritual, material, physical and social. Thank the Lord for who He is, His gifts, answers to prayer, and for all His blessings. Be specific in your thanksgiving.

9) SONG This is melodious praise and worship.

Shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth! Worship the Lord with gladness. Come before him, singing with joy. Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us, and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving; go into his courts with praise. Give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good. His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation. Psalm 100:1-5 NLT

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This is an act of worship and praise to God with spiritual songs. This can be a battle cry against the powers of darkness. Song and spiritual warfare (our battle against the evil one) are inextricably linked to each other. You can use existing songs, or you can sing your own new songs. You can start by taking parts of Scripture and make it into songs. This is to express admiration, worship and glorification to God through song.

10) MEDITATION This means to reflect upon or examine a matter more closely and to evaluate it spiritually.

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. Psalm 1:1-2 NIV Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Joshua 1:8 NIV

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Think about the Being and nature of the Triune God, His creation, great deeds and His character. Take a specific theme from Scripture and meditate on it (such as righteousness, love, truth, peace, holiness, etc.).

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Take a portion of Scripture and meditate on the passage. Make God the focus of your meditation, His works, His Word, and His character. Christian meditation is NOT Eastern meditation. In Eastern Meditation the focus is on a passive state of mind and the aim is to "empty" your mind. In Christian meditation, it is an active process of evaluating, investigating, pondering, involving your whole mind/being, while allowing the Holy Spirit and Scriptures to lead and fill you. Christian meditation is to ponder in a disciplined way. Consider everything that is true, pure, noble, right, beautiful and praiseworthy. When you meditate on a certain portion of Scripture you must ask yourself among other things, what this portion means to you. Don’t allow the enemy to plant thoughts in your mind. Take negative thoughts captive and make them obedient to Christ.

11) LISTENING This is a period in which you receive instruction from the Lord and ask Him to reveal to you the things that He wants you to notice and pay attention to.

Don’t make rash promises, and don’t be hasty in bringing matters before God. After all, God is in heaven, and you are here on earth. So let your words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2 NLT

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It is to listen to the inner voice of the Holy Spirit. During this period you ask; "Lord, what do You expect me to do? What is Your will for me for today?" To receive and ask for guidance from the Word of God. To deliberately ask God to reveal His will and strategies or plans to you.

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In waiting on the Lord the emphasis is on loving God. During meditation we want to learn more from God. During the period of listening we want to hear what God wants to say to us. You can ask the Lord specific questions, perhaps some difficult questions that you do not have the answers to. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Be careful not to say immediately: "The Lord said this and that to me."

12) WORSHIP This is to exalt and glorify God. To tell Him that you know who He is and to whom you are praying and that you trust Him with your supplications.

"…For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen." Matthew 6:13 (NKJV)

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Let your Amen be strong at the end and confirm thus that you. believe that God has heard you and will answer you. Amen means: it is true and sure, so shall it be. This is the final spiritual act of putting God on the throne of your life. This is where you declare: Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory for ever. Amen.

Model 4: PRAYING SCRIPTURE When we pray the promises of God, we’re focusing on God’s power and limitless resources rather than the problem or our own limited ability to solve it. Our Heavenly Father is bigger than any situation we’ll encounter, no matter how painful, scary or uncertain it may seem in the moment. Whatever we’re going through, find a verse for the situation

and trust God for the result. Pray His promises and trust in His power to be revealed. The Word of God is one of the most valuable tools we have to build a dynamic prayer life. Let's begin with King David's Psalm 23. Take a moment to read it and then use the below Scriptures to pray and have a conversation with God. Use the Scriptures below and claim God’s promises through prayer.

ASSURANCE: The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staﬀ protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever. Psalm 23:1-6 NLT

ANXIETY: Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7 NLT So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34 NLT

COMFORT: And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28 NLT All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NLT

FAITH: Faith shows the reality of what we hope for; it is the evidence of things we cannot see. Hebrews 11:1 NLT “Anything is possible if a person believes.” Mark 9:23 NLT

FEAR: For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 NLT Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NLT

FORGIVENESS: Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32 NLT

Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who oﬀends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Colossians 3:13 NLT

FREEDOM: For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 2 Corinthians 3:17 NLT

So Christ has truly set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don’t get tied up again in slavery to the law. Galatians 5:1 NLT

GUIDANCE: Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take. Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,” whether to the right or to the left. Isaiah 30:21 NLT

GUILT/SHAME: So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1 NLT “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool. Isaiah 1:18 NLT

HEALING: Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. Psalm 103:2-3 NLT But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. Isaiah 53:5 NLT

LONELINESS: No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you. Joshua 1:5 NLT

God places the lonely in families; he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy. But he makes the rebellious live in a sunscorched land. Psalm 68:6 NLT

PRIDE: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 NIV

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Philippians 2:3 NIV

PROTECTION: You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. Isaiah 26:3-4 NLT I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 NLT

PROVISION: And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19 NLT And God will generously provide all you need. Then you will always have everything you need and plenty left over to share with others. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NLT

PURITY: Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Psalm 51:10 NLT Let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been

sprinkled with Christ’s blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water. Hebrews 10:22 NLT

PURPOSE: “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 NLT And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

STRENGTH: Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NLT

But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31 NLT

THOUGHTS: And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Keep putting into practice all you learned and received from me—everything you heard from me and saw me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:8-9 NLT

Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Romans 12:2 NLT

VICTORY: The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm. Exodus 14:14 NLT

No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. Romans 8:37 NLT

WORTH/IDENTITY: For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago. Ephesians 2:10 NLT

Model 5: PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT The Baptism of the Holy Spirit, with the gift of speaking in tongues (spiritual prayer language), is a powerful prayer tool that enables us to let the Spirit pray through us. We can ask Jesus to baptize us in the Holy Spirit and receive this gift, like receiving salvation. We can find instances of this gift in the Bible (Acts 1:4, 2:4, 8:12-17, 10:44-46, 11:14-16, 15:7-9; Luke 24.49; and 1 Corinthians 12:1-31.) Sometimes believers are unsure of how to use their prayer language effectively. Here is an easy model called “P3” by author Scott Wilson to bring renewed purpose to praying in the Spirit:

1) STEP ONE - PRAYING IN THE SPIRIT This is when we pray in our spiritual language (tongues) and allow the Spirit to pray to God through us. This is a powerful tool to use when we don’t know how to pray or what to pray, we let the Spirit pray through us.

For anyone who speaks in a tongue[a] does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 1 Corinthians 14:2 NLT When we are praying in the Spirit, our mind is not fruitful, but our spirit prays to God’s Spirit.

2) STEP TWO – WITH UNDERSTANDING When we pray in the Spirit, we can ask God to give us understanding of what we are praying. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal His will to you. Do you have a sense of the Spirit’s guidance or direction? Begin to pray in your understanding. Let the Holy Spirit give you prophetic insight.

For if I pray in tongues, my spirit is praying, but I don’t understand what I am saying. Well then, what shall I do? I will pray in the spirit, and I will also pray in words I understand. I will sing in the spirit, and I will also sing in words I understand. 1 Corinthians 14:14-15

3) STEP THREE - IN AGREEMENT When God reveals His will to you, pray in agreement with His will and bring your will into alignment with Him. Write down your impressions in a prayer journal. If you are praying with a group, compare what you were sensing the Spirit saying. You likely will have a diverse but unified prophetic voice.

Model 6: WARFARE PRAYERS Prayer is not only communion with God; it is also confrontation with the enemy. When Jesus was on the earth, He came face-to-face with the devil when He was tempted in the wilderness (see Matthew 4 and Luke 4), and every time the enemy tried to tempt Him, Jesus responded with a reference from the Bible. He confronted the devil with the Word of

God, using the Sword of the Spirit to defend Himself. These spiritual warfare prayers and verses are examples we can use and adapt to our specific situations when we or someone we know is under attack.

THE ARMOR OF GOD Based on Ephesians 6:13-17 “Thank You, Lord, for my salvation. I receive it in a new and fresh way from You, and I declare that nothing can separate me from the love of Christ and the place I have in Your Kingdom. I wear Your righteousness today against all condemnation and corruption. Cover me with Your holiness and purity— defend me from all attacks against my heart. Lord, I put on the belt of truth. I choose a lifestyle of honesty and integrity. Expose the lies I have believed and show me Your truth today. I choose to live for the gospel in every moment. Show me where You are working and lead me to it. Give me strength to walk daily with You. I believe that You are powerful against every lie and attack of the enemy, and I receive and claim Your power in my life. Nothing is coming today that can overcome me because You are with me. Holy Spirit, show me the truths of the Word of God that I will need to counter the traps of the enemy. Bring those Scriptures to mind today. Holy Spirit, I agree to walk in step with You in everything as my spirit communes with You in prayer throughout the day.”

THE WEAPONS OF WARFARE Based on 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 “Father, Your Word says that no weapon formed against me will prosper (Isaiah 54:17), and I declare it in Jesus’ name. Your Word says that trouble will not arise a second time (Nahum 1:9). I declare in Jesus’ name that Satan cannot make trouble for me again, like he has in the past. I declare in the name of Jesus

that all of these prayers are answered and taken care of by trusting You. I stand on Your Word. The enemy is driven out from me; from my home, workplace, church family, children, and loved ones. I declare that he is not able to stand against me. No weapon formed against me will prosper, because the Spirit of the Lord is with me, protecting me. I declare these truths in the name of Jesus. Anything that comes against me or my family that is not in line with the truth and will of God, I command to bow to the powerful name of Jesus. God, I give You all of my thanksgiving, praise, glory, honor, and worship. Thank You for loving me, making me clean, and giving me purpose.”

PROTECTION PRAYER Based on 2 Thessalonians 3:3; 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, 10:3-5; Romans 12:1-2 “God, I bow in worship to praise You. Thank You for making a way for me through Your Son, Jesus. I surrender myself completely in every area of my life to You. I submit myself to the true and living God and refuse any involvement of the enemy in my life. I choose to be transformed by the renewing of my mind. I reject every thought that tries to compete against the knowledge of Christ. I pray and thank You for a sound mind, the mind of Christ. Today and every day I ask for protection over my family, loved ones, and those around me—all immediate family members, relatives, friends, and acquaintances. I ask for protection during all of our travels. I ask You to watch over our financial security, possessions, health, and safety (be as specific here as you like). All that I have is Yours God, and I declare that Satan cannot touch me or anything You have given me. I rebuke the enemy and tell him to bow to the blood of Jesus that covers me and my family. He will not take what You have given us and we are protected and provided for by You, God, and You alone.”

GENERATIONAL CURSES PRAYER Based on Exodus 20:4-6, 34:7; Numbers 14:18; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Romans 8:1, 12:1 “Father God, I understand that I have inherited certain consequences from my family, and in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I proclaim Your power to break any hold of mental or physical illness, pride, addiction, racism, other ungodly perspectives, and anything else on me and my family that are a result of sin being passed down through parents, grandparents, or other family members (if specifics come to mind, talk to God about it). I proclaim that all generational sin ends here and now, and that I will not pass these on to anyone in my family. Thank You, Lord, for setting me free and making a new way for me and my family.”

SURRENDER PRAYER Based on Matthew 18:18; Galatians 5:16-18; 2 Corinthians 10:5 "Heavenly Father, I bow in worship and praise before You. I surrender myself completely and unreservedly in every area of my life to You. I take a stand against all the workings of Satan in my life. Lord, I resist all the endeavors of Satan and his wicked spirits to rob me of the will of God." Ask God to highlight any areas in your life that need to be surrendered to Him such as: bitterness, unforgiveness, resentment, hate, malice, envy, jealousy, insecurity, inferiority, fear, rejection, selfpity, self-hate, anger, rage, murder, violence, sexual immorality, impurity, adultery, fornication, lust, pornography, pride, lying, rebellion, deception, manipulation, control, criticism, arrogance, prejudice, racism, greed, materialism, selfishness, covetousness, depression, anxiety, worry, suicide, self-destruction, addiction, dependency, alcoholism, drunkenness, drugs, rebellion to authority, stealing, laziness, unbelief, guilt, shame, negative words,

curses and spells, witchcraft, occult, blasphemy, sickness, disease, or chronic health issues.

Model 7: PRAYING FOR THOSE AWAY FROM GOD God desires for everyone to know Him. As followers of Christ, we are called to partner with Him in praying for those who don’t know Him to come to know Him and accept the free gift of salvation.

ASK THE FATHER TO DRAW THEM TO JESUS God draws people to Himself. It’s not something we can make happen based on our own efforts, so we need to be faithful in praying that the Father would draw those He’s placed on our hearts to Jesus.

"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws them..." John 6:44 NIV PRAYER: “Father, I pray for the people around me (list specific names), that You would supernaturally draw their hearts to You. Send Your Holy Spirit to them, and give them the desire to give their lives to You. Help them to recognize their longing for more in life as a spiritual thirst only You can quench. Open their ears to hear Your voice.”

BIND THE SPIRIT THAT BLINDS THEIR MINDS The truth can be right in front of some people, and they still can’t see it because something is in the way, blocking their view of God. We can pray against whatever is in their way so that they can see the light of God.

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV PRAYER: “Father, bind the evil spirits that are blinding the minds of the people around me. In the name of Jesus, I pray that they would be able to see clearly, to recognize who You are, and to give their hearts to You. Remove all hindrances the enemy would use to distract them from Your truth. Open their eyes, Lord, that they might see Jesus.”

PRAY THAT THEY MAY HAVE A PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD God came so that everyone could have a relationship with Him. God wants His sons and daughters to come home to Him. Praying for people to have personal encounters with God makes all the difference.

The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, “Abba, Father.” Romans 8:15 NIV

PRAYER: “Father, I pray that people will understand how much You love them. Loose the Spirit of Adoption for the people around me, so that they come into a meaningful relationship with You. Stir in their hearts a longing to come home, to hear Your voice, and to see You welcoming them with open arms. Let them know You are always running to meet them and hold them close.”

PRAY FOR BELIEVERS TO CROSS THEIR PATHS

This step is twofold. We can pray for other Christians to influence the people around them positively, and we can also look for opportunities to influence others positively ourselves. God’s plan to reach people is worked out through those who already know and love Him. "

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field." Matthew 9:38 NIV PRAYER: “Father, I pray for the lost around me to meet believers who will influence them in a positive way. Lord, let my life shine in such a way that people want to know the God I serve. Allow others to see my genuine love and concern for them in all that I say and do. Let me be Your hands and feet to serve them and let them know just how much You love them.”

RELEASE THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION ON THEM, SO THEY MAY KNOW GOD BETTER People need to see their own sin, see what Jesus did on the cross, and see the hope that comes from giving their life to God.

We can pray for this kind of spiritual revelation that only comes from God. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation, so that you may know Him better. Ephesians 1:17 NIV

PRAYER: “Father, I pray for the people around me to experience the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. I pray that they would truly understand their spiritual condition and see what Jesus did for them on the cross. Help them to have the information and

experiences needed to come to You, so they can understand all You have for them.”

Model 8: PERSONAL PRAYER FOCUS God has put us on the earth at this specific time for a reason. Knowing this, we can look at those around us at this time in history and take personal responsibility to pray.

I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4 NIV Pray for those in authority and those under your authority. Pray for those in your family and your circle of influence. Write down the names of specific people and pray for them.

ORGANIZE YOUR PRAYER REQUESTS Consider organizing prayer requests into categories. Start with broad and then move to requests closer to your heart: 1) WORLD Pray for world events, peace, Kingdom Builder Partners and anything that’s on your heart concerning the world. 2) COMMUNITY Pray for governmental leaders (United States and Minnesota), Twin Cities, Emmanuel, and your workplace.

3) FAMILY/LOVED ONES Pray for your immediate family. List them out by name. Include any extended family that is on your heart. Pray for close friends and other loved ones. 4) BURDENS Pray for anything heavy on your heart. Include here the requests that you’ve agreed to pray for. Categorize them by need (healing, salvation, infertility, loss, etc.). 5) PEOPLE AWAY FROM GOD Pray for people to come to Jesus, people you know and those you don’t know. Ask God for an awakening. 6) SUCCESS/BLESSINGS Pray for your personal success and blessing in accomplishing all God has asked of you.

IMPROVE PRAYER EFFECTIVENESS If we want our prayers to be effective, we need to have a clean heart before God and others. The Bible says,

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 NLT

Being righteous means we have right standing with God and others. We need to make sure we repent of our sins and forgive others. Below are some model prayers to help reflect on pursuing righteousness.

CONFESSION PRAYER Based on Romans 10:10; James 5:16; 1 John 1:7-9, 3:8 “Lord Jesus, I confess all of my sins to You. I repent and turn away from them. I’m sorry for the wrong I have done. I confess the times I should have stepped up to do right and did nothing instead. I lay it all down at Your feet. I submit my thoughts, words, actions, and inactions to You. Thank You, God, for forgiving and making a way for me through Your Son, Jesus. Jesus, I believe that You are the Son of God. You died on the cross for my sins and rose to life again on the third day. I confess all my sins and repent. I receive Your forgiveness and ask You to cleanse me from all sin. Thank You for redeeming me, setting me free, making me holy, and giving my life purpose.”

FORGIVENESS PRAYER Based on Matthew 6:14-15; Leviticus 19:18 “Lord, I have a confession to make. I have harbored bitterness in my heart. I haven’t loved others well. I have resented certain people and have not forgiven them. God, I know that You have forgiven me for so much, and I need Your help to follow You and forgive others. In faith, I now forgive (name them). I also forgive and accept myself because You have made me new in the name of Jesus.”

MARRIAGE PRAYER Based on Ephesians 5:25-30; 1 Peter 3:7 “Thank You, God, for loving us, and for creating marriage to be an illustration of Your love for us here on earth. Help me, God, to love my spouse (call them by name) the way You love me. Help me to listen to and honor my spouse, putting them before myself. Protect us physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. We ask You to build greater unity between us, make us stronger as a couple, more

devoted to one another and to You. Use us God; build us up to be an example of what godly marriage can look like. Use us together to do more than we could ever do apart. We ask for greater influence and more impact on the people around us. We ask You to work through us in the lives of our friends, family, and even those far away. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and move through us to bring those far from You closer, so that they can have an encounter with the Living God, who seeks and saves the lost, and who sets us free and gives us purpose. We choose as a couple to love You first, God. We put our relationship with You before anything and everything else. We confess our need for You. Thank You for bringing us together. We choose to love one another today and every day. Thank You for our marriage. We ask You to bless our marriage, build it, and be present in it always.”

DEVOTION IN SINGLENESS PRAYER Based on I Corinthians 7:32 “Father God, thank you for loving me and creating me with a heart of devotion for You and Your work. Please give me strength and provision as I live out my singleness for Your honor and glory. I thank You for the family of God and the community of believers. I don’t have to fear or be alone. Help me to be fruitful in this season. I know that I am complete in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

Part 2:

Fasting

ABOUT FASTING Fasting is a practice that has been carried out over the ages around the world. Beyond that, it’s a spiritual discipline that shows up a lot in Scripture. We see it all over the Old Testament and in the New Testament. We see great and inspiring examples of fasting, like Moses (Exodus 34:28), Daniel (Daniel 1:12-17; 10:2-3), Esther (Esther 4:16) and even Jesus and the apostle Paul. Then the Bible also shows us bad examples of people who practiced fasting, like the religious hypocrites in the Gospel. Fasting has a powerful impact on our relationship with God and helps us to continue to grow in Him. Simply, we can define fasting as “intentionally abstaining from a legitimate need or right in order to pursue God with greater effort and focus.” There can be a lot of confusion about the topic, and even some resistance. The best thing we can do is look at Scripture to gain a clear picture regarding the amazing and powerful experience of fasting. It’s no surprise that Jesus teaches us the most about fasting. He taught us by His example. At the beginning of His ministry, he fasted for 40 days when He was in the wilderness overcoming temptation. On the Sermon on the Mount, He said,

“And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.’” Matthew 6:16-18 NLT

Notice Jesus said, “when you fast” not “if you fast”? He is teaching with the assumption that all believers will follow His teaching and example concerning

fasting. Jesus makes it plain that we fast for the audience of one: God the Father. In the Gospels, He teaches that fasting is powerful when practiced in prayer and faith (Matthew 17:21). “Mountains can be moved and nothing is impossible.” He states that there is a time and a season for fasting (Matthew 9:14-15) and cautioned us that fasting is useless if practiced as an outward discipline if our inner life isn’t in alignment (Luke 18:12-14; Matthew 23:25-28).

THERE ARE MANY WAYS THAT FASTING CAN BE PRACTICED: • It can be practiced daily, weekly, monthly, or • • • • •

seasonally. It can be intermittent fasting, for a portion of the day. It can be fasting certain foods, much like Daniel abstained from certain foods and drinks. It can be fasting solids and only drinking water or broth. And, by principle, it can be fasting other legitimate rights or needs, like media. consumption, social media, or phone usage. It can also be a full fast, where for a certain timeframe you abstain from food and water (a word of caution here… I’d recommend building the discipline of fasting and not jumping into this until you are ready. Also check with your physician if you have any questions or concerns about how your own body can be prepared and how it will respond to a more intense fasting season).

WE CAN LEARN THESE THINGS THROUGH FASTING: • Self-Denial – It is the exercise of saying “no” to ourselves so we can more readily say “yes” to God.

‘Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23 NIV

• •

Clarity – We can hear God more clearly when we fast. Perspective – Our perspective is reframed, and we can realize our appetites and urges are not building eternal values. We can fix our thoughts on what is true, noble, and eternal. We can reign in the habit of giving into impulses.

Fasting impacts the people around us. (Isaiah 58:311, NLT)

FASTING IS NOT: • A hunger strike to twist God’s arm or corner Him for an answer. • It’s not to be confused with a diet (that would completely miss the point!) • Fasting media or social media should not be confused with a digital detox. • And Paul cautions and states clear guard rails when fasting intimacy with your spouse so that it doesn’t turn into manipulation, emotional revenge, or a relational train wreck (I Cor 7:5) True fasting is the “diligent search for God during an established timeframe” as we intentionally abstain from a legitimate need or right. We want to encourage you to target your prayers during the fast. Fasting empowers us in unique ways to break free from oppressing dynamics in our life spiritually, emotionally, habitually, financially, and physically. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer. We believe that, as we pray and seek God and give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year (Matthew 6:33)!

TYPES OF FASTS The goal of fasting is to connect with God. Again, we can define fasting as “intentionally abstaining from a legitimate need or right in order to pursue God with greater effort and focus.” If you are new at fasting, we encourage you to ease into this spiritual discipline. Try fasting a meal or a day each week. There are several types of fasts and different approaches for you to try the one you choose is between you and God. He will honor your best sacrifice.

• • • •

•

COMPLETE FAST In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option. THE DANIEL FAST Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables. 3-DAY FAST This fast can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food. PARTIAL FAST This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown. SELECTIVE FAST This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food. SET YOURSELF APART This is also known as consecration. It is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance.

For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.

FASTING AS A FAMILY – WHAT ABOUT THE KIDS? Fasting can be tricky when it comes to kids. With questions like: should kids join in fasting? Is it healthy? Is it safe? Will they understand? Parents should be cautious. However, kids can experience a deepening of their relationship with God when they join in the churchwide fast.

FIVE STEPS FOR KID PARTICIPATION IN FASTING: 1) START WITH WHY Fasting is closing our mouths and opening our hearts to God. It is giving up something to make room in our lives for God. The things that we give up are not bad, but when we go without them we discover something great - a deeper reliance on the strength of God. We don't just give up something, we get filled up too! So don't sell your kids short, it won't be easy for them but it's not easy for us either. They can deepen their relationship with God through this powerful spiritual discipline. 2) GIVE UP SOMETHING CONSUMABLE When the Bible talks about fasting, it's always about something you put in your mouth – food. The power for kids comes when we guide them into giving up something they crave but within reason. Don’t have a kid do complete fast! Rather have them pick a treat they consume regularly. So maybe it’s NOT broccoli or vegetables, but most kids like sweet things such as a kind of fruit, candy, soda, or juice. Or something salty like chips, popcorn, or crackers.

3) GIVE UP SOMETHING YOU LIKE TO DO Taking a break from a non-food thing along with fasting can be powerful in creating space in your family’s life for God. Giving up things like sports, movies, video games, TV, digital media, secular music, YouTube, or social media. 4) GIVE AWAY WHAT YOU WOULD HAVE SPENT We tend to spend a lot on sweet drinks, candy, entertainment and the like. Decide how much you spend on the item you are fasting. Pull that cash out of the bank and put it somewhere where the kids can see it. Allow them to give it to Kingdom Builders so they can see that fasting and prayer can make a difference to others. It helps them understand how they can tangibly be a part of the bigger plan. 5) PARENTS LEAD BY EXAMPLE As a parent, lead by example. In Matthew 6:16 Jesus was teaching on fasting, and he said when you fast not if you fast. Jesus clearly expected all of His followers, no matter how old or young, to practice this powerful spiritual discipline. Remember, we’re practicing. We don't have to get it perfect, we can mess up. Because fasting isn't about getting it all right, it's about clearing clutter and making room in our hearts and our lives for God. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES FOR FASTING • Matthew 6:16-18; Matthew 9:14-15; Luke 18:9-14 RELATION TO PRAYER AND READING OF THE WORD • 1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18; Nehemiah 1:4; Daniel 9:3, 20; Joel 2:12; Luke 2:37; Acts 10:30; Acts 13:2 CORPORATE FASTING • 1 Samuel 7:5-6; Ezra 8:21-23; Nehemiah 9:1-3; Joel 2:15-16; Jonah 3:5-10; Acts 27:33-37

Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you fast! Your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

Appendix

PRAYER JOURNAL MY GOVERNMENT

PRESIDENT______________________________ NATIONAL LEADERS _____________________ ________________________________________ STATE LEADERS _________________________ CITY LEADERS __________________________ SCHOOL LEADERS _______________________ MY FAMILY

SPOUSE ________________________________ CHILDREN ______________________________ PARENTS _______________________________ SIBLINGS _______________________________ EXTENDED FAMILY_______________________ ________________________________________ 51

MY CHURCH

PASTORS _______________________________ CONNECT GROUP LEADER ________________ CONNECT GROUP MEMBERS ______________ ________________________________________ NEXT GEN ______________________________

MY LIFE

EMPLOYER ______________________________ CO-WORKERS ___________________________ EMPLOYEES _____________________________ TEACHERS/PROFESSIONALS ______________ CLOSE FRIENDS _________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ 52

THOSE AWAY FROM GOD

DATE ANSWERED

PRAYER REQUESTS DATE ANSWERED ________________________________________

________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________ ________________________________________

RESOURCES •

emmanuelcc.org/21days/

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God’s Chosen Fast | Book by Arthur Wallis

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AWAKENING | Book by Stovall Weems

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The Forty-Day Word Fast | Book by Tim Cameron

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Leveling the Praying Field | Book by Donna Barrett

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Fasting with God – Finding Breakthrough and Power in the Names of God | Book by Tammy Hotsenpillar

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Enjoying Prayer | Book by Kevin Senapatiratne

•

P3: Praying in the Spirit, With Understanding, and In Agreement | Book by Scott Wilson

emmanuelcc.org vs 1.4