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Fasting Guidelines & Prayer Points

For the 12 Days to the Outpouring at Pentecost
 

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Church-Wide Prayer & Fasting Guide

THE WAITING – counting the omer -the 49 +1 days to Shavuot (Pentecost – the Outpouring of the Holy Spirit )

 

“As a church family, we are setting aside this season to seek God together through prayer and fasting. Our desire is not merely religious activity, but deeper intimacy with Jesus, greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit, and fresh empowerment for the mission of God. We humble ourselves before Him and say again: ‘Yes Lord — have Your way in us.’”

 

See prayer topics below.

Purpose of Fasting

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Biblical fasting is the voluntary abstaining from food (or other legitimate things) for a spiritual purpose. Fasting is not about earning God’s favour, but about humbling ourselves before Him, drawing near to Him, seeking His direction, and positioning our hearts for spiritual breakthrough.

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Jesus assumed His followers would fast:

“When you fast…” — not if you fast
(Matthew 6:16)

 

Throughout Scripture, fasting accompanied:

  • Prayer and worship

  • Repentance and humility

  • Seeking God’s guidance

  • Spiritual breakthrough

  • Consecration for ministry

  • Intercession for cities and nations

 

Examples include:

  • Moses (Exodus 34)

  • Esther (Esther 4)

  • Daniel (Daniel 10)

  • Jesus (Matthew 4)

  • The early church (Acts 13)

Key Heart Attitudes During a Fast

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Fasting is not merely dieting or religious activity. The goal is intimacy with God and greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

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Encourage participants to:

  • Spend increased time in prayer and worship

  • Read and meditate on Scripture daily

  • Repent quickly and maintain a soft heart

  • Reduce distractions and worldly input

  • Seek unity and love within the church

  • Listen for the voice and leading of the Holy Spirit

Types of Biblical Fasts

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1. Complete Fast

Water only for a designated period.

Example: Jesus’ 40-day fast (Matthew 4).

Recommended only for:

  • Short periods unless medically supervised

  • Mature believers with wisdom and discernment

 

 

2. Partial Fast

Restricting certain foods or meals.

Common examples:

  • Skipping one meal per day

  • Fasting from sunrise to sunset

  • Eating only simple foods

This is often the most practical option for church-wide participation.

 

 

3. Daniel Fast

Based on Daniel 10.

Typically includes:

  • Vegetables

  • Fruit

  • Water

  • Simple foods

Avoid:

  • Meat

  • Sweets

  • Rich foods

  • Alcohol

Popular for 7, 14, or 21-day church fasts.

 

 

4.  Soul Fast / Media Fast

This can accompany food fasting and is especially valuable in modern culture.

Abstaining from:

  • Social media

  • Entertainment

  • Gaming

  • Television

  • Other distractions

12 DAYS  of WAITING – for GOVERNMENTAL AUTHORITY

 

Week 1 (May 12th to 17)— Consecration

Focus:

  • Personal repentance

  • Holiness

  • Renewed hunger for God

  • Fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit

  • Spiritual gifts

  • Evangelism

  • Calling and commissioning

 

Prayer themes:

  • Revival in our hearts

  • Purity

  • First love for Jesus

Week 2 (May 18th -23)— Breakthrough & Intercession

Focus:

  • Church

  • Families

  • Salvation

  • Healing

  • Deliverance

  • Community transformation

 

Prayer themes:

  • ICC

  • Brisbane and local communities

  • Schools, churches, leaders, and missions

  • Labourers for the harvest

  • Missions

  • Church growth

  • Boldness and spiritual authority

IMPORTANT Practical Health Guidelines while FASTING

 

Churches should encourage wisdom and personal responsibility.

 

Participants should:

  • Drink plenty of water

  • Rest appropriately

  • Break fasts gradually

  • Seek medical advice if needed

 

People who should consult a doctor before fasting:

  • Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers

  • People with diabetes

  • Those with eating disorders

  • People on medication or with medical conditions

  • Elderly participants

 

Children and teenagers should participate with parental guidance and appropriate modifications.

Recommended Church Practices During the Fast

 

Daily

  • Scripture reading plan

  • Prayer points

  • Worship focus

 

Weekly

  • Corporate prayer meetings

  • Worship nights

  • Communion

  • Testimony sharing

 

Final Gathering

Conclude with:

  • Celebration service

  • Communion

  • Prayer ministry

  • Commissioning

  • Water baptisms or salvation opportunities if appropriate

Safeguards

Avoid:

  • Spiritual pride

  • Comparing fasts

  • Legalism

  • Pressure or manipulation

 

Teach clearly:

  • Fasting does not make God love us more. It brings us into alignment with God’s will & purposes (not my will, but yours be done)

  • Grace remains central

  • Some fast differently due to health or life circumstances

  • The focus is surrender and seeking God

Daily Personal Prayer

 

 1) Repentance & Holiness

2) Hunger for God & the Holy Spirit ,

3) Healing & Families, Spiritual freedom & deliverance

4) Salvations & Revival & Missions

5) The Church – United in the Spirit

6) Spiritual gifts

7) Missions into Schools, Families, Workplaces

8) Australia & Governments

9) Youth & Schools

Key Scriptures

  • Matthew 6:16–18

  • Isaiah 58

  • Joel 2:12–13

  • Acts 13:2–3

  • James 4:8

  • Psalm 27:4

  • Matthew 5:6

“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.” — Matthew 5:6

 

Additional Spiritual Warfare Prayer Points

 

1. People are never the object/ target of prayer

  • Ephesians 6:12 - 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high

 

2. However, spiritual warfare requires us to take the battle to the gate of the enemy- uproot , tear down etc

  • Jer 1:10- 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant.

 

Declaration of Jer 1:10 confession of the call to displace the powers of darkness and demonic entities and agents such witches and satanists

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⁃ Pray and uproot anyone, anything not planted by God we take authority and remove

⁃ No weapon formed against shall prosper Isaiah 54:17

⁃ Pray - Exodus 22:18- against all froms of witchcraft & rebellion i

⁃ Elijah called fire to consume the sacrifice in 1 Kings 18:38.. Pray that the Altar of the Lord will be fortified. Call the fire of God to burn everything on the altar.

⁃ Micah 5:12 -14 ,  pray and destroy demonic altars, pictures, books and images etc

⁃ 1 Samuel 15:18- pray against idolatry and presumption

⁃ Psalm 35

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