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The problem of self has always been and will always be one of the key struggles we have while trying to live a godly life. Paul talked about this inner struggle in Romans 7:15 when he said “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do.” Even the great Apostle and church planter struggled with the inner battle of “self”. One of the first things Jesus said we had to do if we wanted to become one of His disciples was to deny ourselves (Matt. 23:29; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). That’s one of the reasons I am so excited about our upcoming church-wide fast. Because I believe that nothing confronts our weakness with self like a fast.
Fasting, at it’s practical core is an exercise in the denial of self. It forces me to focus on my selfish needs by deliberately denying me those needs. I can then take my selfish or fleshly desires and consciously put them where they belong. In doing so, I have the opportunity to then see my spiritual needs more clearly and can concentrate on them.
Our fast, beginning on Monday, January 25 and continuing through Friday, January 29 is an excellent opportunity for all of us to confront some of our more insidious selfish desires. I want to encourage all of us to take special stock of our personal lives and decide on ONE thing that we will personally fast to overcome during this special week. I know ... if you’re like me, you could come up with a sizable list of things to focus on. But it’s usually true that the more things you focus on, each individual thing actually gets less focus. So let’s only focus on ONE personal thing during this time and really go after God and our own hearts.
In addition to the ONE personal thing we each focus on, I want to also call us ALL to focus and pray for the direction and health of our church in 2010. We have many plans, desires and dreams and it will take God and His mercy and power to see any of them come to fruition.
The Elders in Training have set the following schedule to help us in our prayer times together as we fast. I want to encourage us all to take advantage of these times and opportunities to pray together. I believe there is a special place in God’s heart for prayers that come up from groups of people who are united to pray together before his throne. We all know God loves unity among his children and this is an excellent way to show Him our united desire to bring Him honor and glory through the Champaign Church of Christ congregation.
On the week of our fast, January 25 - 29, the church building will be open each night from 7 - 8 PM for those who would like to come and join with others to pray together. Each night, a different couple from the Elders in Training will be here to help facilitate the prayer times. The schedule is as follows:
Monday 7-8 PM - Open prayer. Anyone who would like to come.
Tuesday 7- 8PM - WOMEN only prayer time. A special time for the sisters to come and pray together.
Wednesday 7-8 PM Congregational Midweek. Focus on prayer together as a church.
Thursday 7-8 PM MEN only prayer time. A special time for the brothers to come and pray together.
Friday 7-8 PM - Open prayer. Anyone who would like to come.
-Tracy
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