21 Days of Purpose FAQ
21 Days of Purpose | January 7th-27th
“Purpose with Every Step I Take”
“So, I run with purpose in every step. I am not just shadow boxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should…”
I Corinthians 9:26-27 (NLT)
Prayer Times:
7:14 AM Every Morning Privately
7:14 PM – 8:15 PM Every Night Corporately
Why 7:14? Over the last few years as we have been completing our new building and as we launch into new endeavors, we desire the Lord to bless this house and the work of our hand. Therefore, we humble ourselves before the Lord, pray, and seek his face, asking for His blessing upon Purpose House and your personal house. May the Lord bless us indeed!
11 So Solomon finished the Temple of the Lord, as well as the royal palace. He completed everything he had planned to do in the construction of the Temple and the palace. 12 Then one night the Lord appeared to Solomon and said,
“I have heard your prayer and have chosen this Temple as the place for making sacrifices. 13 At times I might shut up the heavens so that no rain falls, or command grasshoppers to devour your crops, or send plagues among you. 14 Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. 15 My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. 16 For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart. (2 Chronicles 7:11-16 NLT)
According to the Bible, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast. Biblical fasting takes discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline will bring you rewards in Heaven, says Matthew 6.
When you give God your first through fasting, prayer and giving at the beginning of the year, you set the course for the entire year. This year we want every step to be driven with purpose. We cannot leave the blessings of the Lord, direction for our lives, and the salvation of our communities to chance. We must purpose to do these things. We are a church on Purpose!
This is the reason that Purpose House sets apart 21 days in the first month of the year to consecrate ourselves individually and corporately, it sets our course for the entire year. Through our giving, praying, and fasting; God has blessed this congregation immensely. I say thank you for joining us on this journey as we step into this new year with purpose. Remember, that what we do in private, God will openly reward us (Matthew 6:6)!
If this is your first time joining in with us or you need some refreshing, listed below are some answers to frequently asked questions regarding prayer and fasting!
Common Questions on Prayer:
Why Should I Pray? For Christians praying is like breathing, it easier to do it than to not do it.
Prayer is a form of serving God (Luke 2:36-38).
We pray because God commanded it (Phil 4:6-7).
Prayer is exemplified for us by Christ and the early church
We pray in preparation for major decisions (Luke 6:12-13).
We pray to overcome demonic barriers (Matthew 17:14-21).
We pray to gather workers for the spiritual harvest (Luke 10:2).
We pray to gain strength to overcome temptation (Matthew 26:41)
We pray to obtain the means of strengthening others spiritually (Ephesians 6:18-19).
We pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
We ask that you attend as many of the corporate prayer sessions as possible. Each morning set a reminder in your phone to pray at 7:14 am- pray for our church to experience the power and presence of God.
Where Do We Pray? We pray in the Main Auditorium. There will be music playing and the lights will be dimmed. We try to create an atmosphere that allows for a worshipful experience while you pray.
Who will I Be Praying With? You will be praying by yourself in the mornings, and with the gathered church body in the evenings.
How Long are the Prayer times? Our evening sessions typically run one hour; you are welcome to continue to pray if you like. There will be prayer guides at the altar area to assist and give you direction in praying. The morning prayer time is at your discretion.
What is corporate prayer? These are prayer times that everyone in the church is invited to join in. Often, these have times of worship, prayer leaders, and prayer teams to pray for needs.
What is the purpose of the crosses and response tables at the altar? We light a candle to lift others, praying the Lord will light their candle (Psalm 18:28; Proverbs 20:27) We take communion to remember (Luke 22:19-20). We go to the cross to place our areas of weakness (Colossians 3:13-15). (At the cross if you want others to pray for your need place your card with the writing facing outward. Should you choose to keep it between you and the Lord, place the card with the writing towards the cross.)
When are the corporate prayer times? During the month of January, we will have corporate prayer at 7:14pm every night starting January 7th and concluding on January 27th.
Common Questions on Fasting:
Why should I fast?
Are you in need of healing or a miracle?
Do you need the tender touch of God in your life?
Is there a dream inside you that only He can make possible?
Are you in need of a fresh encounter?
Do you desire a deeper, more intimate, and powerful relationship with the Lord?
Are you desiring to know the heart of God?
Do you need to be free from bondages that have been holding you hostage?
Is there a friend or loved one that needs Salvation?
Do you desire to know God’s will for your life?
Biblical Fasting Focus
1 TIMOTHY 2:1-2 “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.”
ROMANS 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service.”
MATTHEW 6:33 “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.”
ISAIAH 58:6 “[Is] not this the fast that I have chosen to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?”
This is a great promise, from the book of Isaiah, it proclaims that the chosen fast will “undo the heavy burdens and let the oppressed go free.” We are living in tough times and we know that so many people are under serious burdens. As we come together to fast and pray, we believe that burdens will be lifted and that blessings will be released into your life!
We encourage you to seek the Lord in prayer and let your decisions about your biblical fasting come from the Lord. Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer. We believe that, as we pray and seek God and give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year (Matthew 6:33)!
Types of Fasts
Full Fast Drink only liquids (you establish the number of days).
The Daniel Fast Eat no meat, no sweets, and no bread. Drink water and juice. Eat fruits and vegetables. (Please see attached documentation for more information on the Daniel Fast)
Helpful Sites:
http://www.bible-reading.com/bible-plan.html
http://www.freedomyou.com/fasting_book/fasting%20tips.htm
3-Day Fast this fast can be a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.
Partial Fast A partial fast is from 6:00 am to 3:00 pm or from sunup to sundown. You can select from three types of fasting —a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.
Scripture References for Fasting: Matthew 6:16-18, Matthew 9:14-15, Luke 18:9-14
Relation to Prayer and Reading of the Word: 1 Samuel 1:6-8, 17-18, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3, 20, Joel 2:12, Luke 2:37, Acts 10:30, Acts 13:2
Corporate Fasting: 1 Samuel 7:5-6, Ezra 8:21-23, Nehemiah 9:1-3, Joel 2:15-16, Jonah 3:5-10, Acts 27:33-37
How to Begin – Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.
Preparing Spiritually- Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).
Deciding What to Fast -The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.
Deciding How Long – You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow. I remind you that there is no condemnation or judgment on the part of the church, regarding your personal choice.
What to Expect – When you fast your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.
How to End – Don’t overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.
Remember that it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58, Jeremiah 14:12, 1 Corinthians 8:8). May God greatly bless you as you fast and pray!
Other common questions about fasting:
> What if I have a medical condition?
Consult your doctor before starting any fast. Decide together what is possible. If your health condition prohibits you from fasting food, try fasting something else and concentrate on prayer and Bible study. God knows your heart.
> I forgot and ate something that wasn’t on my fast; do I need to start again? No, think of fasting as a marathon, rather than a sprint. Don’t give up! If you fall, get up and keep trying. Conquering “king stomach” is difficult, but you’ll make it.
> Do I continue to exercise while fasting? For most people moderate exercise is OK. But it is best to always consult a doctor about fasting and exercise. If you are on a complete fast, you may not have the energy for exercise.
> What if I have a manual labor job? If you have a job that requires you to expend a lot of physical energy, you may want to consider a full fast for one to three days or make your fast a partial fast that allows you to receive enough nutrition to perform your job.
> Can my husband and I be intimate during our fast? Read I Corinthians 7:2-5, especially verse 5, which says, “do not deprive one another (of sexual relations) EXCEPT WITH CONSENT, for a time; that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer.” So, the answer is yes. Scripture allows for the couple to decide the answer to this mutually for the purpose of fasting and prayer, BUT it must be with mutual consent.
FAST AS A SPIRITUAL COMMITMENT / BE SPECIFIC
Fasting involves a spiritual commitment to God. Be clear and follow the guidelines of your commitment. “Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself” (Daniel 1:8).
Before beginning a fast, write down a plan and make a verbal commitment to the Lord.
When you approach your fast with determination and a clear goal, you will be less likely to waiver in weak moments.