Prayer and Fasting for Sam May

[Keith Underwood]

Some folks mentioned that we should start a fast for Sam May's healing.  Of course prayer and fasting is a biblical way to deny ourselves and focus on God.  I have attached a few links here that discuss fasting in more detail and with more theological soundness than I can attempt to explain. 

 

http://www.godsquad.com/prayer/prayerandfast.htm

 

Of course fasting is not a weight-loss plan and it should not be some big religious display either. I think of fasting as something more intimate and personal between the believer and God.  Fasting is a way of touching the hem of Jesus' garment.  Of course that doesn't preclude us from fasting together as a church, but with folks being at different places in their faith and at various places in their own lives, NO ONE SHOULD FEEL PRESSURED TO PARTICIPATE.    

 

Fasting is not an "all or none" proposition either. Some of you may have heard about or participated in what is commonly referred to as a "Daniel Fast."  Daniel 10:2-3 "In those days Daniel was mourning three full weeks.  I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled."  A Daniel Fast is great way for folks with diabetes or hypoglycemia to participate. (consult your doctor for advice.)

 

http://daniel-fast.com/about.html

As Elmer Towns says,"Fasting for an answer is similar to prayer. Sometimes you can pray once in an act of faith, and God hears and answers. On other occasions you must continuously ask in faith before an answer will come. We need to pray often and fast continually to build up our faith and our spiritual character."

Sam has a tough week coming with surgeries,etc.  Instead of fasting in shifts with assigned times and days, please consider adding some level of fasting to your prayer life everyday until Sam is healed.  God will move on Sam's behalf and you will be blessed by the experience.  We know that God will hear us when we agree in prayer. Lift up Sam and the entire May family. 

 

Be determined to see God act.  As Ryan said this morning, thank goodness our God is bigger than the limitations of the doctors knowledge.  Pray with expectation and spend some time in the bible. Your faith will increase through the reading of scripture.   Take a look at James 5:13-18 and let your faith come alive with the hope that God will answer your prayers.  Elijah prayed for the rain to stop and he prayed again for the rain to fall.  God heard him both times.

 

Please join the Pray for Sam May Facebook group and post your thoughts for Sam and the family.  Feel free to post here on the Netgroups.cc as well. http://www.facebook.com/srch.php?nm=sam+may#!/group.php?gid=3470965...

 

 

 

[Jenifer Riddle]

So we don't have to officially sign up for this, its just something we are doing on our own as we feel led, right?

[Keith Underwood]

Correct, Jennifer. I became a little conflicted when I started looking at setting schedules and having sign up lists. It started to feel somewhat "legalistic" to me and I was concerned that the flavor of the fast would be compromised if we were focused on the "when" instead of the "what". It might be a good idea for individual Net Groups to fast together or if people want to pair up for support. I have nothing personal against officially organized fast, but I think there is something to be said for fasting in secret.

[Jenifer Riddle]

I was thinking the same (of fasting in secret). Someone mentioned to me last night that there would be a signup sheet and I didnt know if that was still the deal. Thanks for posting this info.