21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

]Last week we looked at Hindsight and how God tells us to aways remember the past. We look at what the year was in view and how we could not forgot where we have come from. We must imprint God word on our heart. We must teach our children. We must actively remember the goodness of God.

We have been changed in the past year by God’s grace, in both challenging and joyful ways; remembering these things will empower us to move into the future.

To the future. We have start a new year. What does 2022 have in store for us this year? Will it the same has the last view years? Will it be year of a lot of change? Will it be a year that you live for God more than any of the past years?

Toward the end of the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? (directed by Joel Coen and Ethan Coen [Buena Vista Pictures, 2000], 1:34:00),

the main characters encounter a “devil” type of figure. As their end appears imminent, one of the characters who earlier in the movie mocked religion and the sacrament of baptism falls to his knees and begins to pray. Shortly after surviving the encounter, he brushes off the prayer as mere emotion and the answered prayer as coincidence.

It is a humorous clip, but it shows a lot about the human heart and how we often approach prayer—as a means to an end in the moment, with little thought given to it before or afterward. Today’s we will be the launching pad for 21 days of prayer and fasting in our congregation. We need to pray, whether we feel the need to or not. And we also need to fast. These spiritual disciplines can radically transform our lives and the lives of those around us.

IF you have your bible turn to Matthew 6:5-18. if you do not have your bible the verses will be on the screen in a few moments. I also want to encourage you to take notes. The only way we can remember something is if we write it down. So write down what God lays on your heart.

Before we look at today verses. I have a question for your.

What is your New Year’s resolution for this year?

Lose weight

Save money

Exercise more

spend less time on social media

spend less time watching tv

Spend more time with family and friends

Read your bible more. This is one that I am starting. Nikki and I are doing a plan together on the bible app titled The bible Recap.

Whatever your resolution might be we all should start the year off with a prayer and Fasting. Not just one day but 21 day.

Lets take a look at what Jesus had to say about prayer and fasting.

Matthew 6:5–18 CSB

5 “Whenever you pray, you must not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 6 But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. 7 When you pray, don’t babble like the Gentiles, since they imagine they’ll be heard for their many words. 8 Don’t be like them, because your Father knows the things you need before you ask him. 9 “Therefore, you should pray like this: Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. 14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses. 16 “Whenever you fast, don’t be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they make their faces unattractive so that their fasting is obvious to people. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that your fasting isn’t obvious to others but to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

Jesus is teach us about praying and fasting

In the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus teaches on both prayer and fasting. He begins the lessons, “When you pray…” (6:5), and “When you fast…” (6:16). Not “if”: “When.” These are actions Jesus assumes his followers will do. If you follow Jesus, then you pray. If you follow Jesus, then you will fast.

The Greek word for “when” is hotan, and it is “used of things which one assumes will really occur” (Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, s.v. “G3752, hotan,”

Prayer

Jesus goes on to teach at length on prayer. In verse 5-6 Jesus tell us that prayer should be an act of humility and not for show to everyone will look at you. Prayer is something that should be between you and God. It should be done is a private place. Then verse 7-8 about getting to the point when we pray not just going on and on.

Verses 9-13 is the Lords prayer. I have seen some quote this verse has their prayer. We do not have to quote this has pray it a guideline of how to pray. We have look at this before and in the future we might look at it again but for today I will just give a over view. We see a balance between our need and the interest of God’s glory. What does it mean to pray? to pray is to know God and to be known by God.

Fasting

After Jesus lays out how we should pray. He then talks about fasting. This is something that we over look a lot. We tend to say that I can’t fast for this reason or that. We say that not for me but It is. Each and everyone of us should fast at time.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline whereby we deny ourselves so we can rely on and trust more in God. Not everyone can fast from food; sometimes health requirements or age limit it. But we can all fast from something.

When we do so, we are removing something from our life to create space for increased reliance on God. Fasting, like prayer, is an act of humility. We don’t do it to draw attention to ourselves (vv. 16–18) but to put our attention on God. Whether it is food or TV—in the days ahead, remove something from your life, and then fill that space with the presence and power of God.

Why is prayer and fasting important?

They both draw is closer to God. If we go through our life without praying or fasting then how can we have a relationship with God. You wouldn’t go month on end without talk wit the person you love. This go for God too. Prayer has power when we do it. We get to know God better and be known by God. Then He respond to that prayer with a might answer. Sometimes it not what we want to hear. Other time is a great time of rejoicing.

What will you fast from in the next 21 day?

This answer is between you and God. God has lad something on your heart this morning that you need to fast from. So you can draw closer to God. It can be anything like we talked about early.

I ask the question this morning a new year resloution. IT doesn’t matter what that is. The only thing that mattes is your relationship with the heavenly Father. We start the year of right by fasting and praying for the next 21 days.

Will can you commit to joining me in 21 days of prayer and fasting?

Before you can commit to a 21 day prayer and fasting. You first have to be a believer in the what Christ has done for you. This

if you would like a list of thing to pray for. Please shot me a message and I will type up a list to share.