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Why Fast?

by Pastor Abby Davidson
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ~ 2 Chronicles 7:14
On Saturday at noon we’re asking you to join us in a church-wide, twenty-four hour fast. We are praying that this will be a time of spiritual renewal for you personally but also for our church as a whole. During this time we ask that you would be in prayer for BRBC. Pray that God would guide us and direct our efforts as we begin a new year and that our leaders and congregants would be diligent in seeking God.
If you’ve never fasted before the idea probably seems somewhat intimidating. Refraining from food for an entire day is not a regular practice for most of us. I invite you to see this as opportunity for us to humble ourselves before God and seek him. The goal is not to get through a day without eating but to get closer to God. Fasting then becomes the means to that goal rather than the goal itself.
We all operate according to rhythms and meal-time is often central to those rhythms; wake-up, coffee and breakfast, commute, work, lunch, more coffee, more work, return home, supper, etc. A fast is designed to interrupt our regular rhythm and help us re-orient ourselves toward God. Some people prefer to do a partial food fast rather than completely abstaining from food and that’s fine. Again, the goal is to set aside a time as a church where we seek God as one body united in Christ.
When we refrain from food we recognize that God is our primary source of sustenance. We acknowledge that everything we have comes from him and him alone. Our strength and our flesh may fail but God is our portion. Fasting then becomes an aid to prayer, an act of repentance and a way to experience the presence of God. It is also symbolic of that the hope that is ours in Christ – that one day all brokenness and suffering will be wiped away and we will feast at the marriage supper of the lamb (Revelation 19).
Please take time this weekend to fast and pray as we seek God. We will begin Saturday at noon and end Sunday at noon with a light lunch after the service.
Here are some prayer points to direct your time:
• Pray that BRBC would be a church that is seeking God and continuing the work of Christ
• Pray for your pastors as they teach and lead as well as for deacons and other church leaders
• Pray the individuals coming to the Out of the Cold program would experience God’s grace and healing in their lives
• Pray for our members who are sick or facing physical or mental health challenges. Pray for their caregivers and families as well.
• Pray for spiritual renewal and growth in our church.
• Pray for the various ministries we support as a church: Out of the Cold, Horizons For Youth, Habitat for Humanity, Wednesday drop-in and the BRBC summer camp.
• Pray for the upcoming trip to Bolivia in August. Pray for the team members as they prepare to serve alongside the Nacho Family.
• Pray for our neighbours in the Lawrence Park community.
• Pray for those you know who don’t need Jesus. Ask for opportunities to share his truth with them.
• Pray for yourself. Ask God what he wants for you this year.
We look forward to hearing about your experience with fasting. Who knows, maybe some of you will want to take this up as a Spiritual Discipline to deepen your walk with God. I’m excited to see what God will do this weekend as we seek him together.