21 days of Prayer and Fasting

Hi church family,

You're invited to participate in 21 days of prayer and fasting from October 2nd -  October 22nd in the lead up to special Celebration - the launch of The Billabong Piara Waters. This even will mark a significant shift in the life of The Billabong as we become one church family with expressions of our life together in two distinct locations. 

Taking a period of time (eg. 3, 7, 21 or 40 days) to pray and fast when facing a decision, turning point or season of significance is a common practice in the Christian tradition. It's a way of humbling ourselves before God and intentionally saying with our heart, mind and body "your will be done". 

We'll be taking periods of 3 days to focus on each part of the Lord's prayer during this time, just as we did at the same time last year:

The Father's Name/Character: Our Father in heaven... 2-4 Oct

The Father's Kingdom: Your Kingdom come... 5-7 Oct

(Sunday Celebration 8 Oct)

The Father's Provision: Give us today our daily bread... 9-11 Oct

The Father's Forgiveness: Forgive us our sins... 12-14 Oct

(Sunday Celebration 15 Oct)

The Father's Protection: Lead us not into temptation... 16-18 Oct

The Father's Deliverance: Deliver us from the evil one... 19-21 Oct

(4pm Celebration in Piara Waters 22nd Oct)

For updates and suggestions on how to pray during this time,  check our facebook or your email (click here to join our email mailing list)

Fasting

In the meantime, you may be wondering, what is fasting all about?

If you've never participated in a food fast (full or partial) before, here are a couple of things to know:

- Fasting is, in a nutshell, giving up food and/or drink at a set time to focus on prayer and time with God. 

- It goes hand in hand with prayer. The purpose is to direct your attention towards God. Let the hunger pangs or desire for special foods you are giving up remind you to spend time with God when you would have otherwise been eating!

- You may fast from certain foods (eg. give up meats, desserts, 'luxury' foods), however I encourage you to fast for certain periods of the day (eg. from breakfast until dinner). Medical or other considerations may mean you should still eat at normal meal times, but are able to limit to vegetables only, for example. A 'full fast' would include only water, juices and broths for an extended period - please be sure to ease into and out of such a fast and consult your doctor if you engage in a full fast at any point, for any length of time. 

If you would like to read more about why we fast, how to fast and other tips, please keep reading below.

Grace and Peace

Luke

Why Fasting?

Biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. Our primary focus in fasting is to fix our eyes on Jesus and to listen to hear the voice and direction of God. It is vitally important for us to pay attention to our motives behind the commitment we’ve made. 

“Say to all the people of the land and the priests, ‘When you fasted… was it for me that you fasted? – Zechariah 7:5–6

“If our fasting is not unto God, we have failed. Physical benefits, success in prayer, the ending with power, spiritual insights—these must never replace God as the center of our fasting.” – Richard Foster

“First, let [fasting] be done unto the Lord with our eye singly fixed on him. Let our intention herein be this, and this alone, to glorify our Father which is in heaven.” – John Wesley

Fasting helps us to realize the things that control us. Practicing the discipline of fasting allows the Lord the venue to help us to bring these areas into alignment. Just as David once wrote, “I afflicted myself with fasting…” in Psalm 35:13, we will be intentional to provide the Lord the venue to instruct us and bring clarity to our lives.

“I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything. – 1 Corinthians 6:12

Fasting from any nourishment, activity, involvement or pursuit—for any season—sets the stage for God to appear. – Dan B. Allender

We fast because it helps to give us balance in life. It makes us more keenly sensitive to the whole of life so that we’re not so obsessed by our consumer mentality. – Richard J. Foster

How Can I Participate?

We understand that there are different factors that lead to your decision to say yes to participation in this church-wide commitment. As a church, our fast will be directly connected to food, as we see multiple examples of this throughout the Scripture. Some different options of how to fast are:

Option 1 (All Meals)

This will be a commitment toward fasting from all food except for water, juice and other broths for a period of time (whether part of all of the 3 week period).

Option 2 (Some Meals/Altered Diet)

This will be a commitment toward fasting for a significant portion of your day, incorporating one meal into the schedule. (eg. fasting all day until 6:00 PM). Or, due to medical and other considerations, it may be necessary to participate by altering your diet for the duration of the fast. (This may be with vegetables only, or something known as the Daniel Fast).

Option 3 (One Meal)

This will be a commitment toward fasting for one meal out of the day, with an intentional time of focused prayer during the time period normally spent eating.

What Should I Expect When Fasting?

The practice of fasting is in stark contrast to most of the way we live on a day to day basis in our lives. The Bible mentions fasting over 70 times directly and is inferred many more. This practice was clearly important to God, as even Jesus engaged in a 40-day fast immediately following His baptism.

Heightened Emotional Sensitivity

“Anger, bitterness, jealousy, strife, fear—if they are within us, they will surface during fasting. At first we will rationalise that our anger is due to our hunger; then we know that we are angry because the spirit of anger is within us. We can rejoice in this knowledge because we know that healing is available through the power of Christ.” Richard Foster

Physical Effects

Changing the amount and type of nutrients that you intake on a regular basis could possibly affect your energy levels, leading to physical fatigue. Headaches have also been known to be a symptom during fasting.

Intense Hunger

Although this may seem like an obvious point of awareness, it is important to note that you may feel hunger in a way that you’ve not experienced before. This will become the primary indicator and reminder for times of prayer and listening during the fast.

How Do I Prepare?

What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9

Prepare Your Fast (See 'How Can I Participate?')

• Option 1 (All Meals)

• Option 2 (Some Meals/Altered Diet)

• Option 3 (One Meal)

Prepare Your Prayer

• Consider the ways that we are praying together for our church. We want to see unity amongst the body of Christ. We are hoping for the fulfilment of vision and purpose for our Billabong family.

• Find a journal to document your prayer and experiences.

• Identify some friends and partners to be praying with through this time.

• Use the prayer tips sent via email. 

Prepare Your Mind

• Take some time to consider the real implications of how the fast will affect your regular life rhythms. For example, think about how your daily schedule may be altered and have some forethought on how to adjust properly.

• Ask the Lord to prepare your mind for the challenge in the days ahead.

• Meditate on scripture and stories that are a reminder of God’s faithfulness and ability to sustain us: ex. Psalm 100, Matthew 4:1-4, Matthew 6:25-26

Prepare Your Heart

• Take some time to ask God to identify potential areas of difficulty during the 21 days. Do you see the potential for emotions like anger, anxiety, and fear to rise up during this fast? Are there areas of sin that you are aware of and have not addressed in your life?

• Spend some time in confession and repentance concerning these areas to which the Spirit leads you. As it says in 1 John 1:9, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Asking yourself difficult and direct questions and answering them in honesty may help you to enter the fast with a posture ready to receive. (eg. Am I honest in all my acts and words or do I exaggerate?)

• Ask the Lord to show you any areas of discord or disunity in your life relationally and seek to address them.

Prepare Your Body (particularly for a full fast)

• Drink plenty of water, maintaining proper hydration and water intake leading up to the beginning of the fast.

• Eat healthier foods (fruits and veggies) directly before the start of the fast in order to make for an easier transition. Avoid overindulging, as well. When the fast is complete, be mindful of easing back into your regular diet, as to not shock your system.  

• If you have potential  medical concerns, you should visit your doctor to make sure that you are physically able to participate as you intend. A chronic or severe medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, may prevent you from fasting in the manner you’d like. You should also consult your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing in order to enter into the fast in the most informed way.

Prepare Your Schedule

• Take time to pre-plan what types of juices, liquids, and supplies you will need while engaged in the fast.  If you are planning to drink juices for part or all of the fast then you may prepare for this by purchasing a suitable container/bottle to take with you to work, sport, etc.  

• Think about when you will set aside time to pray and when you will partake in liquids throughout the day.

• Discuss with family and those in your household about what the upcoming days will look like together.

Prepare Your Response

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:16–18

• In hopes to avoid pride and self-appreciation, we don’t want to broadcast our decision to fast publicly. But, when addressed about it directly, we should prepare a thoughtful response, rather than feeling the need to be dishonest or making a bigger issue of it.

• When someone asks why you aren’t eating, consider simple ways to communicate that you are dedicating yourself toward a time of prayer and listening to God. Seek to respond in a simple and straightforward way without belabouring the point.

• Consider beforehand how to graciously communicate with those that may invite you to a meal or gathering when it may conflict with the fast. (eg. "As you are preparing for the gathering, please note that my family and I are praying and fasting together in this season, so we may not fully take part in the meal portion of the evening. Thanks for understanding.")

How Do I Pray?

For some, this will be the first time to pray in such a focused and intentional way. It may seem a bit daunting. This toolkit (click here) is a resource to help you pray. Begin with "How to Pray the Lords Prayer" and explore other guides as you wish!

Final Thoughts

It’s my conviction that we will only see the power of the gospel unleashed when the church starts to truly seek God through prayer and fasting. I am excited and hopeful to see how the Lord is glorified as we head into this period.

Blessings, 

Luke. 

No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. – Galatians 5:16–17

For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted. – Hebrews 2:18