Fasting Together

3 p.m. (End of 30 Hour Famine)

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 20:00:33 +0000

Scripture: Micah 6:6-8
We begin to see in this passage that we can come before God with a lot of good stuff, and follow a lot of religious rules and traditions, but still miss out on growing in our relationship with God and loving others.
What were some of the challenges you faced during the fast?
What were some of the issues, sin, or distractions that you felt like God helped you to see in your life?
What are some of the things you were treasuring above God?
What did you learn about the amount of food you consume?
What did you learn and see about your attitudes towards Christmas and Christmas presents?

What were some things you learned, saw for the first time, experienced, or felt in your relationship with God during the fast?
What did you learn about yourself during the fast?
Did you notice anything interesting about how much you consume and how much Christmas tends to be about getting “stuff” rather than Jesus?
How do you think you might live differently during this holiday season?
How might we continue to explore how we can give more than we receive?
What are some ways that you/we can do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with God during this time of year (and all year for that matter!)?
Is there anything that you’d like to make a regular practice to help maintain a good posture in your relationship with God?
Is there anything that you’d like to make a regular practice to help maintain a good posture and awareness of how to help people in need of food, clothing, and/or shelter throughout the year?

Prayer: God, help us to make a regular practice of slowing down, listening up, and giving up, so that we might see that it is in dying that we find life. Help us to maintain a posture of hope and love that will allow us to see you at work in the world, and keep those who are in need during this holiday season and all year on our minds and hearts. Thank you for your love, grace, and hope God. Thank you for Jesus, that he would enter into the messiness of life with us, and love us so recklessly and wonderfully. Help us to live now as Jesus lived, love as Jesus loved, and walk humbly with you. Help us to continually adjust our eyes and tune our ears to see and hear you O God. Help us to give more than we receive. In the hope and peace of Jesus. Amen.

2 p.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 19:00:48 +0000

Scripture: Psalm 46
How can you put yourself in a posture where you are still so that God can speak to you?
How can you be in a posture to find ways to consume less and give more during this holiday season?
Ask God for the strength to make it through the end of the fast.
Pray for others as they finish the fast.
Pray that God will help you to tune your heart to understand him.

1 p.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 18:00:29 +0000

Take some time to think about the amount of money that is spent on you for Christmas. Think about the quantity of gifts that you receive. Take some time to reflect on whether or not you get distracted from your relationship with God and the significance of Jesus entering into creation on Christmas, by your focus on what presents you are getting for Christmas.
What would it look like if you were as concerned for what others received as for what you are getting for Christmas? How can you consume less, and give more?
Ask God to help you to find ways to give back this year at Christmas, rather than to only receive.
Ask God to help you to become aware of people in our community and world in need.

12 p.m. (Noon)

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 17:00:57 +0000

This is the last meal that you are going to miss before our final gathering when we break our fast. Take some time to think about the amount of food, drink, and snacks you would normally consume over the last 27 hours. Take some time to reflect on the amount of food that you will consume with the various holiday parties that you will attend with family and friends over the coming weeks.
Ask that God would help you to become aware of how much food you consume.
Ask that God will help you to become aware of those people in our community with little to no food, both right now, and throughout the holiday season.
Ask that God would help you to think about how you can share some of your resources with others.

11 a.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 16:00:53 +0000

Scripture: Psalm 113
Praise God for the ways he provides for you and your family.
Ask God to help you to depend on him, especially in your hunger.
Ask God to help you to see the needy and poor as he sees them.

10 a.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 15:00:07 +0000

Pray for those who are fasting with you. Pray for others in your youth group who were unable to fast.
Pray for the strength to finish strong.
Pray that God will help you to adjust your eyes to see him.
Pray that God will help you to tune your ears to hear him.

9 a.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 14:00:16 +0000

What do you think it is like for people who have no food on a regular basis?
What must it be like to be poor during one of the most expensive holiday seasons?
What if you received no gifts for Christmas this year?
Ask God to help you to see the importance of caring for the poor and outcasts.
Ask God to help you to dream of ways to fast as mentioned in Isaiah 58:1-12.

8 a.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 13:00:26 +0000

Scripture: Isaiah 58:1-12
What kind of fasting had the Isrealites done?
What kind of fasting does God desire?
How can you put this kind of fasting into action this holiday season?

7 a.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 12:00:40 +0000

Pray for the others who are fasting and for others in your youth group who were unable to join us.
Pray for strength to make it through this new day.
Ask God to help you to see him more clearly today.

6 a.m.

Stephen — Sun, 14 Dec 2008 11:00:36 +0000

Scripture: Isaiah 61:1-6
As a new day begins, take some time to be thankful for the light that God has shone into your life.
If you are hungry, try to thank God for the uncomfortable feeling.
Ask God to speak to you today as you continue to fast and to have strength to make it through.