PURSUING JESUS — MID YEAR FAST
As Christians, our greatest pursuit should be Jesus Himself. He invites us to come to Him, where “rivers of living water” flow. Yet too often, we find ourselves chasing the things of this world - or even the things Jesus gives, like peace, hope, and joy rather than pursuing Him.
Our focus is meant to be Him alone. When we seek Jesus first, we discover that everything else flows from that place. As He said, “Seek first the kingdom of God, and all these things will be added to you.”
Let’s come together as a church family over these upcoming three weeks, from June 1st to 21st, and pursue Jesus. During this time let’s pray, fast, worship, and read the word through our devotional.groups.
PRAYER
During these three weeks, we are encouraging everyone to join together in prayer, worship, and fasting. Fasting without prayer is simply a diet, so take time to pray. Pursue Jesus in prayer. Pray without ceasing. When you feel hunger arise, turn to prayer instead of food.
Fasting amplifies our prayers as we submit our flesh and our spirit to Him, believing that God will respond. He promises, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” — Jeremiah 29:13 (NIV)
WORSHIP
Take time to worship Jesus afresh. Go deeper in His presence and glorify Him.
Follow the link below to our website, where you can find a Spotify playlist with songs to help lead you into His presence.
DEVOTIONAL
We have created a devotional that we can walk through together as a church over these three weeks. Each week carries a different theme: Seek Jesus, Surrender to Jesus, and Bring a Sacrifice of Worship to Jesus.
You can collect a physical copy at church, or access each week’s devotional on the YouVersion app using the buttons below. The YouVersion can be done with friends in community. A great idea for Connect Groups.
FASTING
During this time, we are encouraging our whole church to join in fasting from June 1–18, concluding at the launch of our Worship Weekend. Fasting is a powerful practice of denying ourselves to seek after Jesus. Instead of hungering for food, let us hunger for Him.
SUGGESTIONS FOR FASTING
Fasting is a powerful practice that Jesus encourages, and it draws us closer to Him. In its simplest form, fasting is abstaining from food. While some may choose to step back from things like technology or social media, biblical fasting is primarily about denying ourselves food.
You may choose to fast one meal per day; a common practice is fasting until sundown. Ultimately, you should decide what kind of fast you will undertake and for how long. Please also consider consulting a medical professional if needed, to ensure your fasting approach is appropriate for your health.