Fasting

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that Jesus invites all believers to practice. Fasting is when we deny ourselves physical food for a period of time in order to devote ourselves to prayer. By denying ourselves food, we become more acutely aware of a physical need. We submit that physical need to Him in order to acknowledge a more important spiritual need - our need for Him.

We are inviting all of Northview to join us in fasting because we want God to do a work in us. We want his vision to become our vision for our lives and for our church.

Jesus taught us that there are some things that are only possible when we fast and pray. (Matthew 17:21)

On February 26th, many people will have decided to join in fasting for the week. In observance of the first day of the week of prayer and fasting, NorthBrew will be closed on January 26th in order to encourage people participation in the fast. NorthBrew will be back to normal operation on February 2nd!

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that Jesus invites all believers to practice. Fasting is when we deny ourselves physical food for a period of time in order to devote ourselves to prayer. By denying ourselves food, we become more acutely aware of a physical need. We submit that physical need to Him in order to acknowledge a more important spiritual need - our need for Him.

We are inviting all of Northview to join us in fasting because we want God to do a work in us. We want his vision to become our vision for our lives and for our church.

Jesus taught us that there are some things that are only possible when we fast and pray. (Matthew 17:21)

If your kids are older, you may decide to encourage them to fast as well. Be mindful of the physical demands of their day - school, sports, etc. - and that their bodies may require a higher calorie intake if they are to participate safely in these types of activities. Your child’s fast may look different than yours, and that is OK! For example, rather than fasting for several days in a row, an older child might consider fasting lunch at school and using that time to pray or read scripture.

Make sure that your week of prayer and fasting is prayer-focused. If we deprive ourselves of food but don’t pray, we’re not fasting; we’re just dieting. Find ways to spend time in prayer outside of your normal prayer rhythms. Consider praying during meal times at home or at work. If you get breaks at work or school, consider going for a walk and using that time to pray.

Fasting is mentioned more than 70 times in the Bible! Fasting is mentioned as a way to seek God's wisdom (Acts 14:23), to seek God's power for protection (Ezra 8:21-23), to seek God's power for victory (Judges 20:26), to seek God's favor in desperate situations (Esther 4:16), and simply to worship God (Luke 2:37) Jesus taught us that there are some things that are only possible when we fast and pray. (Matthew 17:21)

Each weekday January 26 - February 1st, we will gather from 6:00am to 7:00am in the Worship Center to pray together as a church. These gatherings will include a brief time of worship, a short teaching, individual prayer time, and a time of focused group prayer.

On Saturday February 2nd we will gather at 8:00am for prayer, and will break fast together with a meal afterward.

Young kids have different physical needs than adults and should continue to eat as usual during your fast. Continue to prepare meals for them and have meal times together, taking the opportunity to explain to them why you are fasting and encouraging them that one day they can participate in this spiritual discipline as well.

We encourage anyone who has health concerns to consult a doctor or medical professional before fasting. Certain people may have medical conditions that make fasting difficult or impossible. Make sure to be proactive to get all the information you need before the week of prayer and fasting so that you can determine what’s right for you.

It’s important to prayerfully determine your fasting plan ahead of time. Don’t wait until the day before and make a last-minute decision. Pray about what kind of fast God is asking you to do, determine in your heart to commit to that plan. Put your plan in writing so you can remind yourself of your commitment, and tell someone else about your plan so they can encourage you during the week.

Fasting is a spiritual discipline that Jesus calls us all to. As believers, we can choose to fast anytime we’d like, but it’s not often we get the opportunity to fast along with a large group of other believers seeking the Lord together. We encourage you to do whatever you can to participate at some level with our week of prayer and fasting!