Making room to pray . . . and fast
We’re excited to launch our Room To Pray program for 2018 by inviting all Baptist women to pray and fast every Sunday in April.
The purpose of our fast?
To worship the Lord and to draw closer to God.
Fasting re-orients us to God and His presence at work in our lives and helps us to hear His invitation to come thirsty and drink deeply (John 7: 37-38). Fasting helps us to appreciate the more that Jesus offers: more salvation; more healing; more of Himself.
How will we fast?
We invite you to give up a meal (or several) for Sundays in April and use that meal preparation and eating time to pray with a group of women from your church if possible, and draw closer to God.
If you aren’t able to fast from food, pick an activity you’ll give up for these Sundays.
When we commit to fast and seek God, He responds in ways that we can only credit to Him (Erza 8).
Thoughts and Teachings on Fasting
BIBLE STUDIES
Why Fast?
(an introduction to biblical fasting. From Baptist Women staff.)
Ditch Your Stuff: Fasting From Distractions
(written by Linda Ellsworth, author of our theme Bible studies for live magazine)
BLOGS
Fasting: Hungering For God
(an overview; Biblical foundations for fasting and some wise how-tos.
From Mike Wilkins, a GTA pastor with Baptist roots.)
Why Fast? Just Because
(the first in a series of blogs by Renee James on her experience of fasting since mid-February 2018)
Adjusting The Margins
(the second in Renee’s series on her experience of fasting)
Resources on Fasting
Fasting: Spiritual Freedom Beyond Our Appetites by Lynne M. Baab (2006 | IVP)
a biblically accurate, accessible primer that unpacks how and why fasting is relevant to us today
Fasting by Scot McKnight (2009 | Thomas Nelson)
fasting as response (not for results)
when we fast we respond, with our bodies, to serious and sacred moments in our lives
Fast Friends | The Amazing Power of Friendship, Fasting and Prayer
by Suzanne Niles and Wendy Simpson (2015| Broadstreet)
what happens when two friends obey God’s prompt to fast, together
(Niles is the public relations and media representative for The Salvation Army Vision Network)