Prayer and Fasting
Our theme is “Arise and Build” found in Nehemiah 2:20a. Before Nehemiah made the declaration of, “The God Himself will prosper us”, he first prayed and fasted. When he heard that the walls of Jerusalem were ruined, he sat down, wept, and mourned—which is an attitude of humility. Nehemiah responded to the big assignment found in Nehemiah 1:4 and fasted and prayed prior to activating that assignment. So, before we do anything, it is wise to begin with prayer and fasting.
Our focus for March is “Prayer & Fasting” and we will begin corporate prayer and fasting the end of this month. As we journey with God, one of the most common question a believer has is, “Why is my prayer not answered yet?” As Christians, we have to go through a process like Joseph did. He was in prison due to his prophetic process and the prison experience allowed him to accomplish the dream that was planted in him by God. Zacharias had doubts about God’s promise for him and Elizabeth to have a son, but the angel told him that his prayers were heard and the fulfillment of a son came at the chosen time. With Mary, she did not understand or have seen the manifestation, but she stated for God’s will to be done at His appointed time. Pastor Paul prays that this month we are able to peel another layer about prayer in practical ways and connect prayer with the power of fasting.
Week 1: How to Deal with the Promise from God?
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1, NKJV)
Hope is not wishful thinking.
As a righteous man Zechariah doubted God when he and Elizabeth waited for the prolong promise of God. “Zachariah said to the angel, ‘Do you expect me to believe this? I'm an old man and my wife is an old woman.’” (Luke 1:18, MSG)
Fasting is one of the ways to humble ourselves and exalt the Lord in our daily lives.
PRAYER POINTS:
Pray for Holy Spirit to instill faith and hope within you.
Pray through the promises of God and over the prophetic words you received.
Pray and seek God and allow God’s promise to define your life, not the challenges.
Utilize the combination of prayer and fasting for the promises of God to come to pass.
Fasting guidelines will be provided.
Week 2: How Come My Prayer is Not Answered Yet?
“And even when you ask, you don't get it because your motives are all wrong—you want only what will give you pleasure.” (James 4:3, NLT)
Understand that there is a contrast between common sense and wisdom from above. “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:17, NKJV)
We need to receive the wisdom of God from above.
Prayer is a lifestyle; it is not just a technique.
Prayer and fasting are not a formula to twist God’s will. He is God and we are not.
PRAYER POINTS:
Pray and ask God for wisdom to gain insight into your life
James 1:5 NIV: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
When you are faced with challenges, do not forget the blessings. Remember that He is good. Offer up your thanksgiving and gratefulness towards God.
Pray for patience so that you do not supersede God and His steps.
God does hear your prayer but it requires a process. Pray that you can be obedient and faithful through that process.
Pray to understand that God’s plan is the best, no matter what is happening.
Pray that you do not settle for less than what God has planned for your life before the foundation of the world.
Make prayer part of your lifestyle
Week 3: Prayer and the Power of God
Prayer is tied to intimacy with the Father.
Understand the temptation that can turn prayer into a technicality.
Read the book of Psalms, it is the prayer book of the Church.
Study the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6.
Prayer, combined with fasting, attracts the Presence of God.
PRAYER POINTS:
Pray for an encounter with God, that nothing limits you from encountering Him and His power.
The more you pray, the more your intimacy with God increases. Pray that intimacy will take you to a place where you can see and experience the power of God.
Pray for God’s good, acceptable, and perfect will to be done.
God is transformational, not transactional. Pray that God transforms you through prayer.
We know that prayer is a powerful lifeline to God. We can pray the word of God, speak in tongues, sing our prayers to God, and experience the power of God in real life.
Week 4: Set Free from Anxiety and Double-Mindedness
Prayer is a term of endearment of a child.
Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil.
God wants you to succeed when He puts you to the test, but temptation (devilish) is about destroying faith.
It was God’s idea to test Job, not Satan. “Then the Lord said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job … ‘” (Job 1:8)
PRAYER POINTS:
Prayer is talking to God, a love language, where you can go to Him at any time. It should be natural, on-going, and continual. So, talk to Him about anything and everything.
Pray to learn how to throw, hurl, toss, launch all of your anxieties, worries, and concerns to Him because God cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 AMPC: “Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.”
Pray to not be double-minded because a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways (James 1:8 KJV).
Pray to be set free from all anxiety and double-mindedness.
John 8:36 AMPC: “So if the Son liberates you—makes you free men, then you are really and unquestionably free.”
Pray to withstand the testing of God; to persevere, to stay tenacious, to have great faith, to never give up so that you can reach success in your body, soul, and spirit.
