February 4 | Go Change the World | Day 20 of 21 Days
the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV
Think about it: We have been called to live out the gospel in our daily lives. But we are not alone – He is with us, to the very end of the age!
Pray: Open my eyes, God, to see opportunities each day to bring true, eternal life-change to those around me.
REVIVAL NIGHTS @ NORTH | FEBRUARY 5-8
At the conclusion of our 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, make plans to join us for Revival Nights at North in the Worship Center and online with the following guest speakers:
- Sunday, February 5 at 6pm | Dr. Mark Rutland
- Monday, February 6 at 7pm | Tony Stewart
- Tuesday, February 7 at 7pm | Joe Dobbins
- Wednesday, February 8 at 7pm | Bill Lee
REASON FOR FASTING
Fasting is a process for developing a deeper relationship with God by temporarily denying oneself something in order to better focus on Him (II Chronicles 20:3, Ezra 8:21, Matthew 6:16-18, Mathew 9:14-15, Luke 18:9-14). The Bible does not require fasting, but Scripture highly recommends it for the believer. Fasting is a way to demonstrate to God that we are passionate about a closer relationship with Him. It is not intended to punish our flesh or to serve as a dieting method for losing weight. Fasting is a spiritual practice exercised for the sole purpose of deepening our walk with God.
TYPES OF FAST
Abstaining from food for a time is the most recognized fast in the Bible. There are a variety of food fasts. For instance, the Complete Fast excludes all foods and includes only liquids such as water and juices; the Daniel Fast or Selective Fast excludes meat, sweets, and bread, but includes water, juices, fruits and abstaining from any type of food during a certain period of the day like 6 am to 3 pm, or from sunup to sundown.
You may also feel the need to refocus certain areas of life that are out of balance. For instance, you may choose to stop using social media or watching television during the fasting period. Once the fast concludes, you may want to gradually reintroduce it back into your life in a healthier way. This is often called a Soul Fast and is highly effective in combination with fasting food.
Ultimately, the type of fast you choose is between you and God.
PRAYER & FASTING
Fasting and prayer are often linked together (Luke 2:37; 5:33). Prayer is our most common way to spend time with God, and since fasting is primarily about drawing closer to Him, it only makes sense that we would pray during the fasting period. As we pray to know God better, we can believe Him for specific needs to be met, questions to be answered, or decisions to be made.
At North, our 21-day fast is to believe God for four distinct goals. We want:
- a greater sense of God’s presence in our worship gatherings.
- greater faith as we prepare for God’s future plans for North.
- a greater number of salvations.
- greater glory to be given to God.
Together, let’s go deeper in God, let’s believe God, and let’s watch God work!
