PRAYER & FAST NOTE #4
Encouragement for Your Fast
As we head into our second week of the fast, I want to remind you of something foundational. When the Scriptures and church history speak of fasting, they never just mention fasting in isolation; it's always fasting AND prayer. That might seem too obvious to state, but I think it must be said. Why? Because the longer you endure the pain, the hunger, the tiredness, the denying of your wants - the easier it is to lower your gaze to the mechanics of fasting and what you are saying no to. But you need to know: God isn't impressed by how much or how long you can go without food. It doesn't twist His arm into blessing you more. We fast and deny ourselves not for the sake of denial. We deny ourselves to come to God in prayer and say with our hearts and bodies: "God, I want you this much! I need you more than I need bread and sugar and snacks and Netflix! Come and meet me. Show up. Speak. Satisfy."
If you have put more emphasis on making sure you don't eat that thing than you are seeking God, now is the time to shift. God is inviting you into deeper dependency, sweeter communion and greater joy. He doesn't give us those things because we perform well. He gives us those things because He is generous and He responds to those who seek Him with hunger, neediness and faith.
How do you do this?
I have one simple encouragement: do whatever you can to join in on your local campus prayer night these next two weeks. These are places where God's people open up the Scriptures and their hearts to pray with honesty, confession, praise and faith! For however much we are laboring to deny ourselves, let's labor even more to seek our Heavenly Father in desperation! He promises to meet us in fresh ways.
Love you!
See you in the prayer room,
- Pastor Christopher
Join a Prayer Night This Week!
Hayward Campus
Monday: 7-8:30pm (March 2 & 9)
(25830 Gading Rd., Hayward)
Oakland Campus
Monday: 7-8:30pm (March 2 & 9)
(1221 Pacific Ave, San Leandro)
Fremont Campus
Monday: 7-8:30pm (March 2 & 9)
(40650 Encyclopedia Circle, Fremont)
Milpitas Campus
Wednesday: 7-8:30pm (March 4 & 11)
(1715 E Calaveras Blvd., Milpitas)
(No childcare available)
Also available as Markdown.