Day of Prayer and Fasting
There is a palpable move of God happening in our day. Many of you have sensed this even more recently through conversations with co-workers, neighbours, and friends. As world events have unfolded in the last few weeks and months the ground under people’s feet has begun to shift. What seemed stable no longer provides the promise of protection that it did for many. And so they are searching.
It is in times such as these that the Bible gives us a clear model and exhortation for how we ought to respond. Joel 1:14 declares, "Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord."
As a church, we are joining other churches in the network of churches (Mercy Hill Collaborative) to set aside one day to cry out to God for revival in our city and across our nation. Although we are not officially gathering together as a church for this time we want to create an intentional plan so that we - as a church - can pray fervently for a move of God.
Below you will find several prayer points that you can utilise as you go throughout your day. These prayer points have Scripture that you can use to guide your prayer. We are also encouraging you to fast from eating food for a full 24 hour period. If you are unable to do that we encourage you to pick one or two meals to refrain from.
The reason we fast along with prayer is because it allows us to have a more focused approach in our time with the Lord. It reminds us that our daily sustenance is found in Jesus (John 6:48). It creates in us an accurate awareness of our weakness and thus our dependence upon Jesus. And it creates in us a heart of gratitude for all the things the Lord has provided and will provide.
John Piper helpfully noted, “God rewards fasting because fasting expresses the cry of the heart that nothing on the earth can satisfy our souls besides God.” So on Thursday, October 23rd let’s fast and fall on our knees crying out to the Lord to revive the hearts of our friends, our family, our neighbours, our co-workers - those we know and those we don’t who are far from Jesus.
Morning prayer:
Joel 1:14, "Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord."
Do just what the prophet of Joel is instructing: cry out to the Lord. Bring whatever names and needs you sense the Lord bringing to mind. Ask the Lord to move in a mighty way in the lives of those who he’s placed around you who need to know Jesus.
Midday prayer:
Ezekiel 37:7-10, “So I prophesied as I was commanded. And as I prophesied, there was a sound, and behold, a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. And I looked, and behold, there were sinews on them, and flesh had come upon them, and skin had covered them. But there was no breath in them. Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord God: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.”
Pray that God would bring to life those who are dead in their sins. Again as the Lord brings names and faces to mind pray that God would do in their life what he depicted here in Ezekiel 37; that they would experience the full life that Jesus promises (John 10:10).
Afternoon prayer:
Acts 18:9-10, “Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.”
In Acts 18 God delivers this powerful promise to Paul. That promise rings as true over the city of Halifax as it did for Paul. Boldly pray that God would save people in our city. And pray that God would give you boldness to speak the truth of the gospel to them.
Evening prayer:
Isaiah 6:8, And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?” Then I said, “Here I am! Send me.”
We know that God has to move by the power of his Spirit if we are going to see revival. But God also wants to use you and I in that process. Pray and ask God that he would give us the heart of Isaiah. To say here am I…use me Lord. Pray that we would have the courage to go into our homes, neighborhoods, and workplaces and make famous the name of Jesus.
