30 Days - Day 25

Day 25

Acts 13:1-3; 14:23

1 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. 2 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.” 3 Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away.

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.

A number of years ago now a Christian musician named Geoff Moore wrote a song called “A Friend Like You” in which he listed some of the great teams ... things that just go together in our minds. The Lone Ranger and Tonto, Laurel and Hardy, Batman and Robin, Snoopy and Charlie but besides those we might also mention chocolate and peanut butter, coffee and donuts (hey come back and finish the blog first), cookies and milk, a bat and ball, nuts and bolts, bees and honey, smoke and fire and of course prayer and fasting.

Often in scripture we find these two things closely following one another. They just seem to go together. It is not that they are always together but often we find them connected. It is interesting to note though that while one of them is commanded of the other it is only assumed it will be practiced. Prayer was something that we have been called to, but fasting is something that was required only one place in scripture ... at the Day of Atonement from sunset to sunset, on that one day, once each year.

However, the Bible places a certain importance and emphasis on fasting. We see throughout scripture that it was a normal part of Jewish life and the early Church. Both of these groups set aside regular days for fasting and praying. It also appears that fasting was a regular way of setting the heart to seek God’s will and show sincerity whether for guidance, in sorrow, repentance, protection, healing, obedience etc. Unfortunately, fasting was, and is, also sometimes used badly. Some used it to look spiritual or thinking that they might somehow manipulate God to some action or answer.

The point is that we see these two disciplines here, and often, listed together. God has called us to prayer but also encourages us to fast. It is not done so that we can look spiritual or get something that we want but as a way of disciplining ourselves to seek God. It is not done by command but willful surrender of self. By it, we might be showing (more than likely to ourselves because God knows our hearts) that we place God and His will and wisdom above our own. Just as sackcloth and ashes were an outward sign of inward attitudes and emotions fasting also expressed (though much more privately) attitudes and interests of the heart. Fasting can be a living sacrifice in which we are seeking to renew our minds by not being conformed but rather transformed ... that we might know what is the good acceptable and perfect will of God. I have to admit even as I write this that it has been a while since I have fasted. I am not writing this to put pressure on anyone to do so. This is what the Bible says and this is what God laid on my heart as I prepared topics for our 30 days. However, I also think that we as God’s people should consider these things that go together and consider if God might be moving and calling us to fast as we pray and seek Him. We simply need to be ready to follow Him as He moves our hearts.

Prayer Requests Day 25

1) The breaking down of spiritual strongholds that keep people blinded and apathetic to the gospel, hearts prepared for gospel, guidance for daily life & ministry, open doors and opportunities
2) Deepening of relationships we have with people here and opportunities to witness and disciple
3) Continue to pray for Brewers visas to get processed, for Phil's health - some progress but still waiting for some tests
4) Christian and Julia - continued growth, health and protection, the process of their growing, development and learning, wisdom for us to rear them in the "nurture and admonition of the Lord"
5) Strength and wisdom for each day, faithfulness to do all that God asks, boldness, understanding, compassion and love