Prayer and Fasting Guide - newbirth.org

1 Prayer and Fasting Guide 21 Days of Corporate Prayer and Fasting With excited anticipation, New Birth is awaiting the revelation of God s choice for our next Senior Pastor. So, corporately we are entering into intentional intensified Prayer for the one God has chosen to shepherd His flock. It is imperative that we pray together over the person, process and provision. God will reveal the person, He will Guide the process and He will make provisions for a smooth transition. The combination of Fasting and Prayer always brings about transformation. The transformation comes both in us and in those things for which we are praying. Fasting does not force the hand of God. It makes us more aware of what He has already planned and clears the way for manifestation of His will.

2 For 21 days, as we consecrate ourselves before the Lord from September 24 through October 14, the Lord will surely transform us individually and corporately more and more into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ so that we can love, live and lead like Him at a greater dimension. We also expect the Lord to continually lead us and Guide us while we wait for His set leader. Just as God gave Daniel revelation through Prayer and Fasting , He will grant revelation of His will to New Birth. As Daniel was praying and Fasting , God sent the angel Gabriel who showed up and said, Daniel, I am here to help you understand God s plans. (Daniel 9:22, The Living Bible) In the New Testament, spiritual leaders were selected through Prayer and Fasting . Acts 1:23-26 And they proposed two: Joseph called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias.

3 And they prayed and said, You, O Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which of these two You have chosen to take part in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place. And they cast their lots, and the lot fell on Matthias. And he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Acts 13:1-3 Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them. Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. Acts 14:21-23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with Fasting , they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

4 Our ACTS prayers of Adoration, Confession and repentance, Thanksgiving, and Supplication are important for New Birth to hear from God, gain strength for the journey and release the supernatural power of God to be done. God hears the cries of His people to give us a Shepherd who is an apostolic leader with spiritual fortitude, integrity, generosity, and loving compassion for souls. Corporately, as we seek God to answer our Prayer for the establishment of a new Senior Pastor at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, we will faithfully commit to 21 Days of consecrated Prayer and Fasting as a congregation. As we engage and agree in this process, we know that God will hear, reveal and answer our prayers. Fasting INSTRUCTIONS Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance.

5 For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be Fasting . Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be Fasting , but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:16-18 Fasting is a denial of physical desires for spiritual benefit. It is a practice that is described throughout the Old and New Testaments. Even Jesus entered into a period of Fasting to consecrate Himself before the Lord. Denying your flesh gives your spirit an opportunity to become more alive, more sensitive, and more open to the Lord s will. Fasting requires great discipline of your soul and restraint of your body. So, it is best to decide ahead of time what you will take off the table during your fast and how you will clear your plate.

6 Prayer and preparation are keys to success. There are many types of fasts. Some of the more common types are complete fasts, selective fasts, partial fasts or soul fasts. Ask the Lord to Guide you in your decision of what types of foods you will not eat for these 21 days or in the timing of your meals. The Liquid Fast is a complete fast that involves no intake of solid foods. All food is replaced with liquids. Liquids can be consumed at any time. If you engage in the Liquid Fast, please make sure that you drink plenty of water, and you may also include fruit juices, vegetable juices, herbal teas, smoothies, smooth soups and broths. Selective Fasts involve removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast. The Daniel Fast is modeled after the spiritual practices of Daniel and his associates as found in the first chapter of Daniel.

7 They chose not to eat delicacies or drink wine. Instead, they ate vegetables and drank water. On the Daniel Fast, abstain from eating meat and animal by-products (dairy products). Let your meals resemble more of a vegetarian or vegan diet by eating what comes from the ground. Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. You may also include veggie burgers, legumes (beans and peas), whole grains (such as, brown rice, quinoa, barley, whole wheat pasta, rice cakes, popcorn, oats and grits), soy, tofu, nuts and seeds. Along with water, drink fruit or vegetable juices, and herbal teas. A Partial Fast involves abstaining from eating food for a specified portion of the day. For example, one might refrain from eating breakfast and lunch, eating one meal at dinner time instead. The Soul Fast is common for individuals who have health issues that prevent them from making food restrictions and for those who have portions of their lives that are out of balance and need refocusing.

8 However, it is strongly recommended that in addition to a complete, selective or partial fast, we all engage in a soul fast as well. During this consecration period, abstain from anything that would distract you from drawing closer to God. While media may certainly be accessed when necessary for safety and pertinent information, discipline yourself to refrain from idly watching television, excessively using social media, and texting, video chatting and talking on the phone when not necessary. Give God an opportunity to speak to you! Children and youth are encouraged to participate in the Corporate Fast by choosing with their parents an activity or type of food to surrender. Consider giving up sodas, junk food, and desserts. Perhaps, for certain periods in the day the whole family can sacrifice television, social media, video games, secular music, texting or using cell phones at all, except for emergencies and contacting parents.

9 Parents should use their discretion in adjusting the fast for their children in a manner which will be successful for them and not perceived as punishment. The activities or types of food sacrificed can be changed or adjusted during the fast if necessary. Show your children the power of Fasting by leading by example. Make it a family fast where your family not only gives up something together, but also increases some things together such as family conversations and activities, time reading and discussing Bible stories, or watching Biblically-based videos. PLEASE NOTE: New Birth Missionary Baptist Church advises all members and participants of this consecration to consider their personal health needs and to consult their personal physician prior to beginning this fast.

10 Therefore, we specifically disclaim any responsibility from any physical reaction to this fast. Prayer CONNECTION Evening and morning and at noon I will pray, and cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice. Psalm 55:17 Follow along in the Consecration Guide for our daily Prayer focus. There is a topic and Scripture for each day with Prayer starters for every morning, guided prayers for noon, and encouragement to give God thanks every evening. In the morning, we will be praying personal prayers, drawing closer to the Lord. Before you pray concerning the topic for the day for our Senior Pastor and our church, please seek the Lord for yourself. Be willing for the Lord to mold you in that area first. At noon, wherever you are, please stop and pray for our next Senior Pastor and the process that guides God s choice to New Birth.