Fasting Monday

As I shared on Sunday, I am going to post the emails I sent regarding fasting in case you chose to continue to fast this week. Here is Monday's email from January 12th:

Hey New Life Family!

First of all I know I don’t have everyone’s email address so please forward this to everyone you can think of. Thanks in advance for doing that!

What a great Sunday! Pastor Garth did an amazing job of sharing from his life’s adventure how God has a specific plan for each one of us and that we should be aiming for that plan through our Core Values, Spiritual Gifts and Past Experiences. Great Job Pastor Garth!!!

Then on Sunday night, we continued down this road of “Becoming” who God wants us to be and understanding how when things come our way to accept that they are there, deal with them in the right attitude and with the right actions. If we do that, then in the midst of our chaotic world we will have clarity on what to do. Let’s just say that there were some lives altered Sunday night towards a new direction that will impact so many lives that we cannot even begin to fathom the number of people who will be affected by decisions made that night!!!!

As I have been reflecting on yesterday’s events and on other things today, something has become visible to my eyes that I had not seen before now.

Let me first share about the life of Queen Esther and what she did.
Esther was the queen of Persia and also a Jew. She found out through her uncle, Mordecai that there was a massive plot to annihilate her people. She was planning to go to the king, unannounced, and find his favor and save her people. Going unannounced meant that she could die!

This is what she asked of all the Jews. “Go and gather all the Jews of Susa and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day.
My maids will do the same. And then, though it is against the law, I will go in to see the king. If I must die, I must die.” – Esther 4:16-17

The reaction of the king? He gave the Jews the opportunity to fight and save their lives if they were attacked and the man, Haman, who had ordered the attack, was hung on a gallows set up for Mordecai. The Jews were saved!!!!!! Because of the people joining in prayer and fasting!

Jesus even said that there are some things that are not defeated, or answered without prayer and fasting!

All that is said to request of all of you, that are a part of New Life Community Church, to come this Sunday, January 18th and present all your prayer requests and needs to God. All your requests for yourself, your loved ones, your friends, whoever! All your financial requests, physical healing requests, emotional breakthrough requests, relational healing or restoration requests, spiritual battle requests, anything!!!

Bring it to Sunday January 18th at the AM service. At the end of the AM service we will pray for those needs, believe for God’s answers, and lastly I am asking everyone to begin a 5/6 day fast today or tomorrow (Monday/Tuesday – Saturday).

Remove something from your routine, replace it with God. Take something that you "have to have" each day and instead "have" more of God in that time period. Every fast has to have a spiritual purpose, and this purpose that you will have will be none other than seeing God answer our request!

I am believing for miracles to take place, homes to be healed, emotions restored, finances to be freed! I know that God has been God longer than you have been you! Take a leap out into the world of faith and trust and combine it with fasting for these 5/6 days! You will begin to simply get a taste of who God is and what he has for you and you will never want anything else to "eat" but what he has to offer!!

There are some things that are not defeated, overcome, or beaten without fasting! It is something that we, as follower of Jesus, must not forget to do in our lives!! It brings us closer to God. The closer you are to someone the easier it is to hear what they are saying!!

So remember, bring ALL your needs, and requests on Sunday, January 18th and we’ll pray for them, and begin fasting the rest of the week and we’
ll see his breakthrough and victory happen!!!!!

I love you all and know that 2009 is the best year that we will ever see in our lives!!!
Pastor David

I hope that this challenges you to take fasting on as a regular part of your journey with Jesus! It will make an unbelievable difference in your life!!!