A Day of Prayer & Fasting
Introduction
In times like these, as the wider culture cries out in unison against racial injustices, it is only natural for the church to ask, “What do we do?” “How do we fix it?” “How can we defeat the evils of racism, white supremacy, police brutality, etc.”? “What should our church do?”
Perhaps now more than ever, we need the immediacy of the now to be shaped by the practices of our global and historic sisters and brothers in the faith. Our mothers and fathers of the faith have experienced suffering, tragedy, racism, evil, death and injustices. These are times when we need to pick up ancient Christian practices to sustain and guide us during these pressing times, specifically prayer and fasting.
Prayer and fasting will not only show forth the state of our heart, but also shape our hearts:
Humble and contrite confession and repentance (Joel 1:14, 2:12; Ps. 69:10)
Lamenting and mourning the state of the world and the state of our hearts (Neh. 9:1, Esth. 4:3)
Seeking the will of God for how to proceed and move forward (Acts 13:2, 14:23)
Why do we fast? We fast:
In order to train our whole self to hunger for God’s presence, love, and guidance
To long for the feast on the last day when God makes everything right (Rev. 19:7-9)
So that we may learn—in our very bodies—how to go without for the sake of others, that we may pursue the “weightier matters of the law,” as Jesus called them: justice and mercy and faithfulness (Lk. 23:23)
So that we can more readily listen to the Spirit’s voice without distraction (1 Thess. 5:19).
How do we fast?
There are degrees and options. If you’ve never fasted before, you could skip one meal or practice a “liquid only” fast.
Some who are nursing or have health conditions that prohibit a total fast can find other ways to deny yourself in food, drink or something else.
Use the skipped meal to pray. Use the financial resources saved for the good of others.
What will we pray for?
Pray, not for superficial peace, but for justice
Pray for the underlying causes of the unrest, not for the effects alone
Pray for neighbours and issues of injustice in our neighbourhoods
Pray that the church would act wisely
Prayer and fasting is not passive work; it is a work of humble preparation to prepare us for living in the new ways of the Kingdom rather than in the ways of this death-dealing world.
What will the Fast Look like?
Here is a suggested structure for the fast:
Begin the fast tonight or tomorrow morning.
Join us for our morning prayers at 7:45am through Zoom. We will be focusing on Isaiah 58.
Read, listen to, and meditate on Isaiah 58 once an hour all day if possible.
During your lunch break, walk around your neighbourhood and ask God to open your eyes to the needs of the neighbourhood and ways you can embody justice and mercy.
We will break the fast together through a 10 minute time of prayer on Zoom at 9:00pm.
Please join us tomorrow as we seek God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven!