Fasting and prayer are vital to spiritual breakthroughs.
This season is a new opportunity to create a fasting or prayer story.
Share a need.
Praise God for a victory.
Tell your story.
I dedicate my 40 days fast to all women in despair, all those who need to regain hope and find way to Lord.
I pray every day for clarity of the mind and purity of the heart for the guidance to be in peace, do good and do it well.
I am 48 artist living in Toronto.
i started a 40 day juice fast (fresh juices mostly) on March 21, 2008. I am on day 21 today. Please pray for me that I will make it through the next 19 days. I am fasting for a myriad of reasons. So far God has answered one of my prayer requests for a co-worker to give his life to the Lord. He was baptized on Monday, April 7, 2008. Praise God! Keep praying for me that I will break the food addiction as a result of this fast.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m beginning a 40-day fast on Saturday, April 5. I’ll fast for 7 days with juice, and then an additional 33 days with a Daniel fast (vegetables). Please pray for me.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesPray for me as I start a 21 day fast on tomorrow.
Pray 4 me as I start my fasting from the 1st of April to the 10th of May.
Add a Response : 1 ResponsePray for me as I start my fast on March 24,2008.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI am fasting caffeine and sweets (including pastries) and all food on Tuesdays. I have made a prayer list of my family and friends and am praying for particular ones each day of the week.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesO people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you.
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstrual cloth and say to them, “Away with you! ”
IHe will also send you rain for the seed you sow in the ground, and the food that comes from the land will be rich and plentiful. (Isaiah 30: 18 – 23)
I woke up this morning, so grateful to be alive and able to think clearly, to be able to move and do what was needed to get our son Partha ready for school, and myself to work. My heart was filled to overflowing with your love, Jesus.
Lord, does our “bread of adversity” and “water of affliction” come from you? In trying to think through this, people over the ages have stumbled – one group thinks that everything we go through in life is your will, while the other tries to separate “good” and “evil.” Both groups run into problems. The first group has to understand why God would give us adversity and afflictions deliberately. The second group runs aground in not being able to separate what is good and what is evil, since we humans have such a limited perspective of what happens in our lives. Hindus call this the question of non-duality and duality.
No one knows why evil exists. Jesus faced just this problem in his life as a human being. He was tempted by the devil at the beginning of his ministry and struggled to understand what God’s will was for him before he was crucified. He faced adversity from people who should have known better, who had been given the gift of the scriptures by God. As God’s Son, he was able to see that God works for the good of all those who love Him, and does not allow us to suffer without the opportunity of experiencing God’s love and presence. He told us that if we believe this, God would give us the strength to overcome whatever trials and adversity we face in life. Hindus and Buddhists, Muslims and Jews, Christians and Zoroastrians, all believe that this strength lies within us, in the divine spark that is the gift of our Creator to every living being, which is waiting to be kindled through prayer. Every moment of life is an opportunity for us to do this, to connect with God and accept the love that He offers us unconditionally.
God has created us each with a special unique purpose in life. Will we accept His plan for us, and how do we find out what it is? He tells us that when we cry out to Him for help, He will answer us. He will send us teachers, and will make clear to us what our path is in life. To walk in this path requires us to get rid of the clutter that we have accumulated – the habits and addictions, the idols and images, the ways of living that obscure God’s presence every day. Adversity and affliction may be what are necessary to cleanse our hearts and minds of the junk that we treasure so much. That is why Isaiah thinks of adversity and affliction as necessary ingredients of life. They serve to show us what is essential. God promises us that our physical and spiritual needs will be taken care of, He will have compassion on us in our need. What if we lose our lives on earth in doing God’s will? That is what happened to Jesus, and God’s love shone through in his resurrection, the greatest gift to human beings He could give.
The question for us is whether we will accept the gift God offers us all, whether we will reorder our lives to walk in the way that God points out to each one of us when we ask Him.
As one who has stumbled innumerable times on this year’s Lenten journey, clutched my idols and images tightly to myself and refused to let go, and not loved God with all my heart nor my neighbor as myself – I know that my salvation depends not on what I have done or will do in the future. My salvation is totally undeserved and depends on God’s great mercy and love, and on the grace of our Lord Jesus.
Help me, God, to trust and believe in you alone. I cry out for help. Show me the way, Lord. I want to walk with you.
“We also have joy in our troubles, because we know that these troubles produce patience. And patience produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will never disappoint us because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts.” Romans 5:3-5
Add a Response : 1 ResponseOn Jan 23, 2008 God called me to fast. I thought a couple days… I offered 2, then 4, then I slowly went all the way up to 21 but He kept saying more. So I finally asked HIM how many days He wanted me to fast and He said “40”. Wow!!! 40!!! I had never done a 40 day fast but my cry to Him was “anything you want Lord, I’ll do it!” I want so much more of Him… I just can’t get enough.
I am now on day 38. It has been the most wonderful, amazing, experience I have ever gone through. I would never have thought I could have done this and I know I couldn’t have if He wasn’t the one in control.
Every sense is heightened, every moment of everyday is a knowing that He is there and He is pouring into me. There have been family health miracles, my entire extended family does not know the Lord yet and in this time the Lord is calling them to Him. One after another they are declaring He is Lord. Doors have opened with my co-workers.
I’m almost scared to stop this fast. I have never had such an amazing experience with God and I don’t want it to stop. I’m believing my experiences will carry on and become greater and greater as time goes on. He is such an amazing God. Full of gifts and blessings. His mercy and grace is almost to much to take.
God Bless everyone who calls on the name of the Lord!
Last night I believe the Lord impressed upon my heart that I should fast TV for the month of March. Today as I was preparing a meal I decided to listen to a sermon from your church. You see, we visited the first Sunday of this year while visiting family in D.C. and I enjoyed very much what we experienced there. The “how to” sermon on fasting caught my eye and I listened to the podcast from start to finish. It was a confirmation of my decision to honor the Lord in this way - thank you. And thank you also for this sight and the online messages. We live in Mexico and hear God’s Word in Spanish. So, it is edifying to be able to listen to a message in English from time to time. Continue in what the Lord is showing you with the theater church and the coffee house. God bless!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI have 8 days left of my forty day food fast. I really need prayer to continue to spend my time seeking the Lord and his will and direction for my life. I want to be obedient to whatever he is calling me to. We do not have anyone available or willing to be our Pastor for our church yet. However I have been able to cook the most amazing stuff for my family since putting my post on your site so thank you to those who prayed for me...my family appreciates it! I have been really blessed what you guys have done in this website so thank you. The daily prayer journal has been a real blessing and the weekly messages have been inspiring...so glad to have a link to you.
Add a Response : 2 ResponsesWhat a beautiful collection of posts. I am very moved by what people are fasting from and the obvious love of the Lord people are showing through self denial, prayer, and reflection. I am fasting (rather unsuccessfully) from complaining. I find I am often over-critical of others and prideful. By withholding my complaints, I hope to become more compassionate and kinder in my words.
Peace be with you all,
Tara
Hello everybody, we have passed the mid point. Thank God for helping us day after day. Let’s keep at it! You have inspired me to share verses with people, you included!
So just thought I’d share with you fragments of things I’ve read recently…
“R.A. Torrey once said:The reason why many fail in battle is because they wait until the hour of battle. The reason why others succeed is because they have gained their victory on their knees long before the battle came...”
Still in the same vein… “Change on earthly level often requires travail or hard work in prayer that produces change in the spirit realm first.” And the reading attached to this was Matthew 17:20-21, which emphasizes that there are some things require prayer and fasting.
And to end, let me leave us with a precious portion in Zechariah 4. From the Amplified version…
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit [of Whom the oil is a symbol], says the Lord of hosts.
7For who are you, O great mountain [of human obstacles]? Before Zerubbabel [who with Joshua had led the return of the exiles from Babylon and was undertaking the rebuilding of the temple, before him] you shall become a plain [a mere [a]molehill]!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting from email in the morning before I go to work and trying to replace that with time spent with God, particularly through journaling. I’m also fasting food for 24-hour periods from Thurs night to Friday night and trying to add more giving to my life—sending cards, sending money, phone calls, thoughts, and prayers to and for others. It has been good reading others’ stories as well.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesAfter much prayer and consideration, I’ve decided to fast Internet surfing. In lieu of wasting several hours in front of my computer, I will devote my time writing letters of encouragement to my family and friends, pray for them, and spend time in the word. God is good!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI began a 40 day fast on 28th January I was ready to quit when i listened to your service. I live in rural Victoria Australia and the minister from our church has been called to another church. We have a shortage of ministers right across rural Victoria. Our minister that left was truly God’s gift to us and we loved him dearly. We need a miracle to find the right minister for us as quickly as possible. Some churches have been waiting years and still havent found anyone.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI will give up my computer for the next 7 days. I’m currently in Seoul Korea and started a new relationship. Because I’m heading back to the US in the a few months, so we really need guidance in what to do in our relationship. Secondly, I’m in the process of applying and choosing a law school for the fall of 08. I pray that go choose the path God wants me to take.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI have been fasting from lunch during Lent, replacing it with a time of worship, prayer, and reading God’s Word, the true bread. God has shown Himself to me in so many ways, beyond what I had hoped for. God has been gracious to me!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesFor the past few weeks I have given my video games up for lint. Im only 10 years old so.... PLEASE LORD HELP ME THIS IS REALLY HARD!!!!!!!
Add a Response : 6 ResponsesFor the next week Lora and I are doing a Daniel fast, in other words we are giving up all meats and breads and only eating fruits, vegetables and nuts. We are seeking God this week for National Community Church, that its vision would be fulfilled in every way.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesMay God continue the great work that he is doing among us! Please pray for me and we ought to keep one another in prayer for temptation is great. I pray for spiritual renewal coming to each one of us, and for our focus on Christ, “who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.“-1Corinthians 1:8
I am fasting Facebook. This past fall semester, I woke up every morning, got out of bed, turned on my laptop, and checked my Facebook. It is so easy for me to spend hours of my time browsing through my friends’ Facebooks! Now in the mornings, instead of getting on the computer, I talk to God instead. I miss talking to Him.
Add a Response : 2 ResponsesI’ve decided to snag someone else’s idea and keep a prayer list for family/friends/co-workers in my life. I am also at a confusing crossroads with the job situation and would appreciate any prayers
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI decided to fast my “house hunt”. I’ve been looking into buying a place more and more and it was starting to consume me, but I think this next 40 days of not looking for a house and looking to God will be very beneficial. On top of that, I’ve decided to fast food one day a week and spend that time praying about any major issue that has come up during the week. I was going to pre-select what I would pray for, but I thought it would be better for God to show me something new each week and make me really search what His desire is for me to pray for. Good times! GOD ROCKS!
Add a Response : 1 ResponsePraise God for each & every one of you, and bless you. Thank you dear God for the vision of NCC! I pray for Israel! God is awesome how he gives me time outs; he literally takes me out of society/work (three weeks going on four, and sustains me), and places me on house arrest! It is during this time I reach out through my confusion and desperation to make sense of it “LIFE”. During these times of Time Outs, I read books that friends give me like: “In A Pit With A Lion on a Snowy Day” by Mark Batterson. I received the book on a snowy day, and I am in a pit with a lion, HELLO!! I pray, I fast (Even though I don’t know how to properly/wrong reason), I surf the internet, and find NCC website and hear a message on fasting how cool is that? I feel a connection with you all, thank you for praying for our country/community. God be with you all and bless you! Amen! David.
Add a Response : 2 ResponsesDuring lent, I’m undertaking the Daniel fast. It’s a 40-day lent observance, which means the Sundays between Ash Wednesday and Easter will be free from the fast.
The first few days were incredibly hard—I saw so much of my sin nature… But God is soooo good. And, this is a time for me to stop relying on my strength and start taking rest in his…
I took to heart what Pastor Joel said—and started this fast ‘desperate‘—desperately seeking God. It’s a joy, honor, and humbling experience (varies by the minute/day) to try prayer and fasting but I am so blessed we are seeking God together in a family of believers. Let’s keep praying for each other and glorifying God as we walk the lent season....
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI will be fasting food the entire day each Wednesday. Also, in an effort to spend big chunks of time with God, I will fast social time with friends during the week. I hope that I can come home from work and look forward to being with Him instead of friends. I am seeking His presence, His healing, and His purpose for my life this season.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am fasting all solid food from sunup to sunset except sundays for 40 days.
For 40 days, I will daily give a piece of food for those who are hungry. Summer of 2007, I was so near to God that I felt his heart for others. I drifted from that, and I desperately want to be near again. I think not only fasting but also serving will help me achieve that. Thank you for all your prayers, and I think this blog is a powerful idea.
I wanted to give up something that was truly a sacrifice and would be a public confession in the work place of my faith. I am not sure what your beliefs are on alcohol but I personaly enjoy a glass of wine from time to time and during most dinner meals. I decided to give alcohol up for the next 40 Days. I choose this primarly because I know people in the work place will notice that I am drinking water or soda during dinner meetings and ask. It opens a door…
Not only does it open the door but when I see others drinking, it reminds me of my commitment and Christ’s sacrifice.
Ok, so I didn’t mention in my earlier post that I am also fasting yelling. Yep - that’s right, yelling. (I was kind of embarrassed to admit it). But it’s been 4 days and I yelled at one of my kids today. Fortunately, I caught myself and apologized for yelling. But this isn’t going to be easy, people. Time to start praying again!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI really wrestled with what to remove from my life this season. I found, as minimal as it may seem to those untainted by the addiction, coffee is a major source of life and comfort for me throughout my days. I wake up.. look forward to the first cup, bring my own brew to work, fix it up just so, relish it after a meal, sip it over conversation, etc. Really, a caffeinated beverage has no place offering and being a main source of those things. God does a much better job. So coffee is out and Jesus is in. Seek God for the city has been a great way to start my days instead of my cup o joe. Three days and counting and no headaches yet! Praise the Lord!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am excited and so very grateful we are doing this together, because so many times in the Bible God called his people to proclaim a fast, collectively. And after they humbled themselves this way before him, He responded in wonderful ways with blessings that fell on all of them! …Makes me think that perhaps some individual breakthroughs in each of our lives require all of us seeking corporately, as one. For our encouragement consider these portions:
In Ezra…
21 “Then I proclaimed a fast there, at the river Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a straight and right way for us, our little ones, and all our possessions.”
23 “SO WE FASTED AND PETITIONED OUR GOD FOR THIS, AND HE ANSWERED OUR PRAYER.” 31 “…AND THE HAND OF OUR GOD WAS ON US…”
In 2 Chron. 20…
Jehosaphat proclaimed a fast for all Judah. They came together to seek help from the LORD, saying, 9 “If calamity comes upon us, whether the sword of judgment, or plague or famine, we will stand in your presence before this temple that bears your Name and will cry out to you in our distress” … 12 “for we have no power to face this vast army attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you.”
And God told them, 15 “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s … 17 Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you.”
And he did! He gave them victory. 27 “…The LORD had given them cause to rejoice.”
This is my desire for all of us, as we present our needs, calamities and famines. For me, it’s a relational conflict that I’m yearning for God to touch and be glorified in. Thank you all for sharing and letting me share too.
this lent season, i’ve decided to create a “prayer chain”. So, basically, i’ve cut out 40 strips of paper and written one name on each - coworkers, family members, school friends, teachers, etc. The chain is in orange & blue, the colours of my room so it’s colour co-ordinated!
Each night before bed, i take off a link and I pray for the person. I hope that this gets me in the habit of praying for friends and family - people I wouldn’t normally think about all the time and keep them in mind.
Add a Response : 4 ResponsesI fasting listening to my C.D.s,like Kristen Chenoweth and
Broadway. I would have fasted cleaning my room but my mom wouldn’t let me!
Thanks to everyone who has shared. I have been so touched by everyone’s story. I entered this fast excited for what God was going to do and yet not clear on the direction he was going to take me. I decided to do the 24-hour fast on day 1 while seeking God for what He would have me give up for 40 days. This morning He revealed to me that I am to fast Make-Up. Can’t say that I was thrilled :) but yet I have such a peace. God has something in store for me...He wants me to look in the mirror and see a child of God before I see anything else. For my add-on, I am going to spend daily time praying for NCC Families and NCC moms. I am excited to see what God does all over NCC through this 40 days and the time to follow.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting coffee for 40 days and I will be fasting the amount of time I spend in front of the TV/computer. My desire is to grow closer to the Lord and to live life with passion and joy. I will be praying for family members and I will also be praying that God breaks strongholds in my life and others’. I will spend more time praying, journaling and reading God’s word but mostly, I want to hear his voice more clearly. I’ve never fasted before but I desire to see breakthroughs and a spiritual combustion in my life.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am fasting wine & cigarettes.
I use them to relax after a long work day. I depend on them for a peaceful feeling. God’s peace is better. In fact I was kinda scared to give up my crutches, but I already have a peace residing within me on day two! God is always good and ready to give to us, I am realizing that I just wasn’t ready to recieve. How fitting todays devotional was in “Seek God for the City” with reference to me keeping myself from God because of fear and guilt. I am looking forward to the next 39 days and all that Godd will do in me and my brothers and sisters at NCC.
I’m fasting my snooze button for the 40 days. I’m going to try and use the extra time to read the devotional book Seek God for The City.
I’m hoping to develop some consistency and apply it to the rest of my walk.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesA fellow NCCer and I are fasting sleep together. We both have jobs that do not require that we be up at any certain time and we have both abused that. We are calling each other at 7AM each day and starting our days with prayer and devotional time. We are only on day 2 of our fast and it is awesome. I asked for prayer on a specific item this morning and I have already been able to share a praise with my friend about this. God is good. I really felt like he wanted to show me the power of prayer this morning, the awesomeness of coming together in His name.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am fasting alcohol and sweets as well as video games. During my lunch hour (which is normally when I game) I’ll be reading The Confessions of St. Augustine. I’m sure I’ll finish it before 40 days, any suggestions for a follow-up?
My wife and I are seeking God’s heart in making a decision about whether to stay in DC or move to California this summer.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI am fasting sleeping in past 10am. I found that not getting the amount of sleep that I want, which is a lot, is distracting me from God. I want to practice relying on Him for my strength.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m giving up caffeine (I feel for my co-workers!) and sweets. I am also going to wake up 30 minutes early to spend time with God.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am very encouraged by all your sharing. God is abundant in filling in even better things to the absence we make.
I am fasting all solid food, as a response to God’s call to break free from lustful desires. (and fasting lust itself, of course)
I’m fasting food from sunup to sunset, and have a specific person/prayer request to focus on each day in prayer. During this time, I hope to hear how He wants me to best serve Him.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI am fasting all kinds of meat for the next 40 days and the ‘you tube’.
I need to learn how to root my identity in Jesus, everyday and how not to doubt HIM when hard times come by. I need to know His calling in my life.
I will be fasting sweets and TV. It’s going to be a challenge, but I’m ready for God to shake things up a little!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m wowed by all your creativity! I’m basic, I guess-- I’ll be fasting all food, from sunrise to sunset, except on Sundays. There are too many reasons to detail, but basically I’m praying, one, to be better able to hear His voice, particularly at ‘busy’ times; two, to feel more a part of the community around me; and three, to better appreciate the friends I have, by being more thankful for those times I get to ‘break bread’ with the people I love. Pray for me--
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am inspired by all these creative fasting ideas! I am going to give up 30 minutes of sleep (which I love!) to pray, read, and journal in the AM before work. I need His direction for my future.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am fasting caffiene for 40 days. I will be getting up 30 minutes earlier to spend focused time in prayer seeking God’s will for whether I should stay in D.C. after graduation and for Him to orchestrate the circumstances as well as praying for friends and family.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesMy goal for these next 40 days is life balance. I have a lot going on (as we all do) and always feel rushed, which leads to me not making time for others,God, or even just myself. When thinking about what I was going to fast, I realized that I don’t even have enough “me time” in the day to a habit up. Obviously I need to work on making habits. I don’t want to just go through the daily motions anymore. These 40 days I am going to:
1. Get up 1/2 an hour earlier every morning to have devotional/journaling time.
2. Send a card to a friend/or family member every week-and spend that week praying for them.
3. Work out in the mornings so I have time for myself and others after my day-AND turn OFF my
i-pod when I work out to tune in God! Yikes!
Lora and I are doing different aspects of the fast leading up to Easter. This week, we are given up all forms of beverage except water. We are replacing it with extended prayer for Washington, DC and reading through the Gospel of Matthew.
We will also do a 24 hour no food fast next Wednesday, with prayer focus on Convoy of Hope.
I will be fasting my snooze button (thanks for the idea, Pastor Mark), and will be devoting that “snooze time” to the Seek God for the City book.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting non-water drinks. I did this last year for Lent and really appreciated the attitude of gratitude for water that I developed. So many people don’t have access to fresh drinking water, and I take it for granted. I plan to add verse memorization. I figure every time I take a drink of water when I would be drinking something else, I’ll read a chosen memory verse—and I hope to have a few memorized by the end.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m trading an hour’s worth of snoozing for an hour’s worth of journaling and prayer. It’s only Day One but already God is on the move…
Add a Response : 2 ResponsesI’m fasting coffee. My apologies in advance.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am doing a combination fast - for the entirety of Lent, I am fasting caffeine, soda, candy and sweets. I also plan to do a Daniel fast in the last three weeks leading up to Easter. For my “add,” I am getting up an hour earlier each day to start the day with Bible study and prayer and going through the “Seek God For the City” booklet.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting 2 days a week. Wednesday is “outward” day- prayer for friends, family, & other circles of community. Sunday is “inward” day- prayer for specific areas of my life where I need to focus on God and seek His grace, truth, and/or guidance. During all of lent I’m turning off the car radio. If I’m stressed out (or even happy) I crank it up to fill the space. I want to practice using the time to chat with God and pray through “Seek God for the City”.
I’m encouraged by reading everyone’s posts and cannot wait to celebrate together on Easter. Thanks!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting alcohol for 40 days. I’ve never participated in lent before, but I know this is something God wants me to do. I plan to add 30 minutes of daily time with God for prayer and journaling. I’m not really looking forward to this to be honest… I feel like God is going to take me through the fire on some issues I need to deal with, but I’m ready for it and having community to do it with makes all the difference.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesMy wife and I are excited to begin the journey towards Easter. This year we are giving up eating out, which is one of our favorite things. We hope to spend the time we gain helping others and reflecting on the sacrifice Jesus made for all of us.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesIan and I are doing a traditional Eastern Orthodox Lenten fast (well mostly traditional). So that means fasting meat and dairy products. We’re also adding doing the Psalms from the Book of Common Prayer. Personally I also am committing to make something every week and to give it away. I’ve just felt really convicted in the new year that God has given me gifts that I am letting sit dormant, and that is something that needs to change… and now is a good time to get that moving while really seeking where He wants me going with those.
I started observing Lent in college with the group of girls that I lived with, which was really cool because it was so great to have that type of raw accountability. We were really challenged by some of our religion profs to think creatively about doing a fast during lent and it really led to some super cool stuff, not only personally but often communally. One year I fasted introversion, which really set the tone for a time of great change and seeking during that season of my life. more or less I made the commitment to be the person who says the first hello, to really be an active part of the community that I was being put into, and to have a voice into the lives of others in my community while inviting them into my life as well. I think that was one of the most intense times of God teaching me about being part of a body and how to build Christ centered communities I have had yet. I guess, even just thinking back on it, I realize just how much these experiences can change my personal point of view, but also how God works through them to the people around me and the community at large. I’m really excited to see and hear the ways that God moves at NCC during and through all of this. How super exciting!
I am dividing my fast into four 10days section; and in that order will be fasting from alcohol, coffee, tv(except the news), Facebook/Gchat. Also, i aim to spend each day praying for one specific friend/family member and read a chapter of the Bible.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesMy husband Dairo and I are fasting for lent, and praying for the re-launch of NCC en Espanol (on Easter Sunday!) and for our marriage as we are now married PARENTS for the first time in our lives. We are doing a TV fast on Mon, Tues and Wednesdays, and a junk food/dessert fast on Thurs, Fri, and Saturdays, taking Sundays off.
In the year 2001, God did something remarkable in my life personally, and I believe that it was the result of a 21 day food fast that I had done in January that year. I had a specific area of bondage in my life that consumed me from 1996 thru 2001, and I fasted and prayed specifically for healing in this area, during these 21 days. God did it - not right away, but about 3 months after the fast ended. I am still free from it today, 7 years later and give complete credit to God for doing it. I know that He is faithful, and I look forward to what He is going to do in my life this season through this fast.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI’ve observed Lent for several years, and it’s always been an intensely personal discipline for me. This is a new experience to “share it” with the entire church. I’m giving up soda. And my husband and I are doing a “Jewish Fast” (fasting from breakfast and lunch) on Wednesdays. We are praying for a different family member each day.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesFor each of the 40 days, I will spend the day praying for a different friend, relative, or person in my life. At some point in the day, I will call or visit that person and let them know that I am thinking about them and praying for them. Hopefully, as we talk, I’ll figure out why God brought them to mind and how to focus my prayers for them for the rest of the day. All my life, God has ensured that I have constantly been surrounded by incredible people, saved and unsaved, who have embodied his awesome love and creativity and sense of humor. It’s tough now not to cry just thinking about them. So, I’m looking forward to this opportunity to thank them and thank God for them, by spending time in prayer on their behalf. And I’m looking forward to seeing what amazing things God is wanting to do in their lives.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesIt was so refreshing to start the day with Seek God for the City! As it led, I have been praying today for “men” - asking God to give strength and courage and willingness to take risks! I ask that he would lead His men to live with integrity and commitment to His word, His work, their families.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am fasting from the snooze button. I have been lying to myself and God about praying and reading the word in the morning. I realize that I could go days without talking to God- but praying in bed between ‘snoozes’. My prayer is that I spend time in the word and journaling every morning, instead of sleeping. Please pray for me because this habit is very comfortable!!!
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI will be doing a full fast. I realize the stronghold food has on me and how often I desire going out to dinner with friends instead of spending quiet time with God. I want to use this time to get closer to God, to renew our relationship and open up my mind and heart to hear what it is he wants me to hear. I yearn for closeness and guidance from God and pray that he uses this time to help me achieve this.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesThis is the first time that I am going to take fasting seriously, and I am actually fasting a number of things, including chocolate, ice cream, coke, and Scrabulous (major time sucker!). I am seeking God’s help as I get back into working on my grad school research after a long break, and also clarification in another area of my life. I pray to grow stronger and more grateful for all God’s blessings.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI will be fasting TV for 40 days. I still will be watching the news in the morning, but I won’t watch all the TV shows I am addicted to. My goal is to spend more time with God and reading and studying the bible. In addition, I didn’t eat breakfast and won’t be eating lunch today to honor the Lord and the beginning of lent. I believe that God is working in my life and I can’t wait for this transformation to continue.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’d like to do a full fast today as a start and a Daniel’s fast for 10 days. I have not figured the rest of the plan but I hope to get more enlightenment as I go along. I am going to add a time in my day to read a daily devotional consistently.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesRyan (age 12) is fasting all drinks except for water, Jack (age 8) is fasting all sweets, and Marla (mom) is fasting lunch and sweets for the next 40 days...our focus will be to spend more time with God and grow in our personal relationship with Christ.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI will be fasting clothes shopping! Not that I am out of control, but I think that money can be spent somewhere else, wiser. My goal is also more time in prayer and deep soul searching.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting white noise after 10 pm to add in time to reflect on the day, prepare for the next, and talk with God.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI have been fasting drinking any alcoholic beverage for 40 weekends. I’m on my 5th weekend. I’m doing weekends, since its the most tempting time to go out and partake in drinking activities. I’d like to stay alcohol free and make it a permanent habit. I am also going to work out in the mornings at least 3 times a week and go on prayer runs/walks at least once a week.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting from meat and seafood. For the last few months, God has been really changing how I feel about how I was created, and challenging me to really live up to being fearfully and wonderfully made, and being a temple. Going vegetarian will help me be more conscientious about what goes into my body. I’m going to “add” giving at least one compliment every day, hopefully to help someone be aware of how fearfully and wonderfully made they are.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI’m fasting two hours each Saturday to spend reading the Bible or in prayer. I hope to become more aware of the life Jesus led and the way in which He wants us to live our lives. I’m also fasting desserts. I hope that through this I can really work on relying on God to experience His joy in my life daily. Over the next two weeks I am also going to try to do one thing each day to connect with a friend. Lastly, I hope to go through the Seek God for the City each day.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting prime-time tv… w/my love for the tube and the strike ending, itz gonna be tough! I plan to use that time to read and meditate on quite walks.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting my Blackberry. Well not the entire thing. God and I chatted, I can still use the phone and text messages. I’m adding more prayer time when I am using e-mailing or surfing the web.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesMy wife and I are fasting soda. We drink way too much and feel like we are dependent on it. We are also going to spend time each day in devotions and praying through the book, Seek God for the City.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI will be fasting music altogether. In traffic, while I work out, and at the dinner table. By seeking separation from something that is such an important part of my life, I hope to bring greater importance to the most important part of my life, my relationship with God.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting all forms of media in my car. I’m going to use the 40 minute commute every morning to spend time with God in prayer. I’m also going to fast buying music for 40 days (which is a huge thing for me). The goal is to be more responsible with my money and not make purchases that aren’t important.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m fasting the radio and music in the car. I waste a lot of time listening to a lot of noise on the radio. So instead I’m going to spend that time in prayer.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseMy son and I are fasting TV for 40 days. We’re also reading a chapter a day to try to establish the Bible reading habit in his life.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesWe’re fasting our computer certain nights. It takes up what little free time we have and we want to use that for God’s purposes through lent. We’ll also fast desserts and drink water only. We want to add family devotions, praying for some missions projects, and asking for direction for some future family projects.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am fasting tmz and people.com - sounds silly, I know, but I find myself surfing these sites when I’m bored. In its place I’ll spend more time in prayer and in the Word - and I just ordered 3 John Ortberg books to I’d like to get started on to grow me spiritually and personally as well.
Add a Response : 2 ResponsesI’m fasting soda, I’m fasting alcohol (Thurs-Sun) and I’m including exercise. I’ve never been one to exercise although I know the merits. I enjoy a glass of wine or HH during the week with my friends and Lord knows I love soda. I’ll spend special time with God each day and I hope to grow closer to Him and be better for my efforts.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesFor the next forty days, I’m going to fast all forms of make up. Though I’ve never worn much make up, the bit I do wear is key to how attractive I feel each day. While subtracting make up, I’m going to add time to my quiet time with God, specifically asking God to show me what it means to be defined in him.
Add a Response : 1 ResponseI’ll be fasting from awake-ness after midnight and from sleep after 8am.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI am fasting Myspace and Facebook. I spend too much time on those two websites, time that could be much better spent with my son, my husband or doing something productive. I’m hoping that I find new things to replace my computer time that will help me become closer to God and live the way He wants me to. Hopefully I will also have control over how much time I spend on the computer and can keep it minimal and continue to live a more active, sharing, Godly life.
Add a Response : 0 ResponsesI’m going to fast my anger while driving. I’m going to turn the music down and pray. To make it easier to get started in prayer, I’m going to create a personal daily prayer. I have prayed the Lorica of St. Patrick daily before, but this time I wanted to create something more personally relevant. My hope is that by the end of the 40 days, I would have it committed to memory.
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