Good afternoon, CVC.
This past Spring we fasted together throughout the Lenten season. Each Wednesday we shared a devotional and asked that you consider joining others in the church as we fasted in preparation for Good Friday and Easter.
It was good. It was restorative. And I believe that setting this time aside and our flesh aside in order to experience God more fully is never wasted.
So, our elders and pastors are calling on our church to fast once again. I think that this will become a normal rhythm of our church—fasting in the Spring as we prepare for Easter and fasting in the Fall as we prepare for our night of prayer. Here is the plan along with a list of resources.
The Plan:
Please take a look at these helpful resources:
Week 1 (Wednesday, October 22nd)
- We’ll release a blog post HERE on Tuesday (tomorrow) that will give you some prayer prompts for your fast on Wednesday.
- We’ll focus our time this week on prayers for the lost in addition to preparing our hearts for November 5th. We’re starting here because we want to follow Jesus’ example by being concerned about all suffering, but being most concerned about eternal suffering.
Week 2 (Wednesday, October 29th)
- We’ll release another blog post that week that will give some prayer prompts and guidance for the week.
- We’ll focus our time on asking the Lord to help us suffer well so that others might see our faith and the beauty of Christ as sufficient.
Week 3 (Monday-Wednesday, November 3rd-5th)
- On this final week, we’re going to ask people to consider expanding their fast for a few days.
- Please make sure to check our “Tips for Fasting” to ensure that you’re doing this safely.
- We’ll release the blog post at cvconline.org/blog on Sunday evening.
- This week we’ll be focused on confession of sin and prayer for healing.
Why Fast?
In my letter to the church this past Spring, I listed 5 biblical reason to fast. Here they are.
- To humble ourselves before God (Ezra 8:21) – Fasting reminds us of our need to be brought low before Him.
- To seek direction and guidance (Acts 13:2-3) – The early church fasted, and God directed them to send Paul and Barnabas into the mission field.
- To return to God (Joel 2:12) – Fasting is often an act of repentance, a turning of our whole hearts back to Him.
- To seek God more deeply (Luke 2:37) – The prophetess Anna fasted as part of her lifelong worship.
- To mourn (2 Samuel 1:12) – Fasting is a response to grief and deep sorrow.
- To prepare for ministry (Matthew 4:2) – Jesus fasted before launching into public ministry.
- To increase the effectiveness of our prayers (Ezra 8:23) – The people fasted and God listened.
While you may choose any of these reasons to fast, I’m specifically asking that we focus on that 7th one as we prepare to pray over 3 incredibly weighty things on November 5th. Our evening will be divided into 3 sections of prayer. The first will be prayer for the souls of those who do not yet know Jesus. Secondly, we’ll pray that we, as the church and as individuals will suffer well, and finally we will be inviting those who are sick to experience the prayers of the elders in accordance with James chapter 5.
James is very clear:
1. These prayers for healing ought to be done in faith.
“And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick.” Jas 5:15a.
I’m not sure how much faith I have. I wish there was some sort of a meter so that I could see how I was doing. Maybe I’d be too disappointed. Nonetheless, some of the focus of my prayers and study during my fasting (and I hope yours as well) will be on increased faith in the power of God to heal.
2. The power of prayer is connected to some degree to individual holiness.
“The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Jas 5:16.
Sin has an impact on the effectiveness of our prayers. Fasting is an excellent way to take time to ask the Lord to search us and convict us of sin so that we can follow through on repentance.
What Should I Expect?
When we fast and pray, it’s natural to come with expectations—expectations of healing, clarity, or spiritual renewal. And God often does move in those ways. But it’s important to remember that fasting is not a formula to get what we want; it’s a posture that draws us near to the One we need.
Sometimes God answers our prayers in unmistakable ways. Other times, He works quietly, beneath the surface, shaping our hearts long before He changes our circumstances. There may be moments of spiritual joy and clarity, and there may also be moments of weakness, hunger, or frustration. Both are invitations to depend on Him more deeply. Fasting exposes how much we rely on things other than God—and invites us to find our strength and satisfaction in Him alone.
We’re not guaranteed that God will answer every prayer in the way or timing we hope for. What we are guaranteed is His presence. He hears. He sees. He responds according to His perfect wisdom and love. Our responsibility is obedience—taking steps of faith, humbling ourselves, and trusting Him with the results.
So as we enter this fast, expect to meet with God. Expect Him to refine, to reveal, and to remind you of His goodness. Expect to grow in faith even if your situation doesn’t change right away. And above all, expect that every act of surrender—every skipped meal, every whispered prayer, every quiet moment of worship—matters to the heart of your Father in heaven.
Live New,
Pastor Joe
