PCA Day ofPrayerand Fasting

Thursday October 18, 2012

Understanding the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

Fasting is not a unique discipline to the Christian faith; all the major religions of the world recognize its merit and importance. Generally speaking, fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual purposes, but could also include the removal of some obstacle in your life such as TV, social networking or video games for the purposes of freeing time to spend with God. Fasting helps to recognize the things that control us; but those things are not the focus of a fast. In fact, the focus of the fast is not on what you are abstaining from, but rather what you are feasting upon – time with God and His Word!

Many great saints of the faith have pointed to the spiritual discipline of fasting as the most powerful and important practice for a Christian. Dr. Bill Bright, the founder of Campus Crusade for Christ wrote this:

Dr. Bright also wrote this information about the power and importance of fasting:

  • Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testament eras. For example, Moses fasted at least two recorded forty-day periods. Jesus fasted 40 days and reminded His followers to fast, "when you fast," not if you fast.
  • Fasting and prayer can restore the loss of the "first love" for your Lord and result in a more intimate relationship with Christ.
  • Fasting is a Biblical way to truly humble yourself in the sight of God (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). King David said, "I humble myself through fasting."
  • Fasting enables the Holy Spirit to reveal your true spiritual condition, resulting in brokenness, repentance, and a transformed life.
  • The Holy Spirit will quicken the Word of God in your heart and His truth will become more meaningful to you!
  • Fasting can transform your prayer life into a richer and more personal experience.
  • Fasting can result in a dynamic personal revival in your own life-and make you a channel of revival to others.
  • Fasting and prayer are the only disciplines that fulfill the requirements of II Chronicles 7:14: “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 will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”

Exercising the Spiritual Discipline of Fasting

The leadership of Prestonwood Christian Academy has called for a day of Prayer and Fasting on Thursday, October 18, 2012. This day of prayer and fasting precedes the special time of celebration and worship at the November 8, 2012 State of School – A family Gathering of Commitment (6:30 p.m. on Thursday 11/8/12). In Scripture, we often see times of prayer, fasting, and reflection coming before times of victory and connection with God. Joshua told the nation of Israel to ready themselves for the great works of God when he said, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.” That is our hope and prayer – that we prepare ourselves for the Lord to work in and through our lives, our families, our school and our churches.

Students, parents and PCA staff members are invited to stop in and pray in the Horner Training Center on Thursday, October 18, 2012, for prayer. There will be specially led corporate prayer times at 7:15 a.m., 12 noon, and 3:30 p.m.

PCA Day of Prayer and Fasting

Guide to the PCA Day of Prayer and Fasting

Look up the Bible verses that are listed below, and pray that God would open your heart to His purposes and meanings. As you pray through these verses, focus on their meaning for you, for your family, and for the entire PCA community.

Time to Be Still and Know:

  • Pray that each member of the PCA community will know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior, realizing that “God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16
  • Pray that we would truly seek God and His face, desiring to “love the Lord with all our heart and soul and strength” – Deuteronomy 6:5.
  • Other verses: Hebrews 12:1-2, Colossians 1:9-10; Proverbs 21:21

Time of Thanksgiving:

  • Pray that our love for Him would be expressed in praise and thanksgiving, reflecting on His blessing and leading these past 15 years.
  • “Praise the Lord all you nations, Praise Him all you people. For He loves us with unfailing love; the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” – Psalm 117: 1 – 2
  • “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! His faithful love endures forever.” – Psalm 107:1
  • Other verses: Ephesians 1:3, Psalm 34, Philippians 4:4-9

Time of Personal Evaluation

  • Pray that individually and corporately God would reveal areas of sin that need to be confessed. Pray for humble repentance.
  • “He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.” – Proverbs 28:13
  • Other verses: Psalm 66:18, John 15:1-8, 1 John 1:9

Time of Prayer for PCA

  • Pray that the PCA community would “seek the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our own understanding; in all our ways acknowledge Him and He will direct our paths.” – Proverbs 3:5-6.
  • Pray that God would “show us His ways and lead us in His truth” – Psalm 25:4-5 and “that we would desire to obey Him and be His people” – Jeremiah 7:23.
  • Pray that as PCA continues the plans for the future (the “Initiatives”) that the Leadership and Board would have discernment and clarity in the areas of:

Today’s needs and provision

The Faculty and Staff

The Students and the programs that enhance learning

Student Accessibility so that many who want to attend are able

Our campus expansion and the decisions on what needs to meet first

  • Other verses: James 4:1-4, John 14:5-14; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Psalm 116:1-2 – “I love the Lord because He hears and answers my prayers. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath!”