Prayer Topic #13:
A Church Family Fast Opening Prayer
Scripture Reading:
Joel 2:12-19, Matthew 6:5-18
Reflections of the Heart:
Today at 6:00 p.m., as a Church Family, we will turn away from food and carnal pleasures and focus our full attention on our Father God and His Kingdom. So, as we fast and pray as a Church Family, let’s expect to grow closer to the Lord and to hear more clearly from Him.
Scriptural Prayer:
Blessed Father, we thank You for our Church Family. Thank You for this consecrated week of prayer and fasting. Thank You for coming close to us as we come close to You. We are grateful that You are our God and we bless Your wonderful Name. Heavenly Father, Your majestic Name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens. With all our hearts, we will praise You and tell of the marvelous things You have done. We will sing praises to Your Name, Lord Most High. Lord, You are in Your holy Temple; You still rule from heaven. You closely watch everyone, examining every person on the earth.
Great Father, we confess that we will enter into this week of fasting as a united Church Family. During this sacred time, we will give our bodies to You because of all You have done for us. We will let them be living and holy sacrifices—the kind that You will find acceptable. For we know that this is truly the way to worship You. Lord, as we fast, we will not behave like hypocrites, making it obvious by trying to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire us for our fasting. No! We will comb our hair and wash our faces so that no one will notice that we are fasting except You, our Father. Lord, You know what we do in private. You see everything and You will reward us. Lord, as we fast, we will not cease in our praying. We will meditate on Your Word day and night, and observe to do all that is within it.
Holy Spirit, during the fast, show me the areas of my life that I need to surrender to the Father:
Holy Spirit, please give us the power to overcome our fleshly appetites during this time of fasting. Help us to follow You and the instructions given during the Church Family Fast. As we pray during the fast, please speak to us and give us wisdom. Increase our discernment and show us Your plans for our lives individually as well as corporately. Touch the hearts of our Church Family members who have not made the decision to join us on the fast. Lord, as we pray, please hear our prayers. Holy Spirit, teach us how to honor Jesus Christ, our Savior and to revere God, our Father, as we worship Him in spirit and in truth.
Righteous Father, forgive us as a Church Family for our sins. Forgive those members who are able to fast but are choosing not to fast. Please forgive us for our stubbornness, selfishness and/or rebellion. Please help us all to submit to this time of fasting and trust You. Lord, forgive me for (list any sins that you have committed). Holy Spirit, remind us all of those we need to forgive and help us to be quick to forgive. As for me, Holy Spirit, bring to my remembrance those I need to forgive. (Take a moment and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal names or faces of people that you may need to forgive. As He reveals them, say, “I forgive name of person(s).” Now, trust the Lord to heal any wounds in your soul caused by unforgiveness.)
Holy Spirit, help us all not to yield to temptation but deliver us from the evil one.
El Elyon, blessed are You, the Most High! You alone are God. Who is like You among the gods, O Lord – glorious in holiness, awesome in splendor, performing great wonders? Those who live at the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your wonders. From where the sun rises to where it sets, You inspire shouts of joy! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text:
James 4:8, Psalm 8:1, Psalm 9:1-2, Psalm 11:4, Romans 12:1, Matthew 6:16-18, I Thessalonians 5:17, Joshua 1:8, Matthew 6:13, Genesis 14:20, Exodus 15:11, Psalm 65:8
Today, I will trust God to:
© Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. ©2019 Caldwell Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved — No reproduction of the material is permitted without the expressed permission of CMI
