Prayer Topic #7:
Our Church Family Fast Opening Prayer
Scripture Reading:
Psalm 103, Joel 2:12-19
Reflections of the Heart:
There are seasons when the Lord asks us to turn away from food and carnal pleasures and focus our full attention on Him and His kingdom. Therefore, today at 6:00 p.m., as a Church Family, we will begin fasting and praying. 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 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, as a Church Family, we declare that it is Your will that we fast. We will enter into this season of consecration 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 how we can worship You. We declare that 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, our light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around us will be as bright as noon. Father, we confess that we will be diligent in prayer without ceasing during this time of fasting. We will meditate on Your Word day and night and observe to do all that is within it.
Holy Spirit, show me those areas of my life that I need to surrender to the Father during the fast:
Holy Spirit, during this time of fasting please give us the power to overcome our fleshly appetites. Help us to follow You and the instructions given during the 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 for this season. Touch the hearts of our 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 those for 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.
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
