OVERVIEW

In the most basic form, fasting is abstaining from food. However, there is more to fasting than merely not eating. Fasting is not about getting or receiving something; biblically speaking, fasting is done in response to a serious, grievous, or sacred moment―sin, fear, sickness, needs, threats, uncertainty, preparation, etc. It is realizing our lack of control over a situation or ‘moment’, mourning our inadequacy, and seeking to place our whole being into the presence of God. It is a holistic action that stimulates our heart, mind, soul, and body. Only God forgives, brings peace, heals, provides, protects, gives revelation, etc. It is not about seeking the “end goal”, but simply placing our ‘moment’ into God’s presence to allow him to deal with it―how he deals with it is up to him!

FASTING & FEASTING

Jesus, in response to a question on fasting, stated, “The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.” (Luke 5.35). While Jesus was on earth, the kingdom of God was physically present. Now, we live in the in-between, where Jesus is ascended and we await his return―which will be celebrated with a feast (Isa. 25.6-9; Luke 14.1-24; Rev. 19.6-9).

Fasting, then, can be seen as craving God’s kingdom (reign) on earth. Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6.10). This is not merely a future hope of the kingdom, but a current desire for God’s ruling presence. God’s kingdom is breaking into the present and he uses his Spirit-filled people to reveal and share that kingdom (Rom 14.17-18). When we realize and feel the weight of the brokenness, injustice, and oppression in the world, and we fast in response to its condition, God’s response is to bring his reign of healing, justice, and freedom. Fasting, then, brings us into partnership with God in what he is doing in and around us.

CHOOSING A FAST

1. Full Fast

Full Fasts are when you abstain from all food and drink for a full day―or more. Traditionally, Jewish fasting is from sun-down to sun-down. Examples: Jesus fasting forty days (Matt. 4.2); Paul fasting in response to encountering Jesus (Acts 9.9).

2. Daniel Fast

Daniel Fasts are when you eat only certain foods―fruit, veggies, or nuts―to sustain (not fill) you through the fast period which can last days or weeks (Dan. 1.12, 10.2-3).

3. Intermittent Fast

Intermittent Fasts are when you abstain from food and drink for a certain period of time. This could be from sun-up to sun-down or skipping a meal or two in a day. It could go for a day or over multiple days

4. Lenten Fast

Lenten Fast is removing beloved foods or drinks to help to turn attention to God over a number of weeks. This could be the likes of chocolate, soda, or coffee.

5. Soul Fast

Souls Fasts are when you remove some thing from your life for a number of weeks. It might be television, social media, video games, screens in general, or pleasure reading―anything that can be a distraction from seeking God. Soul Fasts can be combined with any of the other Fasts.

P.R.E.P. DURING A FAST

During your fast, it is important to remember to actually spend time seeking God. Do not feel like it has to be for the entire fast (as in you cannot do anything else), but that you take time during your fasting periods to P.R.E.P.

• Pray
• Read Scripture
• Engage in worship
• Perceive the leading of the Spirit

OVERVIEW

The Prayer Calendar is an amazing way to begin a daily prayer habit of praying for others. It was introduced by David and Paul Watson in their book Contagious Disciple Making. It only takes about five minutes a day, but can easily turn into a movement of prayer.

PREPARE

Use the template below, make your own from a sheet of paper, or use a calendar (electronic allows for reminders).

Write the name of a person on each numbered line, beginning with those closest to you, who would be most likely to answer a phone call or return a text. Include those who might join you in disciple-making efforts or might make their own prayer calendars in the future. Do not feel obligated to fill the entire calendar and feel free to repeat names.

PRAY

Each day, look at your list and call or text the person for that day (If it is the 2nd, call/text the person on line 2). A call will take ~5 minutes:

1. Let them know you will be praying for them throughout the day―If they are someone who would like to join you, explain the Prayer Calendar to them.
2. Ask them if there is anything specific that they need prayer for.
3. Pray for them:
   1. If you are calling the person: ask if you can pray for them right now.
   2. If you are texting with them: write out your prayer or send a voice message.

MULTIPLY

After a few months, invite a few people on your list to start their own prayer calendars. Teach them how you set up your prayer calendar and as you come to them to pray on your list ask how they are doing with it. Also, ask if they have any great stories of how God is working. By sharing stories of what God is doing, we encourage and inspire one another.

If just three of the people on your calendar start their own calendars, and they each invite three more people who also start calendars, you move from 2.5 hours of prayer to 32.5 hours of prayer and from 30 to over 300 people being prayed for each month. Can you imagine how this increased prayer could transform a local church?

The discipline of a prayer calendar helps to create connections between people in the body of Christ. More people will be interested in starting a prayer calendar when they hear about answers to prayers. As relationships develop and answered prayers are shared, a prayer calendar can create more and more momentum for prayer.

The prayer calendar is a small habit to start, but it can have a profound impact over time. As people continue to reach out to others their hearts become more and more oriented toward impacting others for Christ. When this happens, you have the beginning of a prayer movement.

MORE CALENDARS

Create calendars for specific people groups in your life and add calendars if you are able:

• Extended Family Members
• Neighbors
• Co-workers
• Non-believers

OVERVIEW

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5.17) and we should strive to do the same. This can seem like a pretty daunting concept though. The Prayer Cycle is a simple tool to help guide us in 12 ways to pray. Engaging in each for only 5 minutes can help us exercise our prayer life in a way to work towards ceaseless prayer.

TIPS

• Do not be legalistic. If you can only do 1-2 minutes of a section, just do that and work your way up to 5 minutes.
• Set a 5-minute timer. If you want to continue in that section for longer though, go for it!
• If you get distracted easily, try journaling and writing out your reflections and prayers.
• If you have less than an hour to pray, simply divide up the time. 30 minutes: spend 2.5 minutes on each section.

12 SECTIONS

1. Praise — Start your prayer hour by praising the Lord. Praise Him for who He is and His attributes.
2. Wait — Use this time to surrender to Jesus and ask the Spirit to lead and guide your time.
3. Confess — Ask the Spirit to show you anything in your life that might need confession. Read the Confession of Sin below. Remember: The heart of sin is unbelief in who God is, resulting in idolatry. Reflect on the 4 G’s: Where might you have unbelief?
4. Read the Word — Spend time reading a passage of Scripture. (A Psalm is a good option)
5. Petition — Make specific requests for yourself.
6. Intercede — Make specific requests on behalf of others. Start with your closest relational circle (i.e. family) and move outward.
7. Pray the Word — Use the passage you read earlier as a beginning place to pray.
8. Thanksgiving — Give thanks to the Lord for what He has done in and through your life, family, and church.
9. Sing — Listen to or sing a song that is on your heart.
10. Meditate — Merge everything together that you have prayed, read, and sung; What is the Lord communicating to you?
11. Listen — Ask the Spirit to speak to you. Write down what you hear and talk to another believer about it.
12. Praise — Praise the Lord for the time you have had to spend with Him and any impressions He has given to you.

OVERVIEW

Praying for our enemies is a very important aspect to our faith and witness in Jesus. The concept of not merely praying for, but also doing good, blessing, and loving our enemies is against most of what is taught in our culture and world. The saying, “Scratch my back and I will scratch yours” is the predominant base of our relationships. However, this is not the base for Jesus’ relationships―his base is selfless love, blessing, and goodness―no matter who they are. Forgiveness is at the heart of praying for your enemies. This process of forgiveness may take a long time, but the more you pray to bless and love them, the easier it will be to forgive.

SCRIPTURE

Luke 6.27-36

But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.

If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, expecting to be repaid in full.

But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

YOUR ENEMIES

Think about people in your life (past and present):

• Who do you have a difficult time being around?
• Who brings about anger or frustration at the mention of their name?
• Who has hurt or mistreated you?

As you think about that neighbor, co-worker, boss, friend, acquaintance, etc.; take time to pray for them. When you pray for them, if you still have resentment, anger, frustration towards them, pray routinely for them. If you are around them consistently, think of ways to love and bless them.

PRAYERS

Humble Blessing:

God, bless _________ : raise him/her above me; give him/her greater love, support, and community than I have; give him/her greater success than I have; and help him/her participate in the restoration of the world more than I do. Amen.

Reconciliation:

O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead ________ and me/us from prejudice to truth: deliver ________ and me/us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

REFLECT

Read one or more of these passages and reflect upon them.

• Matthew 5.43-48, 6.9-15
• Romans 12.17-21
• 1 Peter 3.8-18

OVERVIEW

The Daily Prayer of Examen is a tool developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556). It is a practice of prayerful reflection on the day’s events in order to detect the movement of God in all the people and events of our day. For the disciple maker, The Prayer of Examen has many helpful benefits: we become more aware of God and what he is stirring in us; we gain a better understanding of God’s perspective and insight; we make better and wiser decisions; and experience more peace and joy.

PREPARE

• Find a place where you are able to reflect on your day with God in solitude and prayer.
• Set aside at least 15 min for the prayer.
• Recommended to pray The Examen at the end of your day, but you can reflect upon the previous day in the morning if that works best for you.
• You may find that on different days you are drawn to spend more time on certain parts of the prayer and less on others.
• Allow the Spirit to lead the time.

MEDITATE & PRAY

1. Become Aware of God’s Presence―Look back on the events of the day in the company of the Holy Spirit. If the day seems confusing to you, like a blur, ask God to bring clarity and understanding.
2. Review the Day with Gratitude―Gratitude is the foundation of our relationship with God. Walk through your day in the presence of God and note its joys and delights. Focus on the day’s gifts. Look at the work you did and the people you interacted with:

• What did you receive from these people?
• What did you give them?
• How was God in the smallest of details?

3. Pay Attention to Your Emotions―One of St. Ignatius’s great insights is that our emotions can be gateways into understanding how God wants to move and work in our lives.

• Reflect on the feelings you experienced during the day. Joy? Resentment? Boredom? Compassion?
• How do you think God wants you to respond to these emotions? If joy, perhaps gratitude; if fear, maybe trust; if conviction, probably repentance.
• God will most likely show you some ways that you fell short. Take note of these instances, but look deeply for other implications.
• Do you have concern for a friend? That feeling may indicate that you should not only pray but also reach out to her in some way.

4. Choose One Feature of the Day and Pray for It―Ask the Holy Spirit to direct you to something during the day that God thinks is particularly important. It may involve a feeling—positive or negative. It may be a significant encounter with another person or a vivid moment of joy or peace. Or it may be something that seems rather insignificant. Look at it. Pray about it. Allow the prayer to arise spontaneously from your heart—whether intercession, praise, repentance, or gratitude.
5. Look Toward Tomorrow―Ask God to give you insight for tomorrow’s challenges. Pay attention to the feelings that surface as you survey what’s coming up. Are you doubtful? Cheerful? Apprehensive? Full of delight and anticipation? Allow these feelings to turn into prayer. Seek God’s guidance. Ask Him for help and understanding. Pray for hope.

OVERVIEW

Prayer walking is about partnering with God as he opens up the hearts of the people in areas of your city and neighborhood. It takes us to the areas where we want to see God most move and work. In prayer walking, God opens our eyes to see where he is working while we pray that He opens others’ eyes to him. We want to be open to how God is working in the area and how we can participate with him. Prayer walking can open the door to conversations with people and bring healing to the problems or injustices in this part of the city.

Prayer walking is a posture of prayer before God. If kneeling/bowing in prayer conveys humility, need for God, and sorrow in heart; standing conveys praise, gratitude, and worship; so walking conveys a desire to see God move and enter into mission with him.

PREPARATION

• Where do you want to see God move? Express your vision for the area to others who will prayer walk with you.
• Invite others who have the same desire and vision for the area. (There is intentionality in why Jesus sent out disciples two-by-two.)
• Prior to walking, spend time in prayer. Pray for: encounters, the Holy Spirit to take the lead, and protection from the enemy.
• Divide into small groups―pairs work best, but three can work if there is an odd number.
• Read one of these passages: Isa. 35.1-10; Isa. 58.6-12; Isa. 61.1-4.

PRAYING & WALKING

• Keep your eyes open and walk as you pray out loud.
• Observe people and places; reflect on those who work and live in the area.
• Ask God to direct where you walk.

HOW TO PRAY

1. Healing to broken relationships: for families to be restored and reconciled―that they would know the Prince of Peace.
2. Breaking oppression and addictions: for people to come to know the Healer. 
3. Jobs and the needs of the poor: that they would know the Provider.
4. Welcoming of the marginalized: that the forgotten would find spiritual family.
5. Comfort for those who are suffering: that they would realize the work of the Comforter.
6. Safety of the people: Love and protection for the children. That they may hear of the God who loves and protects people.
7. God’s People: that the Holy Spirit would come and reveal God’s Kingdom in and through his people.
8. Salvation: For God to draw people to himself.
9. Persons of Peace: God would bring you to people who can be conduits for the gospel and relationships.

DEBRIEF

• Spend a few minutes thanking God for working in this area. 
• Discuss and write down what God showed you―to remember for the next time you go
• Pick the next date (the following week if able) for another prayer walk.