Dear MCChurch Family,
Let’s join together and intentionally engage with God through prayer and fasting this January (16-29).
“A fast is not a hunger strike. Fasting submits to God’s commands. A hunger strike makes God submit to our demands.” (Ed Cole)
“Prayer is reaching out after the unseen; fasting is letting go of all that is seen and temporal. Fasting helps express, deepen, confirm the resolution that we are ready to sacrifice anything, even ourselves, to attain what we seek for the Kingdom of God.” (Andrew Murray)
A pastor who once mentored me said, “The crisis of our times demand that we fast and pray, not feast and play.” This statement has never been more relevant than it is to us today, particularly in light of the resulting fear, distress, and instability caused by the covid pandemic.
But our Heavenly Father is giving us GREATER GRACE, and humility is our way forward. We are therefore joining for our first corporate fast for 2022, for the following purposes:
To humble ourselves before Almighty God, that in due time He may lift us up (1 Pet. 5:6; Ps. 35:13; 2 Chron. 7:14).
To seek the welfare and prosperity of Melbourne, of Victoria, and of Australia (Jer. 29:7; Isa. 62:1).
To seek the Lord for an unprecedented Revival and outpouring of the Holy Spirit on our city and nation (Acts 2:17ff; Zech. 12:10; Isa. 44:3; Jo. 2:23).
To pray for our government and for justice (1 Tim. 2:1-2; Isa. 32:15-16).
To pray for the revival of the family in our local church and in our society (Mal. 5:5-6; Lk. 1:17).
To pray for the harvest, for workers to be sent out, and for an evangelistic anointing to seize our church (Matt. 9:35-38).
To pray for the operation of the gifts of the Spirit in our lives and our church (1 Cor. 14:1).
I sincerely ask all those who call MCChurch home to be part of this season by getting your heart and mind ready. I sincerely ask for your wholehearted commitment to say “Yes” to this 2-week period of prayer and fasting. I sincerely ask that you make room in your schedule and your day-to-day routine for much prayer and to fast.
There are many types of fasts that you can engage with. Below are some options:
COMPLETE FAST
This type of fast requires you to limit yourself to liquids only, usually water with juices as an option for energy. It is highly recommended that anyone who does this fast should do it with advise and supervision from your GP.
PARTIAL FAST
This type can be done in different ways and allows flexibility for the person fasting. For example, you can choose to skip a meal or fast from 6am-4pm. This is a great fast for those who have busy schedules and need energy to function.
SELECTIVE FAST or DANIEL FAST
This fast involves removing certain types of foods from your diet. For example, you can remove meats and sweets from you diet for 14 days — this is type of fast is normally called a “Daniel Fast”. Like the Partial Fast, this is a great fast to engage in for those who have busy schedules and need energy to function.
SOUL-CLEANSING FAST
This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.
Check out these other posts on fasting to help inspire and equip you to fast:
Fasting Fact Sheet
Fasting in the Bible
I would love to hear from you! Let me know what type of fast you would like to engage in and some of the things you are personally believing for as you seek God’s face. Email me at paul@mcchurch.org.au.
Thank you for your “Yes.” Thank you for your sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit. I look forward to partnering with you in this fast.
Greater Grace,
Paul Magno