Listening Through Fasting

What exactly does it mean for a Christian to fast?

While fasting traditionally involves abstaining from food, as Christians, we can undertake a fast by replacing a routine activity with a spiritual one. For example, if you frequently check social media, you might consider substituting that time with focused prayer or Bible reading. Likewise, if you choose to fast from a meal, the time you'd typically spend eating could be devoted to prayer.

It's a personal decision to identify the activity you feel led to replace during this fast. Your fast could be from certain foods, daily habits, or even specific indulgences, like soda and social media. You might even feel guided to follow the Daniel diet, which involves consuming only water and vegetables. Trust that the Lord will guide you in making this decision and grant you the strength to persevere throughout the fast.

Now, what kind of fast are we embarking on?

This fast is an occasional and congregational fast. By "congregational," I mean we'll all willingly participate in it together, creating a shared experience that allows us to support and encourage one another. As seen in Joel 2:15-16, we consecrate this fast as a community; we will all be doing this together to edify one another. Although not everyone will be able to voluntarily fast (such as children or nursing infants), you can explore creative ways to involve your family in this spiritual journey.

When we say it's an "occasional" fast, it implies that it has a specific duration and purpose. Our fast will span ten days, from November 9th to November 18th. During this time, our collective goal is to develop our spiritual sensitivity to God's voice and discern how He intends us, both individually and as a church, to live sent. As a reminder, "Live sent" signifies following Jesus and inviting others to come along.

We eagerly anticipate witnessing the transformative work of God within our church community during this fast.