Step of faith

Just one look at what’s going on around us is enough to make one want to weep. Economic numbers may be up but the moral and values indices are way down low. What was it the CBCP said – moral bankruptcy?

I’m no saint and I’m no preacher, but even a sinner like me can tell that we – ALL of us – need a change from within. I won’t use the term “moral recovery” because it has been tainted, but there is an urgent need, beyond slogans and sound bytes, to look within ourselves and start the process of change there.

Leading up to the 30th anniversary of our church, Greenhills Christian Fellowship, the church leadership encouraged us to hold a week of fasting and prayer. Last Sunday we got a set of guidelines that I found very helpful in understanding and maximizing this process of prayer and fasting, which I must admit I don’t recall ever having done before.

As all of Christendom enters into Lent, let me share these guidelines and maybe we can each take a little step of faith, in faith.

1. Pray and ask God’s leading regarding what type of fasting you will conduct.

A regular fast: Traditionally, a regular fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a regular fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, “After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry.” This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.

A partial fast or abstention: This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or abstaining from certain types of food for a period of time. Daniel 10:2-3 says, “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.”

A full fast: These fasts are complete – no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: “For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.

2. Determine a regular schedule for prayer and meditation during the period of fasting. Set a regular time during this period to pray for the concerns of the church. Pray for personal revival and God’s leading regarding your involvement in the ministries of the church. Pray for the particular areas of your life God is calling you to address.

3. Seek fellowship and accountability. Encourage fellow believers in this endeavor to join you for support and accountability. We encourage you to attend regular worship services.

4. Step out in faith! Having prayed, set the period and made yourself accountable, step out in faith and begin your fasting. Open your heart to God’s leading towards this new adventure in your Christian life. May you experience personal revival, and be God’s instrument for revival among his people as well.