2024 “The Year of a Fresh Start”
Jan 7th-28th
Isaiah 43:18-19 NLV Do not remember the things that have happened before. Do not think about the things of the past. 19 See I will do a new thing. It will begin happening now. Will you not know about it? I will even make a road in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.
This year will be filled with New Hopes, New Dreams, New Beginnings, and a Fresh Start!
Greetings! Pastor Carolyn & I greet you in the name of Jesus Christ! We thank you for your support to LFCM during 2023, and your continued support in 2024. We are excited to be entering into another year and the corporate fast with you. Our theme for 2024 will be “The Year of a Fresh Start ” This year, we are believing God to do some NEW and amazing things this is why a corporate fast and prayer is so important.
What are Corporate Fasting and Prayer:
Corporate Prayer and fasting is defined as a group of believers coming together in agreement and voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God together. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case.
You can pray without fasting, and fast without praying. However, when prayer and fasting are combined and dedicated to God’s glory, they reach their full effectiveness. Having a dedicated time of prayer and fasting is not a way of manipulating God into doing what you desire.
Rather, it is simply forcing yourself to focus and rely on God for the strength, provision, and wisdom you need.
Remember, Fasting is a form of worship: “Then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying” (Luke 2:37).
The Bible describes four major types of fasting:
A Full Fast – Traditionally, a Full Fast means refraining from eating all food. Most people still drink water or juice during a full fast. When Jesus fasted in the desert, the Bible says, “After fasting forty day and forty nights, he was hungry.
This verse does not mention Jesus being thirsty.
A Partial Fast – This type of fast generally refers to omitting a specific meal from your diet or refraining from certain types of foods. Daniel 10:2-3 says, “At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over.” In Daniel 1:12, they restricted their diet to vegetables and water: “Please test your servants for ten days: Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.”
A Total Fast – These fasts are complete – no food and no drink. Acts 9:9 describes when Paul went on a full fast for three days following his encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus: “For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.” Esther also called for this type of fast in Esther 4:15-16: “Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’” It is recommended that this type of fast be done with extreme caution and not for extended periods of time.
A Consummation Fast – 1 Corinthians 7:3-6 says, “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife.
Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.”
Corporate Fasting and Prayer at LFCM
At Living Faith Christian Ministries, we will enter into a 21-day Daniel Fast beginning on the January 7th and concluding on January 28th, The 21–Day Daniel Fast is a partial fast, based on Daniel 10:2-3 in the Bible, in which Daniel says he fasted for three weeks. During the fasting period, only certain foods are eaten… The purpose of the Daniel Fast is to deprive the body from eating certain foods in order to focus & draw closer to the lord.
We will be doing a 21- day Daniel Fast which consist of a diet of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, water and 100% fruit and vegetable juices. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, please consult your physician before entering corporate fast along with abstaining from anything or form of activity that will restrict your worship.
I want you to remember that our LFCM Corporate Fast is strictly voluntary for all members and non-members; however, we are respectfully requesting maximum participation.
During the 21-day fast we will concentrate daily on specific areas of prayer, scripture reading and meditation. This effort can be done in any area, home, work, school, church, etc. (a place to be alone with God.) Holy Spirit direct us in our prayers for every area listed below. Not my will, but thine will be done!
Sundays – Nation: America, our Government, President, Vice-President, Congress, Military, National Leaders, Peace in our Country)
Mondays – Family: Fathers, Mothers, Wives, Husbands, Children, Brothers,
Sisters, Marriages, Singles.
Tuesdays – Church: LFCM, Pastors, Members
Wednesdays —Finances: Wisdom with Finances, Debt Free, Promotions, Increase, Investment, New Business Opportunities, Savings, Money for the Future
Thursdays – Health: Healing (physically, mentally & spiritually), Deliverance from any mental, spiritual or psychological attacks) Maintaining proper diet and exercise, improved overall physical condition, long happy life.
Fridays – Local Community: Schools, Churches, Community Leaders, Mayor, City Council, Hospitals, Specific needs of the community (crime, homeless}
Saturday- Economy: Jobs, Labor, Companies, Corporations, Organizations, Governments that invest in our economy. Increase opportunities.
Thank you, Living Faith Family & Friends for launching into a New Year strong with a 21 Day Corporate Fast. May our lives be enriched as a result of our obedience to God.
God Bless Pastor Rene’ & Carolyn
