The Benefit of Prayer and Fasting

Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage. Matthew 2:8(b) (NRSV)

Today is the Day of Epiphany. This is the day on the Christian calendar when we remember the wise men seeking (and finding) Christ. Today, we pause and give thanks to God for being seek-able and available to the world. We can know and see Christ! That’s good news.
Prayer and fasting are ways that we continue to seek Christ. The benefit that comes from these times is that we gain clarity about who God is and about what God is saying and doing in our lives and in our world. Today is day four of our fast and I don’t know about you, but I am already hearing and seeing Christ more clearly. This week our prayer focus is the World, so we are focusing our attention on global issues. We have asked everyone to do the following:
 
Select a global issue for which to pray.
Select one country/location to pray for specifically.
Choose a person or family that you know, who either lives in another country or was born in another country for which to pray.

I was quite moved on this morning’s prayer call by hearing all the different places and issues for which members in our community are praying this week. Here’s a quick rundown: Ukraine, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Haiti, China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, Thailand, India, Korea, Israel, Jerusalem, South Africa, Honduras, South America, and USA just to name a few. The issues on our hearts this week include: the COVID-19 pandemic, world peace, world hunger, injustice and racism, protection of women and girls, cyber security concerns, housing, and education, again just to name a few.

I am convinced that the more people who join in with this corporate time of prayer and fasting the more powerful our experience will be. Don’t let anything keep you from joining us and invite others as well. You may need to modify the times or ways that you fast, and that’s okay. What matters most is that we continue becoming.better.together. Our prayer calls are from 7-7:15am each Monday-Friday of the fast. Call 605.313.4162, Access code 701912#

Loving and praying for you,
Pastor Danielle