A Season of Increased Pursuit of God through Prayer, Fasting, & Abstaining
Wednesday, February 22, 2023 – Saturday, April 8, 2023
40 Days of Prayer Challenge has three main elements.
- Increased commitment to prayer.
- Periodically fasting from food and abstaining from distractions.
- Connecting regularly with a small community of brothers or sisters in Christ.
KCC wants to form disciples of Jesus who are passionate worshipers. God has opened our eyes to His glory so we want to live to delight in Him. Historically the church has practiced Lent as a season of increased prayer, fasting, and discipline to prepare for remembering Christ’s death on Good Friday and His resurrection on Easter Sunday. The forty days of Lent (not counting Sundays) look back to Jesus’ forty days of fasting in the wilderness in preparation for His ministry of preaching, healing, and training disciples. There is nothing in the scriptures that requires us to practice Lent. If you choose not to participate in the 40 Day Prayer Challenge, nobody is calling into question your love for God. However, Lent can be a spiritually beneficial practice if our heart is to go deeper in our relationship with God. Because of our faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross, we already have God’s favor on the basis of His free gift! The spiritual disciplines are given to us to stoke our spiritual fervor, not to earn God’s favor.
Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. Romans 12:11
- Increased commitment to prayer.
This is a time not just to fast, but to feast on God through prayer and His Word. Commit to a daily time of prayer and scripture meditation, with a minimum of 20 minutes in prayer (half of that time being silent prayer), and at least 20 minutes in reading and meditating on scripture. Many people have already chosen a pathway of scripture reading for the year, so you can continue with that plan. If you do not have a Bible reading plan already, read the devotional Journey to the Cross, by Will Walker and Kendal Haug or Journey to the Cross: A 40 Day Lenten Devotional, by Paul Tripp. You must purchase the devotional on your own. Or you can use a free 40 day reading plan YouVersion Bible app.
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
- Periodically fasting from food and abstaining from worldly distractions.
We are whole persons, with our bodies, spirits, and emotions all intertwined in a complex union. How we treat our bodies can affect our spiritual and emotional health in surprising and subtle ways. These fasting and abstaining disciplines are aimed at helping us detach from the world and learn to say “no” to our flesh so we can hear from God and say “yes” to the Holy Spirit.
Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body. 1 Corinthians 6:19–20.
- Practice regular, intense exercise (everyone will define this differently)
- Get a full night’s sleep (at least seven hours is recommended)
- Abstain from desserts and sweets
- Abstain from eating between meals
- Abstain from soda or sweet drinks (white milk, black coffee, and black tea are permissible)
- Abstain from video games
- Abstain from watching TV and movies alone, in excess, or altogether
- Abstain from non-essential material purchases
- Only listen to music that lifts the soul to God
- Only use the computer for work, school, or essential tasks (e.g., paying bills).
- Only use mobile devices for essential communications; cut out non-essential texting, app, and internet use.
- Take Tuesdays and Fridays as days of fasting. (Options: 1. Eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal, 2. Complete fast for 24 hours, 3. A combination.)
- Consider doing all of the above, or starting out with 3-5 of the suggestions above.*
*Many of these ideas are borrowed from exodus90.com/how-lent-works. They borrowed them from the saints throughout church history.
- Connecting regularly with a small community of brothers or sisters in Christ.
None of us should think that we can do this alone. God designed us to depend on Him and one another in the family of faith. During the 40 Days of Prayer Challenge you will be in a group of 5-7 people of the same sex to encourage and hold one other accountable. If you’re in a Gospel Life Group or Discipleship Group your 40 Days of Prayer Challenge group will ideally overlap.
Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Romans 12:10
As a 40 Days of Prayer Challenge group you will:
- Get together for prayer at least two times during the 40 Days (ie: Lent season)
- Share your 40 Days of Prayer Challenge plan with the group.
- Message over the Church Center App (or whatever mode of communication you prefer) at least once a week a short answer to these four questions:
- 1. What are you learning about the Lord?
- 2. What are you learning about yourself?
- 3 What is the most challenging this week? (encourage and pray for one another)
- 4. What is the most encouraging this week? (rejoice together)
Yes, this is called a challenge for a reason. It may seem difficult and burdensome at first. But with practice, we hope the Lord meets you in the quiet and solitude and lifts your burdens from you.
If you would like to participate in the 40 Days of Prayer Challenge and want help getting into a small group for accountability and encouragement, we’d love to help. Sign up by February 19 by clicking the link below.