/files/Images/Ministries/Prayer/prayer.jpg Guide to Prayer and Fasting

The Grace Place Community Church

 

WHAT IS FASTING??

To “fast” means primarily “not to eat”. Biblical fasting always centers on spiritual purposes.  Fasting normally involves abstaining from all food, solid, or liquid, but not water, for a determined amount of time with specific spiritual goals. 

 

If you have never fasted and have physical problems, you may want to consider other options that will serve the same purpose such as: do without a luxury coffee, fast one meal a day once a week, or fast from TV. 

 

Types of Fasting-

  • Normal Fast - to abstain from all food but not water. (Matthew 4:2)
  • Absolute fast is to abstain from all good and drink. (Ezra 10:6)
  • Partial Fast is restriction of diet rather than a total abstinence from all food.  (Daniel 10:3)

On Fast Day-

Take your usual time for a meal, watching favorite TV program, and/or other choice to focus on reading the Bible and praying.

 

Seven Spiritual Benefits - (from the book “Victorious Praying” by Dr. William Thrasher)

  1. Fasting is a primary means of restoration.
  2. Fasting reduces the power of self so that the Holy Spirit can do a more intense work within us.
  3. Fasting helps to purify us spiritually.
  4. Fasting increases our spiritual reception by quieting our minds and emotions.
  5. Fasting brings a yieldness, even a holy brokenness, a resulting in an inner calm and self-control.
  6. Fasting renews spiritual vision.
  7. Fasting inspires determination to follow God’s revealed plan for your life.

Ministry of Prayer-

Prayer is about getting to know God and uniting with His Word to know His thoughts.  Charles Henley said, “The key is to pray according to God’s will.  To know His will we must know His thoughts.  To know His thoughts we must saturate our minds with His word. Then we will begin to experience the authority of God in our prayers.”

Your prayer can be broken down into these parts.

 

Adoring Christ- tell Him how much you love Him.

Confession- Confess your need of Him and your short-comings.

Thanks- Tell Him how much you appreciate what He has done for you.

Supplication- Ask Him for your needs.

 

TRUE PRAYER IS: 

  • True prayer is a means of accepting God’s salvation.
    • Romans 10:13 - "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
  • True prayer is the means of experiencing God’s peace.
    • Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. [7] And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
  • True prayer is a means of experiencing God’s joy.
    • John 16:24 - “…..ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.”
  • True prayer is a means of the revival of God’s people.
    • II Chronicles 7:14- “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
  • True prayer is a means of receiving the gift of perseverance.
    • Luke 18:1- “Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”

 Excerpts from authors on the subject of Prayer and Fasting-

·        Jim Cymbala writes in the book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire by Jim Cymbala "If we prevail in prayer, God will do what only He can do- how he does things, when He does them, and in what manner are up to Him.”

·        In the book God’s Chosen Fast by Arthur Wallis,  “Fasting is designed to make prayer mount up as on eagles’ wings.  It is intended to usher us into the audience chamber of the King and to extend to him the golden sceptre. The man or woman who prays with fasting is giving heaven notice that he or she is truly in earnest.

·        In the book Victorious Praying by Bill Thrasher "Prayer is an attitude of our hearts toward God, an attitude of helplessness or surrender."

o       Psalm 34:4 says, “I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.” He deeply desires to pour out His gracious help to those who come to Him in true humility.

o       I John 1:7 says, “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”  To walk in the light is to walk openly, honestly, and transparently before God and His truth.

We have a Prayer Chain with immediate prayer support for urgent needs. If you have a request, contact the church office at (772) 287-6388.  Or for more information about the Prayer Ministry at The Grace Place, contact Karon Addison.