As a church family, we will begin 2025 with our annual rhythm of intentional prayer and fasting. We have found this to be a much-needed practice as many of us are desperate for breakthrough. This is something that the practice of fasting often brings forth. We are asking, “What is God waiting to pour out on our church, our city, or our lives if we would seek Him through prayer & fasting?”
Join us throughout these 21 Days for intentional gatherings of prayer and worship. We will have opportunities at each COTC campus to engage corporately.
Wesley Duewel, a twentieth-century writer, said, “You and I have no more right to omit fasting because we feel no special emotional prompting than we have a right to omit prayer, Bible reading, or assembling with God’s children for lack of some special emotional prompting. Fasting is just as biblical and normal a part of a spiritual walk of obedience with God as are these others.”
Some of the most encouraging words that we can read as we prepare to enter into this season are found in Acts 13:2, which reads, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” We are encouraged and invigorated to know that our time of dedicating ourselves to the Lord in this way will result in us actually hearing from Him!
People fast for several reasons. Following are seven circumstances in the Bible in which believers sought God through this discipline.
Jesus spent forty days and nights in the wilderness fasting and praying before He began God’s work on this earth. He needed time alone to prepare for what His Father had called Him to do (Matthew 4:1-17; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-14).
Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted for the elders of the churches before committing them to the Lord for His service (Acts 14:23).
Nehemiah mourned, fasted, and prayed when he learned Jerusalem’s walls had been broken down, leaving the Israelites vulnerable and disgraced (Nehemiah 1:1-4).
Ezra declared a corporate fast and prayed for a safe journey for the Israelites as they made the nine-hundred-mile trek to Jerusalem from Babylon (Ezra 8:21-23).
After Jonah pronounced judgment against the city of Nineveh, the king covered himself with sackcloth and sat in the dust. He then ordered the people to fast and pray. Jonah 3:10 says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.”
After losing forty thousand men in battle in two days, the Israelites cried out to God for help. Judges 20:26 says all the people went up to Bethel and “sat weeping before the Lord.” They also “fasted that day until evening.” The next day the Lord gave them victory over the Benjamites.
Luke 2 tells the story of an eighty-four-year-old prophetess named Anna. Verse 37 says, “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Anna was devoted to God, and fasting was one expression of her love for Him.
©2023 Kristen Feola | Faith Gateway
Each day during our fast, we will have Scripture reading that will be available in our formation journals. Our hope is for this content to encourage you as you navigate this fast, connecting you with others in our family who are journeying alongside you. The formation journal is designed to be an easily accessible addition to the experience, and is available for pick up in person or online.
In place of COTC Dailies, we are providing a 21 Day Audio Prayer Guide via text each day. We hope you'll join in this experience as we seek first the kingdom of heaven. Text "21Days" to 855-615-6150 to receive
Many of us are desperate for breakthrough, especially in this season - something the practice of fasting often brings forth. We encourage you to use the card below as a helpful guide as you prepare for this fast.
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Presence
of God
Formation
of People
Unity
of the Church
Flourishing
of the City