Friday Prayer & Fasting
Good morning, Immanuel. Prayer is not overcoming God's hesitancy, but laying hold of His eagerness.
“I will rejoice in doing them good, and I will plant them in this land in faithfulness, with all my heart and all my soul” (Jeremiah 32:41).
God does not act from compulsion. And that means prayer is not an attempt to convince God to be more a more generous or benevolent Giver. In fact, Jesus is more eager to answer our prayers than we are to pray them. Martin Luther reminds us that “Prayer is not overcoming God's reluctance, but laying hold of God's willingness.” So let’s lay hold of His willingness together as we seek a long-term home in Nashville to welcome all kinds of people, for the spiritual formation of rising generations and to help others into gospel culture. Join us in prayer and fasting every Friday morning from 6 am to 7 am in person at Immanuel.
Prayer & Fasting Guide
Here are some verses to meditate on as we pray and fast:
Here are some specific points we can pray for:
That every effort and every dollar invested in this campaign would be for the glory of God through us, his church.
That God would stir our hearts as a church to fervent and consistent prayer together for the gospel ministry of Immanuel and the needs of Immanuel. (James 5:16) And that we would pray big prayers and not limit God by the limits of our imaginations.
That God would open our minds and imaginations to means of provision that we have not yet considered.
That God would supply all our needs according to his riches in glory. (Philippians 4:19)
If you cannot join us, please feel free to pray and fast on your own or with others. Gather with friends each Friday for prayer (from your Community Group or Discipleship Group). Utilize the technology God has given us (Zoom, facetime, etc.) to connect with others for prayer.
Along with prayer, please consider fasting each Friday alongside your church family. This is not a mere religious ritual or intermittent forgoing of food. It is a practice of dependence and worship. And while not everyone can wisely or healthily fast from food, each of us can fast from some voluntary pleasure and turn that desire toward God, our provider. When we fast we . . .
. . .forfeit good things, not evil things.
. . .keep our preferences and desires sharp and on high alert.
. . .are reminded of our desperate need for God.
. . .experience a reminder of the aching and longing we so often suppress within our souls.
. . .turn our appetites and desires toward God, the inexhaustible source of goodness.
Fasting is a gift that helps sharpen our awareness of God and His goodness. We are not fasting in order to gain God’s attention but in order for us to be more aware of Him and His eagerness to supply our every need in Christ for His glory and our joy.
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