AWAKEN: A Guide to Prayer and Fasting in the New Year
Across the nation, thousands of churches urge their members to begin the New Year by praying. The goal of that revival in you is for God’s glory to be revealed to a watching world that needs to know Him. When large numbers or high percentages of people are transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ, spiritual awakening is the result.
Communities change. Cities change. And yes, nations can change. Spiritual awakening is what we need in our nation, but revival of God’s people is a spiritual prerequisite.
Awaken is a guide to enrich your participation in fasting and prayer for a revival of God’s presence and work in your own life and church as the start to your year.
Each day in this prayer guide, there are Scriptures designed to fix your focus on God and what He has to say to us through His Word – thoughts that will challenge or encourage. May God increase your own hunger for His presence and power to such a degree that you will make every adjustment required to experience revival and awakening. I’m praying that God will increase your faith to believe Him for all He wants to do where you are. Don’t focus attention on how bad things may be around you. Get your eyes fixed on Jesus and what He can do. He is our Hope.
There are daily suggestions for prayer. Prayer is a relationship with the Creator of the universe. Jesus wants you to spend time getting to know Him and His purposes and His ways as you pray. He wants to speak to you about your life and your part in His plan for world redemption. You will notice that each day you are being asked to talk to the Lord about what you should do to apply what you are hearing from Him. Do not be a hearer only; become an obedient ‘doer’ of the word.
Fasting may be a new discipline for you. If so, do some research or ask someone about fasting. That may include denying yourself food, or it could include a fast from television or media for a season. Fasting heightens your hunger for God and your focus on Him, but it also provides you with additional time to pray. Fasting and prayer go together – as does giving.
Some helpful guides including Introduction to Fasting and Guidelines for a Daniel Fast are available by visiting projectpray.org.
(Source: Project Pray)
