Prayer Topic #13:
A Prayer of Preparation for Our Church Family Fast
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 117, Isaiah 58
Reflections of the Heart:
Jesus said, “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.” Matthew 6:16-18
Scriptural Prayer:
Blessed Father, we thank You for our Church Family. Thank You for preparing our hearts and minds for a consecrated season 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. You have taught children and infants to tell of Your strength, silencing Your enemies and all who oppose You. 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.
Gracious Father, we confess that we will enter into a season of fasting as a united Church Family. 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 how we can worship You. We will not copy the behavior and customs of this world, but we will let You, Father, transform us into new people by changing the way we think. Then, we will learn to know Your will for our lives, which is good and pleasing and perfect. Lord, we decree that Your chosen fast will be operable in our lives through the Promise of Giving as we feed the hungry and help those in trouble. As we do this, we expect that our light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around us will be as bright as noon. Father, we will be diligent in prayer without ceasing during the fast. We will meditate on Your Word day and night and observe to do all that is within it.
Specifically, I will prepare for the Church Family Fast by:
Holy Spirit, help us to follow You and the instructions given during our Church Family Fast. As we pray during the fast, Father, 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 all members to participate in 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, including stubbornness, selfishness and/or rebellion. Please help us all to submit to this time of fasting and to 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.
Holy Lord, You alone are God. You are great! You are robed with honor and majesty. You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens. You lay the rafters of Your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds Your chariot and ride upon the wings of the wind. The Lord of Heaven’s Armies is Your name! In Jesus’ name, amen.
Scripture References for the Written Text: James 4:8, Psalm 8:1-2, Psalm 9:1-2, Psalm 11:4, I Samuel 15:22, Romans 12:1-2, Isaiah 58:10, I Thessalonians 5:17, Joshua 1:8, Matthew 6:13, Psalm 104:1-3
Today, I will trust God to:
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved. ©2022 Caldwell Ministries, Inc. All rights reserved — No reproduction of the material is permitted without the expressed permission of CMI
