40 DAYS OF
Prayer & Fasting 1
Dear Taylors Family, O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of your servant, and to the prayer of your servants who delight to fear your name. Nehemiah 1:11 Since making the decision to call our church to a 40-day period of prayer and fasting, the anticipation in my heart has been building. I’m now more than ready to enter into this time, praying we will experience a God-produced renewal in our hearts, in our families, and in our church family. I want to be a part of a movement where God delights to see His people on their faces before Him, where He hears and responds, and where we are changed. The timing is right as we enter the new year. The year 2014 is special for Taylors, marking our church’s 150th anniversary. In the months ahead we will celebrate what God has done, but we must now ask Him with sincerity: What do You desire for us in the days ahead? And we pray. The fundamental reasons why I feel the Lord has called Taylors to pray are... • Because God desires His people to be humbled before Him so He can speak to us through His Word and Spirit. • So we can encounter His presence and be transformed, beginning in our inward thinking and moving toward our outward actions. • So we can hear Him call us to the next step or the next season of our lives and we take confidence that He will lead us through. • So He can make Himself known to us and we know and love Him more. • For His power and glory and kingdom to move through us into our community and world. If you respond with a persistent and genuine desire to see these results, this 40-day period in your life should be remarkable, both in the life of your family and in our church. What’s even more exciting is to think of the eternal effects! I’m looking forward with expectation; may this guide give you just the help and encouragement you need to make these 40 days of prayer and fasting a meaningful period in your life and in the days ahead. Paul Jimenez Pastor
Reflect on the Scripture
As we walk together through the book of Nehemiah, reflect on the prophet’s compelling prayer in Nehemiah 1:4-11.
When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven. Then I said: Blank
who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, let your ear be attentive and your eyes open to hear the prayer your servant is praying before you day and night for your servants, the people of Israel. I confess the sins we Israelites, including myself and my father’s family, have committed against you. We have acted very wickedly toward you. We have not obeyed the commands, decrees and laws you gave your servant Moses. Remember the instruction you gave your servant Moses, saying, ‘If you are unfaithful, I will scatter you among the nations, but if you return to me and obey my commands, then even if your exiled people are at the farthest horizon, I will gather them from there and bring them to the place I have chosen as a dwelling for my Name.’ They are your servants and your people, whom you redeemed by your great strength and your mighty hand. Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man.” I was cupbearer to the king.
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Each Sunday you will receive a “Prayer Focus” in your bulletin* to use along with this guide.
Positioning Yourself to Hear
• Reflect on the Scripture from Nehemiah each week and review the highlights of Pastor Paul’s sermon. Ask God to speak and show you how to apply to your own life. • Set aside a time to daily seek His Face personally, corporately and globally, asking the questions on page six and expecting to hear Him answer. • Practice spiritual disciplines such as prayer, fasting, Bible study and journaling. Ask God to give you a desire for more of Him as well as the discipline you need to seek Him with all of your heart. See page seven. • Choose the type of fast you will incorporate into these 40 days and ask God for the discipline and focus you need. You may choose to fast a day a week, a meal a day, from specific food and/or beverages, from television and/or video games, from social media such as Facebook and/or Twitter, etc. • Incorporate the prayer focus in the bulletin into your prayers for your personal/family life, our church, and our world. • Share on the prayer walls either in the corridor between the Worship Center and the Apex or online at www.taylorsfbc.org/prayer. • Pray together weekly with a partner or small group. *Also available at www.taylorsfbc.org/prayer
JEREMIAH 29:13 5
Seeking His Face for 40 Days
Every day for 40 days, we (individually and corporately) will consistently seek the face of the Lord in the following areas: 1)
PERSONALLY Seek the Lord’s presence, power, and will in your life and in the life of your family:
What does He desire to do in your life personally?
What is His desire for your family and in your specific role?
2)
CORPORATELY Seek the Lord’s presence, power, and will for our church body:
How does He desire to work at Taylors FBC?
How is He calling you to use your gifts to build up the body?
What attitudes toward the body need to be shaped, strengthened or repented of?
3)
GLOBALLY Seek the Lord’s presence, power, and will in our community, nation, and the nations:
How does He desire you to pray for our community, nation, or the nations?
How can you become actively involved through our church to reach out to our community, our nation, or the nations?
Psalm 27:7-8
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Practicing Spiritual Disciplines
The following Prayer Guides are available to help position you to hear God speak. Visit the God’s 3000 Desk or www.taylorsfbc.org/prayer.
Fasting Guidelines Learn to fast regularly in order to develop a more intimate relationship with the Lord and to position yourself to hear His voice.
Developing a Daily Quiet Time Begin the practice of a daily quiet time to position yourself to hear from God.
Developing Your Prayer Life Grow in your understanding and practice of effective prayer.
Cleansing Your Heart Through Confession Pray through Psalm 51 for the continual confession of sin in order to prepare your heart to hear from God.
Using the Inductive Bible Study Method Develop an approach to Bible study that will help you go deeper in your understanding of Scripture.
Journaling Incorporate the discipline of journaling to enhance your Bible study time and prayer life. For more information visit www.taylorsfbc.org/prayer.
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Taylors Ministerial Staff
Paul Jimenez Pastor John Alexander Minister of Children Kevin Batson Minister of Music & Worship Ryan Brooks Minister of College & Young Singles Gerald Caskey Financial Supervisor & Interim Church Administrator Kathy Dority Minister of Assimilation and Spiritual Care Dr. Jimmie Harley Associate Pastor Dr. Jason Hodges Minister of Adults and Leadership Development Daryl Hopkins Minister of Family Life Recreation Rhonda McMahan Minister of Preschool Dr. Doug Mize Minister of Discipleship & Evangelism Scott Norman Associate Minister of Music & Worship Ricky Stark Associate Minister of Students Jeremy Thompson Minister of Missions
200 West Main Street | Taylors, South Carolina | www.taylorsfbc.org 8