[Mondeor] Week of Prayer 26 June - 3 July

[info at mondeorcommunity.co.za]

Dear Brothers ">Fasting  

A fast can be anything you decide to "give
up" for the Lord. You could be extreme and go on a water only fast, or you
could give up lunch for the week, or a Daniel fast (vegetables and water.
Some people have given up TV for the duration of their fast. It should be a
sacrifice that you make to the Lord in order to draw closer to Him and hear
better from Him. The options are unlimited, but should not be the focus of
the week, - prayer and seeking to hear from God must be our major focus.


See guidelines below from Pastor Alexander of the Vineyard. 

Blessings


Damon Greville 

Elder 

MONDEOR COMMUNITY CHURCH 

THE MOTIVATION AND
PURPOSE (WHAT TO PRAY FOR):  

Because of the great spiritual battle we are
facing in the church and the nation 

 	* To humble ourselves before God in
confession and repentance of our sin
 	* To set our minds to prayerfully
understand God's purpose and what He is doing
 	* To persist in prayer that
_God's purposes may prevail_ in a) Mondeor Community Church, b) in
marriages, relationships and individuals, and c) in our nation. 

WHAT
FASTING IS:
_Negatively_, _fasting is abstaining_ from food (and things)
for spiritual purposes: To discipline our bodily appetites (addictions and
attachments to things), to feel hungry and weak, to turn it into hunger for
God, into prayer for strength, into cries for mercy, intercession for
others, praying for God's purposes to prevail. Like Jesus who fasted for 40
days, when we fast and pray we enter a (inner) wilderness, the desert of
demons, where we do battle with ourselves and with evil. God brings us into
this desert to humble us, to make us hungry, to expose our sin and
weakness, testing us to see what's in our hearts, teaching us that we don't
live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God's mouth (Deut
8:2-3). 

_Positively_, _fasting is feasting_ on God's Presence (prayer)
and Word (meditation). Fasting makes space in our daily lives for prayer,
to seek God's face and His Word for understanding and direction, for His
purposes in our lives, in our church and nation. Fasting and prayer is the
mysterious participation with God in the unseen spiritual warfare taking
place around us. It is _the means_ by which we persist until God's purposes
prevail against evil opposition. 

WHAT FASTING IS NOT: 

Fasting is not
dieting. It is not to prove yourself, to feel spiritually proud, to compete
or show off. It is not to punish the body, nor to be a spiritual martyr or
hero. It is not to earn God's blessing, or to twist His arm to get Him to
do what you want.  

SOME PRACTICAL GUIDELINES:
- there are many ways of
fasting, decide what works for you (the more strenuous your fast, the less
you must do daily; your work and circumstances will determine your type of
fast)
- if you are on medication, check with your doctor -- get informed
advice
- be practical, don't overdo or underdo things -- ask God, He will
lead and _stretch you_
- like Daniel, you can fast all meats and wine, and
just eat vegetables and fruit 

- you can fast all 'nice foods', special
treats, caffeine, fizzy drinks, puddings, etc
- for those not working, you
could take just liquids (and soups when you need strength)
- or you could
fast certain meals, like miss every lunch and use the time to pray
- you
could do one week one way, another week another way, a few days this way…
etc 
- the idea is to make time for prayer -- make prayer and Bible reading
a special focus 
- use every weakness, stomach groan, feeling of hunger and
dizziness, to cry out to God 
- help the body emit toxins the first 3 to 4
days (you'll feel weak, slight headaches, light headedness, bad breath,
irritated, etc) -- go off caffeine, drink lots of water and eat fruit 

-
pace yourself, go slower, rest and read, meditate and journal, don't
exercise too much
- fasting is spiritual warfare -- be aware of mood
swings, bodily reactions, relational tension
- get help if you have a bad
reaction or a serious "downer", but try to press through
- stay close to
trusted friends, feedback in your home group, be accountable and minister
to one another when discouragement and other things happen
- be sensitive
to what happens around you, to what God is saying via your dreams, prayers,
feelings, etc, and share what God may be saying in your home group (and to
the leaders) 
- _break your fast carefully/slowly over days _-- it depends
on how severe you fasted  

Should you have any queries, please contact:


Sandra Greville 

011 941 2055 [1]info at mondeorcommunity.co.za [2]  




Links:
------
[1] http://mymail.gam.co.za/callto:011%20941%202055
[2]
mailto:info at mondeorcommunity.co.za
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