Starting tomorrow morning (March 1), many Christians from across the nation and especially in New England will be embarking on a 40 day Daniel fast to pray for an awakening in the churches and universities of New England. To learn more about this effort visit http://www.jhopboston.org .
Prayer in Luke & Acts
I have lately again been struck about the role of prayer in the books of Luke and Acts. In Luke, we see Jesus over and over again spending time in prayer with God aligning himself with the Father's purposes and receiving power from the Holy Spirit. In Acts, we see the church doing the exact same thing on almost a daily basis; the result was a constantly growing church filled with grace and power serving the culture it lived in.
I believe times like these 40 days can be used by God to awaken us to the importance and power of consistent corporate and personal prayer. Why not begin to read Luke & Acts as these 40 days begins?
What Fenway Church is Doing
For our church (Fenway Church), these 40 days will mean an expansion of our corporate early morning prayer times from Tuesday & Wednesdays to Mondays through Thursdays. It will be also mean we will be seeking to gather together as a church to pray on a more regular basis starting this Friday night. Some of us are committing to do the Daniel Fast (see below). Others may want to fast media, a particular day of the week, or a particular type of food. I would encourage our members to fast as they feel prompted to by the Holy Spirit.
A Daniel Fast
The idea of a "Daniel fast" is found in Daniel chapter 1 where Daniel and his friends refuse to eat the king's fine food and instead embrace a diet of vegetables during their time of training in Babylon. A "Daniel fast" for me consists of not eating any meats or sweats or fine foods (define that however you want :). I generally eat fruits, vegetables, some breads, beans, rice, & grains. Some keep a stricter diet than that. To me it is not the diet that matters (choose what God leads you to do), it is a heart that wants more of God. Please remember that if you have certain health issues a change in diet or a fast can be medically dangerous and should be avoided. Also, remember to drink lots of water!
God has always used "Daniel fasts" to increase my hunger to spend time with Jesus, allowed me to spend more time in prayer, and reminded me that this world and its desires are passing away. I find at the completion of these fasts I am often more focused on God's kingdom and more filled with God's power simply because I have been spending more time with him!
Some Principles on Fasting & Prayer
I have a passion for prayer and fasting that began in my college years. I have learned up a few key principles that I think are worth sharing for those who might be considering embarking on the fast.
1) The main purpose of fasting and prayer in the New Testament was to align with God's plan and be filled with his power. It was NOT to get him to bless their plans or get him to do what they wanted. Let's get involved where HE is already working - how do we know where he is? We pray and listen! (Acts 13:2, John 5:19)
2) God is sovereign. His plan to redeem of humanity and establish his church among every people group is not in doubt. (1 Cor. 15:24-26) Yet, he calls us to pray for, "Laborers to be sent out into the harvest." Jesus told his disciples to pray for laborers then immediately sent them out! (Matthew 9:35 - 10:5) Will you not only pray for laborers but allow God to make you one?
3) The one thing Jesus desires most for us is to be with him, listening to his voice. (Luke 10:28-42) He wants revival more desperately than we do. A true revival begins when God's people hunger and thirst for Jesus above all else NOT when we desperately plead with God to change the world.. It is in Jesus' presence that we are changed and empowered. (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)
4) Finally, God has recently me been showing me in the word that he will show his people things in prayer that will open up huge doors to be witnesses for him IF they will act on what they see and hear immediately. (Acts 9:10-12, Acts 10) We too often hesitate after praying seeking "God's will" again and we MISS opportunities. Don't wait go find out if God spoke or not!
Recently at a student & 20s conference we were hosting, around 15 us prayed that God would show us who to talk to and what part of the mall to go to as we headed for a local mall. One young woman heard God tell her, "Go to the cafeteria and talk to the girl who is sitting alone." She did. The cafeteria was relatively crowded but only one girl was sitting alone. She talked with her for awhile got her contact info and now the girl she talked to and 3 of her non-Christian friends our doing a weekly Bible study with they young woman who listened and obeyed! Praise God. He is at work. Get in on his plan :)
I truly believe if we will be prepared to listen and act during this fast we will not need to wait to see God begin moving in major ways. Jesus longs to bring in many lost sheep in the city of Boston. The Father and the Holy Spirit are already at work Will you find yourself discovering what they are doing? It starts in the place of prayer.
Now, I gotta get to bed. 6AM prayer starts tomorrow!!!
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he (Jesus) departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. - Mark 1:35
