UNhindered Prayer and Fasting Challenge
March 2nd - April 17th
“…and he continued kneeling on his knees three times a day, praying and giving thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously.” Daniel 6:10b
Pandemic, pandemonium, racism, Coronavirus, healthcare, homelessness, sex trafficking and the list can go on and on! We are living in a season of restlessness full of challenges that for many are beyond comprehension! In spite of the challenges, God calls us to remain connected to Him, the One who can revive, renew, and restore moving us to a season of restfulness in Him! As we seek to live the unhindered life with the Lord, we invite you to join collectively as one body in Christ for our annual period of prayer & fasting. This period of prayer and fasting allows us intimate time with God focusing on the One who can overcome our challenges and circumstances and enables us in living the Unhindered life!
Corporately we will pray for renewal and revival as we seek to come out of this season of pandemic and pandemonium with a deeper faith and deeper commitment to serving God as He moves us to a season of restfulness in Him!
The Unhindered Prayer and Fasting Challenge begins Wednesday, March 2nd through Easter Sunday, April 17th. We want you to join us! Whether you have an awesome prayer life or have no prayer life. Don't worry or become anxious about this challenge because we are in it together and will equip you with the tools to succeed.
“One day Jesus told his disciples a story to show that
they should always pray and never give up.”
– Luke 18:1 (NLT)
Most of us initiate prayers with OUR goals in mind…hear
and receive what WE want. Thus we limit the blessings far
beyond our imaginations because we refuse to let God
reign over our vessels. The message from God that
appears the smallest to you, may indeed become much
bigger than you can presently understand.
THE MOST IMPORTANT TOOL IN PRAYER IS LISTENING FOR GOD’S DIRECTIONS FOR OUR LIVES!
God has unique relationships with all of us and therefore our prayer lives are unique as well. Some of us put unnecessary pressures on ourselves to pray like someone we have heard, when the most important thing that God wants from us, is for us to Seek His Face (Psalm 27:8), to look for Him, the All Knowing for guidance, to love on Him, and continuously build a relationship with Him (John 15:14-15). A relationship with God is similar in one way to relationships with others, the more we communicate the stronger the relationship becomes; the communication is in fact our relationship. Prayer IS our relationship with God.
No prayer = no relationship with God
More prayer = BIGGER relationship with God
A humble heart and a mind open to Jesus is what He expects, and the Holy Spirit will do the rest (Romans 8:26,27).
Why Should We Pray?
• We pray because we love God.
• We pray to worship God for who He is.
• We pray to say thanks to our Father.
• We pray to God to praise Him.
• We pray to petition God.
• We pray to confess our sins.
• We pray to intercede for others.
• We pray against the enemies of God.
• We pray to listen to God.
• We pray to resist temptation.
• We pray because He directs us to pray.
Why Should I Fast?
Fasting and Prayer combined can bring about a transformational revival in you, the nation, the world… it can be a very powerful tool in seeking God. The ultimate purpose of the fast is not you and what you seek, but God. Fasting is a true way to sacrifice for God and humble oneself to Him (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). Fasting is an act of worship and honor.
What is a Fast?
A fast is a period of abstaining from something; denying self from a desire. There are multiple types of fasts, which we will address.
How Should We Prepare for a Fast?
Spiritual Preparation
• Pray before you fast. Ensure that you communicate with God and seek His guidance regarding your fast.
• Ask God to help you to examine your heart, detect and repent any unconfessed sins.
Physical Preparation
• Consult a doctor before fasting, in order to ensure that all of your vitals are stable.
• If you have severe medical maladies you should definitely have professional supervision while fasting.
• Decrease the amount of food that you eat a couple of days prior to the fast starting in order to prepare your mind, stomach, and appetite for less food.
Types of Fasts
The best way to choose the appropriate fast is to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. Pray purposefully in identifying God’s purpose and direction in your fast. His direction is the only thing that will make the fast meaningful and significant.
Lent Fast - give up any food items (ex. bread, sweets, fried foods, snack foods, etc.) for the 40 days of Lent.
Partial Fast - abstain from food for a set time; eat a simple meal of bread & water; sacrifice a certain food.
Daniel Fast - abstains from delicacies, meats, and wines and focuses on fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables
No Food Fast - abstains from all food, including milk (protein) and only drinks liquids and water
Water Only Fast - abstains from everything except water
Absolute/Supernatural Fast - This fast involves abstaining from any food or liquids, including water (the fast of Moses and Jesus)
It is important to focus on God, rather than food.
The spiritual focus and growth will replace the normal
presence of food during the fast.
It is EBC’s Prayer that the Lord’s most wonderful love
and blessings will be poured out on you as you
take this exciting step of faith.
Daily Focused Prayer
This season of prayer and fasting is both personal and corporate. We encourage you to approach it with this dual lens. Corporately, during this time, we encourage you to follow the daily Scriptures reading & prayer emphasis, join us live at 7:14am every morning for prayer, and every Wednesday at 7:00pm for Bible study. Personally, chose or design a fast you will follow. In addition, we encourage you to look within and prayerfully give to God at least one thing that is impeding your progress to living an unhindered life This may be a habit, activity or behavior that you sacrifice daily during this season.
Remember, we are all at different places in our walk with God and our spirituality should never be a cause for comparison or competition. The Prayer and Fasting Schedule is a guide. How you fast and what you sacrifice is a personal decision and commitment between you and God. It is a time when we intentionally seek God even the more.
One of the great things about the Daniel Fast is that you are not limited to any specific amount of food,
but rather to the kinds of food you can eat.
The Daniel Fast is limited to vegetables (includes fruits) and water.
Foods to INCLUDE in your diet during the Daniel Fast:
All fruits. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Fruits include but are not limited to apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, boysenberries, cantaloupe, cherries, cranberries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, guava, honeydew melon, kiwi, lemons, limes, mangoes, nectarines, oranges, papayas, peaches, pears, pineapples, plums, prunes, raisins, raspberries, strawberries, tangelos, tangerines, and watermelon
All vegetables. These can be fresh, frozen, dried, juiced or canned. Vegetables include but are not limited to artichokes, asparagus, beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chili peppers, collard greens, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, garlic, ginger root, kale, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, mustard greens, okra, onions, parsley, potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, scallions, spinach, sprouts, squashes, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, turnips, watercress, yams, zucchini, and veggie burgers are an option if you are not allergic to soy.
All whole grains, including but not limited to whole wheat, brown rice, millet, quinoa, oats, barley, grits, whole wheat pasta, whole wheat tortillas, rice cakes and popcorn.
All nuts and seeds, including but not limited to sunflower seeds, cashews, peanuts, sesame. Also nut butters including peanut butter.
All legumes. These can be canned or dried. Legumes include but are not limited to dried beans, pinto beans, split peas, lentils, black eyed peas, kidney beans, black beans, cannellini beans, white beans.
All quality oils including but not limited to olive, canola, grape seed, peanut, and sesame.
Beverages: spring water, distilled water or other pure waters.
Other: tofu, soy products, vinegar, seasonings, salt, herbs and spices.
Foods to AVOID on the Daniel Fast:
All meat and animal products including but not limited to beef, lamb, pork, poultry, and fish.
All dairy products including but not limited to milk, cheese, cream, butter, and eggs.
All sweeteners including but not limited to sugar, raw sugar, honey, syrups, molasses, and cane juice.
All leavened bread including Ezekiel Bread (it contains yeast and honey) and baked goods.
All refined and processed food products including but not limited to artificial flavourings, food additives, chemicals, white rice, white flour, and foods that contain artificial preservatives.
All deep fried foods including but not limited to potato chips, French fries, corn chips.
All solid fats including shortening, margarine, lard and foods high in fat.
Beverages including but not limited to coffee, tea, herbal teas, carbonated beverages, energy drinks, and alcohol.
Please make sure to READ THE LABEL when purchasing packaged, canned or bottled foods. They should be sugar-free and chemical-free. Keep this in mind as you review this list of acceptable foods.
Resources
- Cycle of Prayer – Dr. Craig L. Oliver, Sr.
- He Speaks to Me: Preparing to Hear the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer
- Too Busy Not to Pray by Bill Hybels
- Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures for Intimate Worship by Kenneth Boa
- Face to Face: Praying the Scriptures for Spiritual Growth by Kenneth Boa
- Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days
- Key Principles of Biblical Fasting – Kay Arthur
- Daniel Fast: Benefits for Your Spiritual, Emotional & Physical Health