40 Days of Prayer and Fasting – Annual National Conference

40 Days of Prayer and Fasting,

DAY #	DATE	ITEMS OF PRAYERS	SCRIPTURE  VERSE
1-5	5/15 – 5/19	Repentance and Ushering: Presenting the Season before the Lord; Sanctification, Planning and Leadership (direction of Holy Spirit), Release our hearts and mind to be of use by Christ, Release from complaints and grumbling.	Isaiah 40:31 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary, and they shall walk and not faint” MEDITATE ON PSALM. 40.
6-10	5/20 – 5/24	Pray for Release of Grace: Permission from work and duties, Financial availability, Smooth Registration Process, Programs; Adult, Youth, Children, Successful coordination of program, services.	Psalms 84:11 “For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly” Philippians 4:19 “And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus”.
11-15	5/25 – 5/29	Pray for Servants of God: Speakers; Bishop Mark Kariuki, Pastor Denis White, Pastor John Das, Ta’Sean McKinley (Youth Speaker) The Praise & Worship Team, Intercessors.	Psalm 20:6 “Now this I know:    The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand”
16-20	5/30 – 6/3	Pray for Messengers of Grace: Workshop Presenters, Emcees, Moderators, Ushering Team, Hospitality Team, Registration Team, Logistics Team and those who serve in behind the curtains.	John 15:16 “You did not choose Me but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you”.
21-25	6/4– 6/8	Pray for Leadership: Electoral Board, National Executive Board, Conference Planning Committee, Board of Trustees, Chapter Boards, Departments Boards,	Nehemiah 13:9 “I gave orders to purify the rooms, and then I put back into them the equipment of the house of God, with the grain offerings and the incense”.
26-30	6/9 – 6/13	Pray for James Madison University:  Consecration of the grounds, facilities, Equipment, favor with administration, Environmental, Kitchen staff. Speak the favor of God in all areas.	Psalms 51:18 The Sacrifice of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, o God, you will not despise. Exodus 33:14 “The Lord replied, My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”
31-35	6/14 – 6/18	Divine Atmosphere and Presence; Acknowledgement of our vulnerability, Embrace the great commission, Unity of purpose, Winning of souls, Salvation & Deliverance, Understanding the word of God.	Proverb 21:31 “The horse is prepared for the day of the battle, But victory belongs to the Lord”1 Corinthians 15: 57 “but thanks be to God who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”
36-40	6/19 – 6/23	Thanksgiving and opening up to be filled.	PSALM 52: 9 “I WILL GIVE YOU THANKS FOREVER, BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE IT”!!

Prayer And Fasting        

Prayer and Fasting – A Definition: Prayer and fasting is defined as voluntarily going without food in order to focus on prayer and fellowship with God. Prayer and fasting often go hand in hand, but this is not always the case. You can pray without fasting, and fast without prayer. It is when these two activities are combined and dedicated to God’s glory that 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.

Prayer and Fasting – What the Bible Says:  Moses fasted during the 40 days and 40 nights he was on Mount Sinai receiving the law from God – Exodus 34:28. King Jehoshaphat called for a fast in all Israel when they were about to be attacked by the Moabites and Ammonites -2Chronicles 20:3. In response to Jonah’s preaching, the men of Nineveh fasted and put on sackcloth – Jonah 3:5. Prayer and fasting was often done in times of distress or trouble. David fasted when he learned that Saul and Jonathan had been killed – 2 Samuel 1:12. Nehemiah had a time of prayer and fasting upon learning that Jerusalem was still in ruins Nehemiah 1:4.  Darius, the king of Persia, fasted all night after he was forced to put Daniel in the den of lions – Daniel 6:18.

Prayer and fasting also occurs in the New Testament. Anna “worshipped night and day, fasting and praying” at the Temple Lk 2:37. John the Baptist taught his disciples to fast Mark 2:18. Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights before His temptation by Satan – Matthew 4:2. The church of Antioch fasted and sent Paul and Barnabas off on their first missionary journey -Acts 13: 2-3. Paul and Barnabas spent time in prayer and fasting for the appointment of elders in the churches Acts 14:23.             

Prayer and Fasting – What Does it Accomplish?: Spending time in prayer and fasting is not automatically effective in accomplishing the desires of those who fast. Fasting or no fasting, God only promises to answer our prayers when we ask according to His will.  1John 5:14-15 tells us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of him.” In the prophet Isaiah’s time, the people grumbled that they had fasted, yet God did not answer in the way they wanted. Isaiah responded by proclaiming that the external show of fasting and prayer, without the proper heart attitude, was futile-Isaiah 58: 3-9.

How can you know if you are praying and fasting according to God’s will? Are you praying and fasting for things that honor and glorify God? Does the Bible clearly reveal that it is God’s will for you? If we are asking for something that is not honoring to God or not God’s will for our lives, God will not give what we ask for, whether we fast or not. How can we know God’s will? God promises to give us wisdom when we ask. James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” When we walk in the wisdom of God, Trust and obey His will then our prayer and Fasting becomes righteous and God honors the prayers of the righteous.