Month of fasting and prayer

Week beginning Monday 6th January

‘Hungry to be hungry’

Last year I had a conversation with a friend who told me that he is asking God to help him to be ‘hungry to be hungry’. This analogy stuck in my head. It points to a very important issue – spiritual hunger. Developing genuine appetite for a real relationship with God. Hunger is developed as we allow God to work in us.

Now is a great time to reflect a bit, to reset, and to ensure that we move beyond ‘good intentions’ and develop this side of our walk. Obviously the resistance here can be apathy, the ‘flesh’ in general! Or some other reason potentially. Perhaps, procrastination, or distraction or a cluttered lifestyle. This fast is a great time to set some time aside to centre in on God and to allow Him to speak to you and meet with Him in the ‘secret place’ (Psalm 91) and together with others in the church – and to make an impact through prayer!

My encouragement is to start this fast adjusting to the new rhythm of fasting (whatever you choose to do) along with prayer, and to make seeking God to KNOW and LOVE Him your priority. As we do that then I believe that what flows out of this will happen more easily. We will have ‘hunger to be hungry’ because God Himself is at work in us!

Here are some other encouragements and guidelines for this first week of fasting and prayer. The first letters of each point spells L E A P,

• Listen – by waiting on the Lord and taking extra time to seek Him in prayer, we have the greater opportunity to be able to ‘hear’ from Him too. Is there anything we sense God saying to us individually or for the church?
• Encounter – ‘Be still and know that I am God’ – slowing down and being intentional to come before God and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us. ‘Those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength’.
• Alignment – as we seek God ‘for God’ then let’s also allow ourselves to read and align to His Word and will. Turning away from our own will and stubborn refusal to surrender to him involves repentance and renewing of our mind (Romans 12v1-2). As we pray we need to pray in the will of God – ‘Your Kingdom come’ not ours.
• Promises – let’s proclaim and stand upon His promises in prayer! Let’s contend for the faith in our community through fervent prayer. Let’s be stirred in faith to take hold of God’s promises and faithfulness.

Beyond all the above, allow God Himself to lead you in this time of fasting and prayer,

Jason