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Special Events during our Fasting and Prayer week

SPECIAL EVENTS:

I mentioned Sunday that we are joining together in an all-church time of fasting and prayer beginning this coming Sunday, February 9. Please be in prayer about your participation. How will you participate? What will you do if you know there will be a special event during the fast? Who will you ask to be a partner and encourager along the way?

As a part of this season of prayer and fasting, I invite you to two special church gatherings.

BRING an OFFERING of THANKS
This coming Sunday, February 9, you are encouraged and welcome to join with your church family in an evening of giving thanks. By way of preparation, make a list of anything/everything you can recall for which you are thankful to God. Miracles in your life, special moments of provision, healing, peace, sustaining grace, etc. Make a list and come prepared to share some of your items with your church family. Together, we will lift up our thanks as a way of entering into our time of fasting.

On Wednesday evening, February 12: you are encouraged and invited again to join together with the church family as we offer up our prayers based on Isaiah 58. Come prepared and expecting to meet with God and each other as we hear His heart for us and for the city where we live.

If you did not receive the handout on fasting on Sunday, here is a link to it.

 https://assets.speakcdn.com/assets/1927/prayer_fasting5.pdf 


THE CALL TO FAST AND PRAY:


We are asking each of you to set aside February 9-16 as a season of fasting and prayer. While we are all called to pray at all times, this is a particular season of joining in prayer for specific things we all need, as well as things we pray for in our city/county/region. 

Isaiah 58:6-12 give us a clear picture of God's plans for a fast. In those verses, he indicates that His fast is for:

  • Loosening the Bonds of Wickedness
  • Undoing the bands of the yoke
  • Letting the oppressed go free
  • Breaking every yoke
  • Give to those in need of food
  • Help the homeless
  • Not hiding from "your own flesh" - or refusing to see the needs of those around you.
The passage goes on to tell us what we can expect when we fast in that way:
  • Your light will break out like the dawn
  • Your recovery will speedily spring forth
  • Your righteousness will go before you
  • The Glory of God will be your rear guard
  • We will call, and God will answer and remove the yoke from our midst and the "pointing finger" and wicked speaking.
  • Your light will rise in the darkness
  • Your gloom will become like midday
  • The Lord will guide you
  • He will satisfy you in scorched places
  • He will give strength to your bones
  • You will be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water does not fail
  • You will restore ancient ruins, raise up the age-old foundations.
  • You will be the repairer of the breach and the restorer of streets! 

Our overall desire is to connect with God as individuals and as a church family. We want to hear what He is saying to us as we join Him in His purposes. We want Him to refocus our hearts on His plans as we grow together with Him and reach out to those in need around us.


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