PRAYER & FAST NOTE #1
Encouragement for Your Fast
Today marks the first day of our 21-day fast, and I want to send a brief word of encouragement as we step into this together. Before anything else, we should pause and ask a simple question: Why are we fasting? Our response to this will shape our experience over the next three weeks.
Though there are many good answers, the primary one is this: We fast to say with our bodies, “I want you this much, God.” I want you more than I want these other things, more than even your gifts. Fasting exists to create a greater longing and hunger in our lives for Christ and His Kingdom. It’s that simple. That is why we don’t just abstain from things; we abstain and we pray and seek. We choose not to eat or scroll or indulge, but to bend our hunger toward the true and better Bread who satisfies, Jesus.
As you open the Scriptures to feast and get on your knees to pray, keep this at the forefront of your vision: "Faith is not just believing that God exists but that He rewards those who seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). God wants to pour more of Himself out to us. He wants to give power to the weak, wisdom to the perplexed, healing to the sick, breakthrough to the addicted, etc. He wants His Kingdom to come! He is not holding back out of reluctance. He is just waiting for us to come to Him in need, in want, in faith. God comes where He is wanted. So we say together, with our bodies and hearts, over the next three weeks: We want you God!
Love you!
Hungering and seeking alongside you,
- Pastor Christopher
Join a Prayer Night This Week!
One way to stir up your hunger for God is to get together with others to seek Him! We encourage you to engage in our weekly campus prayer nights during these 21 days, starting this Monday (2/23)! These are holy spaces to worship God for who He is, surrender our will and come to Him in faith asking for His Kingdom to come.
(No childcare available)
Hayward Campus
Monday: 7-8:30pm
(25830 Gading Rd., Hayward)
Oakland Campus
Monday: 7-8:30pm
(1221 Pacific Ave, San Leandro)
Fremont Campus
Monday: 7-8:30pm
(40650 Encyclopedia Circle, Fremont)
Milpitas Campus
Wednesday: 7-8:30pm
(1715 E Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas)
Fasting & Prayer Guide
The guide is filled with daily devotional content, questions to reflect on and prompts to lead you in times of prayer!
Also available as Markdown.