By: Pastor Zane Sporleder
As some of us prepare to fast, I wanted to give some resources and prompts to help guide our time. I hope they prove helpful but not restrictive as you seek God through prayer and fasting.
Friday: Mourning
I’d encourage you to spend the majority of the day mourning the sin and suffering in your life, and in the world around you. Fasting today can act as a way of identifying with pain.
Prayer regarding sin:
Come, Blessed Spirit, author of all grace and consolation. Show me my sin in all its worst colors, that I may feel an unwavering hatred of it. Show me the majesty and mercy of God, in such a way that my heart will be alarmed and melted. Convince me, oh, you Blessed Spirit, of sin, righteousness, and repentance. Show me that I have undone myself, but that my help is found in God alone, and God through Christ, in whom he alone will extend compassion and help to me. Show me the power of Christ to save! I teach my faith to see him, extended on the cross, arms, open wide, with a pierced, bleeding side, tell me what room is in his heart for me. May I know what it is to have my whole heart subdued by love, so subdued as to be crucified, with Christ, to be dead to sin, and dead to the world, but alive to God through Jesus Christ. May I confide in his power and love. May I commit my spirit to him without reserve. May I bear his image, observe his loss, and pursue his service. And through time in eternity, may I remain a monument of power of the gospel, and a trophy of his victorious grace. Oh, blessed God, if there’s any secret sin yet lurking in my soul, anything, I have not, sincerely renounced, show me and tear it out of my heart - even if it has shot its roots ever so deep, and wrapped them all around, so every nerve would be pain by the separation. Tear it away, Lord, by your graciously severe hand. By degree, by speed, perfect what is still lacking in my faith. Accomplish in me all the good pleasure of your goodness. Enrich me, heavenly father, with all the grace of your spirit. For me into the complete image of your dear son. And then, for his sake, come to me, and manifest your gracious presence in my soul, until it is ripened for glory. Amen. – Philip Doddridge.
Prayer regarding suffering:
Gracious Lord! Nothing can reconcile us to you better than to humbly and patiently learn obedience in the school of suffering. We learn by knowing that Jesus, though you are the Son of God, in the eternity of your nature you were pleased in your human nature to learn obedience by the things which you suffered. Precious Jesus! To your love and your grace, be all praise and glory! Nothing can reconcile us to you better than to humbly impatiently, learn obedience in the school of suffering. We learn by knowing that Jesus, though you are the son of God, and eternity of your nature, you were pleased in your human nature to learn obedience by the things which you suffered. Precious Jesus! To your love, and your grace, we all praise and glory. Under your banner of love alone we are more than conquerors. Come then, Blessed Lord, in all your faithfulness. I desire only you. With my soul, I have desired you in the night. And now, with the first dawn of the day, I seek you early. Surely, when you come, as I know, you will come, you will indeed and in truth be the tree of life. My soul is now opened by you to meet you. So, Lord, show me your person, glory, grace, and love, and fill every portion of my heart. As I wait for your coming, I pray that my view of your grace and sense of my own unworthiness may melt my whole soul before you and your presence. And how refreshing it is to know that, “since the children are sharers in flesh and blood, you also yourself likewise took part in the same things.” so when my poor heart is afflicted, when Satan storms, or the world frowns, when I suffer sickness, or when all your waves and storms seem to go over me, what relief it is, to know that you, Jesus, see me. And that you care! So help me, Lord, to look to you, and remember you. And oh! That blessed scripture: “in all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them. And his love, and in his pity, he redeemed them; he bore them and carried them all the days of old period.” Amen. – Robert Hawker
Readings: Exodus ch.20, Matthew ch.5-7
Prayer prompts:
Ask the Lord to reveal sin in your life
Mourn and repent of known sin
Recall Jesus’ perfect obedience to the law on our behalf and his grace to save (2 Corinthians 5:21)
Ask the Lord to reveal significant suffering we’ve had to endure
Mourn the suffering
Recall Jesus’ suffering on our behalf and his empathic nature (Hebrews 4:5, Isaiah 53)
Ask the Lord to help you forgive and seek reconciliation for sin and suffering where applicable
Ask the Lord to bring to mind those in your life (family, church, friends, neighbors, etc) struggling with sin and suffering
Pray on their behalf
Recall the evils of this world and pray for Jesus to come and restore all things
Saturday: Guidance
I’d encourage you to spend the majority of the day seeking direction and wisdom from God for you, your family, and God’s people. Fasting today can act as a reminder of your need for God and his word more than earthly provision.
Prayer regarding guidance:
Lord, I submit myself and all that I have to serve you. I admit that I give you only with is your own to begin with. Make me a faithful steward for my great Lord, I beg you. And do not let me consider my own interests, those opposing yours. I adore you, God of all grace! Let me feel a love for others rise in my soul. Open my heart so I may reach out to serve. Help me to be fair and thankful in determining what is my own share - The portion you intend for me and my family. For the rest, help me to faithfully, cheerfully, and wisely distribute your bounty to those who need it most. Guide my hand, ever-merciful Father! I am honored to be your instrument. And if it is your gracious will, would you also multiply the seed sown and prosper me in order that I may have even more to give to those in need? And then would you lead me on to the place of unlimited plenty and compassion, where I may see many that I had helped on earth. And if it is your will also many of those whom I introduce to saving faith. They will entertain me in their home of glory! In time and eternity, Lord, accept the praise of all, through Jesus Christ, at whose feet I would bow. And in the end, after I have run my course, I will die at his feet, worshiping him then with sincere humility and gratitude as if for the first time. Amen. - Philip Doddridge
Readings: Philippians ch, Romans ch12, Acts 13:1-3, Acts 14:21-25
Prayer prompts:
Recall the many ways God has been gracious to you
Ask God to remind you of ways in which he has sovereignly provided for you in the past
Praise him for his goodness
Ask God to reveal your gifts and talents
Ask God for clarity in how to use your gifts to build up the body and share your faith
Pray for God to establish your steps and guide you to honor him most fully
Pray for God’s providence to guide you into a fruitful and joyful season
Recall the many ways God has blessed you and others through his church
Ask God to reveal ways he’s used you to bless and build up his church
Praise him for his goodness
Pray that God would allow his church to be a city set on a hill. To be salt and light.
Ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom for The Vine Church, it’s leaders and members
Pray for God to establish our steps and guide us to honor him most fully
Pray for God’s providence to guide us into a fruitful and joyful season
Ask the Lord to bring to mind churches to pray for in our region and around the world
Pray for the Gospel to advance in our nation and around the world
Pray for Christ return quickly and make all things new
Additional resources on fasting:
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/what-is-the-purpose-of-fasting
https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/fasting-for-beginners
https://www.desiringgod.org/interviews/why-do-christians-fast
https://thevinenw.com/blog (Scroll down to Anna's Blog on Lent)