WELCOME TO OUR SEVEN DAY PRAYER & FASTING (6:00 AM- 6:00 PM) FOCUS HOW TO FAST
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<strong>WELCOME</strong> <strong>TO</strong> <strong>OUR</strong> <strong>SEVEN</strong> <strong>DAY</strong> <strong>PRAYER</strong> & <strong><strong>FAST</strong>ING</strong> (6:<strong>00</strong> <strong>AM</strong>- 6:<strong>00</strong> <strong>PM</strong>)<br />
Fasting remains one of the challenging but most spiritually rewarding christian<br />
disciplines. This season, we will be taking our fast a little deeper and embarking on<br />
Scripture praying; the use of Bible verses to help us pray. Fasting will be from 6am to<br />
6pm. that means that we shall only take one meal per day.<br />
<strong>FOCUS</strong><br />
This particular prayer guide will focus our prayers on our personal lives, our church<br />
and our country, Kenya. Over the next seven days, we will pray for God’s special favor<br />
over our lives, church and the nation using various scriptures incorporated in the prayer<br />
guide.<br />
<strong>HOW</strong> <strong>TO</strong> <strong>FAST</strong>:<br />
Set aside a time for prayer each day. Remember to fast without prayer is nothing more<br />
than a hunger strike. That is not what we want to do before God. So set your prayer<br />
times, perhaps a little earlier each morning, and observe them. Alternatively, you may<br />
want to get to work early each morning, or lock your office door and spend 20 minutes<br />
in prayer before work, another 20 minutes at lunch-break and a final 20 minutes at<br />
dinner or before you sleep. Or you may want to do it together with family and take time<br />
to pray before you take your evening meal.<br />
Begin each session by confessing your sins and cleansing your soul before God. A good<br />
place to begin is by praying Psalms 139: 23-24 “Search me, O God, and know my heart;<br />
test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead<br />
me in the way everlasting” As you pray this, pause and listen to the prompting of the Holy<br />
Spirit. Examine yourself and confess before the Lord. To fast while you have hidden sin<br />
in your life is pointless as God sees it and it blocks your prayers.<br />
Over these next 7 days, think through how you can bless others in need. Acts of mercy<br />
and kindness towards the poor are an important part of fasting. If you are abstaining<br />
from food, then give the food, or the cost of your meals, to the poor around you. The<br />
Social Justice Department can guide you on where to be a blessing.<br />
Nairobi Chapel, Bank Name: NIC Bank Ltd Branch: City Centre Account Name: NAIROBI CHAPEL-NGONG ROAD<br />
Account No: 1<strong>00</strong>0236906 Tel: 0725650737, 0733678311 | Email: info@nairobichapel.org<br />
Web: www.nairobichapel.org . Giving Via MPesa? Nairobi Chapel Business no. 508701.<br />
Account Name: Indicate reason for giving, such as Tithe, Kid’s Camp, Logos Scholarship, etc.
<strong>HOW</strong> <strong>TO</strong> MANAGE Y<strong>OUR</strong> <strong>FAST</strong><br />
During the fast, you may feel somewhat weaker than normal especially during the<br />
first few days; you may feel tired and irritable or even get headaches. Lightening your<br />
workload and cutting down on strenuous exercises is advisable to maintaining your<br />
health and morale.<br />
Fasting is not just about denying yourself food; it is exchanging the needs of the<br />
physical body for those of the spiritual needs. Spend time in prayer and reading God’s<br />
word. This will be very essential for entering into a more intimate fellowship with God.<br />
Fasting is a time of heightened spiritual devotion, be aware that Satan will do everything<br />
he can to pull you away from prayer and Bible reading time. If this should happen,<br />
immediately go to God in prayer asking Him to strengthen your resolve in the face of<br />
difficulties and temptations. Your motive in fasting must be to glorify God, not to have<br />
an emotional experience, and not to attain personal happiness. When your motives are<br />
right, God will honor your seeking heart and bless your time with Him, in a very special<br />
way. The Lord Bless you as you begin this year in prayer and fasting.<br />
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF <strong>PRAYER</strong> AND <strong><strong>FAST</strong>ING</strong>?<br />
Prayer and fasting changes things at a personal and a corporate level, this change<br />
begins with you. Isaiah 58 has very many benefits to fasting. Let us mention but a few:<br />
Through fasting, God enables us to grow in humility. Fasting inspires a new hunger<br />
and intimacy with God. We gain an increased sense of His presences through reading<br />
the bible. Through prayer and fasting God clarifies his will and his desire for our lives,<br />
empowering us by his Holy Spirit unto obedience. Prayer and fasting increases our<br />
conviction of sin, righteousness and judgment. It breaks the power of sin and increases<br />
victory over sin, especially sin of pride. It is while we are praying and fasting, that God<br />
purifies attitudes, cleanses the body and the soul. God honors our seeking Him for<br />
breakthroughs in difficult personal, church and national issues. In answer to prayer, God<br />
divinely intervenes in crises or problems that have no human solutions. He heightens<br />
protection over our children and our possessions. The discipline of prayer and fasting<br />
enables us to increase in faith and find victory over spiritual battles. It also sharpens our<br />
focus on God. The object of our prayer should be to be more intimate in our relationship<br />
to God.<br />
<strong>DAY</strong> 1 – MON<strong>DAY</strong> 23 RD JANUARY 2017<br />
Begin your prayer time thanking the LORD for His faithfulness in the past year and also<br />
for the New Year. Rejoice at the fact that in the LORD will cause you to see His favor<br />
and grace in your life. As you begin these 7 days of prayer and fasting reflect on your<br />
personal goals for 2017. If you have not written them down take time to do so. Psalms<br />
37:5-6 encourages us to… “Commit our ways to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:<br />
He will make righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of our cause like the noonday<br />
sun”. Take time in prayer and commit yourself to the Lord. Commit everything that<br />
concerns you to the Lord including this special time of prayer and fasting. Commit your
spiritual growth, physical health, social interactions, intellectual abilities, carrier and<br />
professional life.<br />
Pray for the Church: Begin to thank the Lord for Nairobi Chapel, the Pastors, and all<br />
the lives that have been impacted through various ministries at Chapel. Commit the<br />
Church to the Lord by asking Him to take control of all our ministry activities in 2017 and<br />
especially for the Church leadership. Pray for wisdom, knowledge and understanding<br />
as our mission and vision to grow deep and reach wide continues. Pray for the goal to<br />
plant 3<strong>00</strong> churches both locally and in gateway cities of the world. Pray for the current<br />
29 Church plants in Nairobi, Trinity Church plants out of Nairobi and Kenya. Pray for the<br />
goal to plant 30 Trinity Churches and 50 Faith Ministry Churches in peri-urban areas in<br />
2017.<br />
Pray for the Nation: Thank the Lord for Kenya; commit this country to God in 2017. May<br />
the words of our national anthem; peace and unity, plenty be found in our boarders<br />
be evident all through the year. Ask God to help us live up to the words we proclaim<br />
every time we sing or play the national anthem. Pray for the all-political leaders and<br />
especially commit the President, Deputy President, Cabinet ministers, other arms of<br />
the National government; the judiciary, military chiefs, police, parliament, Governors,<br />
Senators and local representatives. The scriptures in 1 Timothy 2:2 urges us first of all<br />
that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for Kings<br />
and all in authority that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.<br />
Be encouraged by the fact that the result for our prayer for those in authority will be<br />
peaceful and quiet lives.<br />
<strong>DAY</strong> 2 – TUES<strong>DAY</strong> 24 TH JANUARY 2017<br />
Today as we continue in prayer and fasting let us please reflect on the scripture in<br />
Hebrews 11:6 “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes<br />
to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.”<br />
Please pray for increased faith in God as you pray to him today. Present your personal<br />
goals in 2017. Pray in faith that He will show you creative, innovative ideas on how to<br />
implement them. Seek to know His will for you and aim to please God throughout the<br />
whole year. Commit the every thing about your life that look difficult today especially<br />
those that will only take God’s hand to act on them. Write them down in you Journal or<br />
share them in your accountability group.<br />
Pray for the Church: Our vision and mission at Nairobi Chapel is to grow D.E.E.P to reach<br />
W.I.D.E. Pray that as a Church we will seek to grow our faith through daily devotions,<br />
involvement in eGroups, be engaged in service and experience corporate worship on<br />
Sunday and preach the word. Pray that we will not be baby Christians who only feed on<br />
Sunday but that we will be intentional at reading God’s word daily. Also pray that we will<br />
be faithful and committed to our accountability groups for fellowship. Ask God to show<br />
you where in the church you can give your time, talent and experience to build the body<br />
of Christ. Pray that your growth will result in serving God with an attitude of gratitude<br />
for all that he has done for you, and that serving him is the highest honor.<br />
Pray for the Nation: In the last two years as a nation we have witnessed our Country
get into the global platform and media for all the good reasons, both economically and<br />
politically. Pray for continued growth in the economy. Annual Growth Rate in Kenya<br />
averaged 5.46 percent from 2<strong>00</strong>4 until 2016, reaching an all-time high of 12.40 percent<br />
in the fourth quarter of 2010 and a record low of 0.20 percent in the fourth quarter of<br />
2<strong>00</strong>8 (www.tradingeconomics.com) World Bank reports indicate that the most recent<br />
economic analysis shows continued growth in 2016, and projects a growth of 6% in 2017.<br />
Pray that this will be true and that all the factors that play in for economic growth will<br />
happen. Pray against fear due to the upcoming elections. Ask God to help our leaders in<br />
the private sector to separate business from politics, and that they will not openly take<br />
sides and thus cause undue economic anxiety.<br />
<strong>DAY</strong> 3 - WEDNES<strong>DAY</strong> 25 TH JANUARY 2017<br />
Today as we continue in prayer, please reflect on the scripture in Matthew 17:20 He<br />
replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a<br />
mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move.<br />
Nothing will be impossible for you”. Today take time and reflect on the amount of faith<br />
you have had in yourself and in God. The object of our faith should be God not in our<br />
circumstances or in us. Ask God for forgiveness for the time you have put confidence in<br />
our abilities, titles, achievements, influence and networks other than in God. As God to<br />
forgive you for the pride in your life, confidence you have places on your flesh, strength,<br />
intellect and social capital.<br />
Pray for the Church: Let us pray for Youth ministry at Nairobi Chapel. 43% of youth<br />
in Kenya are under the age 15, while 76% of the population is under age 35. Pray for<br />
the various disciple-making ministries at Nairobi Chapel among them children-Quest,<br />
youth –Light Republic, Adults church –Plugin, e-Groups and even Church plants teach<br />
the truth of our faith. The youth culture in Kenya is being shaped by world philosophies<br />
through social media. Many youth are confused and overwhelmed not knowing the<br />
difference between good and evil. Pray that the church will reach them in the schools<br />
and different programs we organize through the arts and music. Pray for more volunteers<br />
to be part of outreach in our schools, currently as a church we are in 10 primary and<br />
secondary school and we are praying to double this number.<br />
Pray for the Nation of Kenya: Despite the corruption that has bedeviled the social<br />
reforms in Kenya through the ‘Kazi Kwa Vijana’ initiative. Thank God for the social<br />
economic gains that the youth continue to enjoy as various government programs<br />
unfold. Pray not only for economic empowerment but for real social transformation.<br />
Pray that our youth will learn to fear the Lord and not as 2 Timothy 3:2 warns us NOT<br />
be lovers of ourselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their<br />
parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control,<br />
brutal, lovers of evil, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of<br />
God. Ask God to help the youth from being used negatively by politicians and that they<br />
will be aware of their civil responsibilities.
<strong>DAY</strong> 4 THURS<strong>DAY</strong> 26 TH JANUARY 2017<br />
Personal Prayer: There are many benefits of prayer and fasting. Some include; victory<br />
over patterns of sin, freedom from addictions, seeking answers to prayer and direction,<br />
healing, restoration and revival. Today pray for issues in your life that may need healing<br />
and restoration as mention earlier. Pray according to James 5:16. Jesus made it possible<br />
for us to go directly to God for forgiveness. Take time and recall sins that you have done<br />
against yourself, against others and against God. If that sin is against others, you need to<br />
go to them and ask for forgiveness. If your sin has affected the Church, you must confess<br />
it publicly. If you need loving support as you struggle through sin, ask God to show you<br />
a mature Christian or a Pastor for support. If after you confess in a private sin you do not<br />
feel his forgiveness, you may also do the same. This will help you hear the assurance of<br />
God’s forgiveness as 1 John 1:9 says “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will<br />
forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness’.<br />
Pray for the Church in Kenya: According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people who are<br />
called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their<br />
wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their<br />
land.” As a member of the body of Christ, humble yourself and pray on behalf of the<br />
local church in Kenya. The church in Kenya has been seen to be silent or taking sides.<br />
Please ask God for forgiveness for the sin of omission or commission as the body of<br />
Christ, as we have not been decisive and courageous to God. Ask God to forgive our sin<br />
of ethnicity and tribalism that have brought divisions in the churches.<br />
Pray for Kenya: We have over 70 different ethnic groups in Kenya. However, there are<br />
historical divisions and tensions that heighten every election year. Please pray for a<br />
social healing in this land and a spirit of restraint. Ask God to help us put away our<br />
differences and have concerted effort in preaching unity. Pray against plans that may<br />
already be in place to divide the country into ethnic groups. Especially pray for the ruling<br />
party and the opposition as they mobilize their supporters for voter registration over the<br />
next month. Pray for peace in areas that have began to have violence and that the whole<br />
process will run smoothly.<br />
<strong>DAY</strong> 5 – FRI<strong>DAY</strong> 27 TH JANUARY 2017<br />
Today begin your personal prayer time by reading and reflecting on Hebrews 11 about<br />
the hero’s of faith. Identify one of the characters and qualities mentioned in the scriptures<br />
that you admire and pray the same for yourself. Hebrews 11:6 says…And without faith it<br />
is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists<br />
and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Ask God to strengthen you faith as you<br />
pray and fast to believe him for all your needs in 2017<br />
Pray for the Church: As Nairobi Chapel we aim to reach-out to 1 Million, to disciple<br />
1<strong>00</strong>,<strong>00</strong>0 people and plant 3<strong>00</strong> by 2030. Matthew 19:27 reminds us that with God all<br />
things are possible. Pray that God will enable you to be part of this great vision and<br />
mission. Ask him to bring to mind family and friends who you can pray for and share<br />
your faith with this year. Pray for growth and multiplication of all the 29 Churches we
planted last year. Pray that God will raise church planters who can go out to plant<br />
churches in areas where there is great need. Ask God to provide resources that will<br />
enable these churches to start and grow in spiritual depth and width through greater<br />
numbers.<br />
Pray for the Nation of Kenya: the electoral commission is currently registering voters<br />
in preparation to the general elections in August. The goal of the I.E.B.C is to register<br />
6 million new voters from all over the country. This registration is very emotive and<br />
sensitive in light to the election laws that were changed to allow us of the manual<br />
register in areas where there will be not internet connectivity to electronically submit<br />
results. Pray that this process will be very successful and will be all-inclusive. Pray for<br />
peace as politicians carry out awareness and civic education. Pray that it will not be<br />
driven with hidden ethnic agenda. Pray against divisive leadership and strategies that<br />
are not benefit the nation. Pray that there will be peace all over the country where<br />
political and civic groups, go door to door mobilizing people to register. Please pray<br />
for the electoral body; the secretariat as they work under immense pressure that<br />
they will not get entangled in any political or corrupt. Pray for a smooth appointment<br />
process for the next chairman of the commission. Pray for the secretariat that has<br />
to keep working on the plans laid out in preparation for the elections dispute the<br />
difficult working environment.<br />
<strong>DAY</strong> 6 – SATUR<strong>DAY</strong> 28 TH JANUARY 2017<br />
On this day of prayer and fasting reflect on Philippians 3:12- 14, Paul’s goal was to<br />
know Christ and to be like Christ. This goal consumed him. Make this your prayer for<br />
today and indeed the whole of 2017. Pray that you will keep this spiritual discipline<br />
like an athlete, setting aside anything that will distract us from being effective.<br />
Identify the things that may be distractive and pray to the Lord to remove them or<br />
give you ways to go around them. Paul also forgot the things that were behind him<br />
and pressed on towards the goal. Are there things in the past year that are holding<br />
you back? What are the past failures that have filled you with guilt? Take them to the<br />
Lord in prayer, and then resolve to look ahead and by faith press on toward the goal.<br />
Pray for the Church: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness,<br />
how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown<br />
out and trampled underfoot.” (Matt 5:13). Please pray that the church in Kenya will<br />
continue to be the salt that gives flavor to the society. Pray that we will not just be<br />
socially relevant but that we will also be spiritually transformative. Ask God to send<br />
the Holy Spirit to the church so as to give the much needed direction and leadership<br />
at a time when the country needs us most. Pray especially for the church leadership<br />
that in this year they will have wisdom, knowledge and insight as they deal with<br />
the political class and their congregations. Pray that as the church in Kenya we will<br />
have the fear of God and not the fear of men, having spiritual and moral authority to<br />
confront evil when and where necessary.<br />
Pray for this Nation: Pray that as we prepare for the general elections in August, we<br />
not live in fear and terror. Pray that the voice of reason will be louder than that of
division, ethnicity, superiority and greed. The 2<strong>00</strong>7/2<strong>00</strong>8 elections was a dark time in<br />
this country that we never want to go back to. Pray for restraint and soberness among<br />
the political class. Pray that the Independent Electoral Commission will execute their<br />
plans according to the constitution and without any external interference. Pray for<br />
the party leaders both in government and in the opposition. Pray that God will set<br />
a guard over our mouth, and keep watch over the door of their lips as David said in<br />
Psalms 141:3.<br />
<strong>DAY</strong> 7 – SUN<strong>DAY</strong> 29 TH JANUARY 2017<br />
This is the last day of our first season of prayer and fasting this year. Thank the Lord<br />
for His grace that has been sufficient and His power that has been made perfect<br />
in our weakness as 2 Corinthians 12:9 affirms to us. Thank the Lord for a renewed<br />
spiritual, mental, emotional and physical strength as you have prayed and fasted.<br />
Pray that the Lord will continuously help you to stretch your faith as you face difficult<br />
issues or circumstance this year. Ask him for grace for all the decisions you have<br />
made with regard to your spiritual life. Also pray that you will continue with the<br />
spiritual discipline of prayer and fasting as and when prompted by the Holy Spirit.<br />
Pray for the universal Church: Matthew 28:18-19 Then Jesus came to them and<br />
said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and<br />
make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son<br />
and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.<br />
And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Pray that the church will<br />
keep focused on this mandate - the great commission. Pray that the Church will go<br />
to all nations making disciples in the power and the name of Jesus. Pray that we will<br />
teach these disciples to obey what God has commanded us in his word.<br />
Pray for security in Kenya: Kenya has been at war for the last 5 years as part of the<br />
peace mission in Somalia and other parts of Africa. Pray for the Kenya Defense Forces<br />
soldiers and their families who may be currently grieving the loss of there loved<br />
ones. Pray for the security agents in Kenya, who since the beginning of terror attacks<br />
have been on high alert and continuously work. Pray for a continued collaboration<br />
between governments and security agents/partners as they work together. Psalm<br />
127:1 says “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the<br />
LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain”. Ask God to protect<br />
Kenya from the enemy’s attacks or schemes that he has against us. Please pray<br />
that they will be exposed and that the enemy’s camp will go into confusion as the<br />
communication lines are distorted in Jesus’ name.
PROMISES FOR YOU <strong>TO</strong> CLAIM IN 2017<br />
• My life this year will prosper and come into a good end. (Jere. 29:11)<br />
• My steps are ordered of God and you delight in my way. (Psalm 37:23) The rock<br />
(Jesus) pours out rivers of oil on my head. (Job 29:6).<br />
• You preserve my life from trouble, and surround me with songs of deliverance.<br />
(Psalm 32:7).<br />
• You hide me in the secret place of your presence. (Psalm 31:20).<br />
• I shall prosper and be in good health even as my soul prospers. (3 John 1:2).<br />
PROMISES <strong>TO</strong> CLAIM FOR THE CHURCH<br />
• Job 29:- Lord your friendly counsel shall be over the church,<br />
• The Lord’s lamp will shine upon Church’s head,<br />
• The rock shall pour out rivers of oil for her,<br />
• When the young men see her they shall hide,<br />
• The aged will rise and stand in her presence,<br />
• The princes will refrain from speaking,<br />
• Her eyes will be eyes to the blind,<br />
• She will be feet to the lame,<br />
• She will cause the widow’s heart to sing for joy,<br />
• She will be father to the poor,<br />
• She will break the fangs of the wicked and pluck the victim from her teeth, Men<br />
will listen to her and keep silence for her counsel,<br />
• She will seat as chief and dwell as a king in the army.<br />
• Our men, born and married into our families and descendants shall be men that<br />
love their wives in Jesus’ name! (Ephesians 5:25)<br />
Promises to claim for Kenya<br />
• God has set Kenya upon high places. (Psalm 18:33).<br />
• You are our present help in time of trouble. (Psalm 46:1).<br />
• You are our shield and shelter round about my country. (Psalm 3:3).<br />
• You load Kenya with your blessings daily. (Psalm 68:19).<br />
• You have armed Kenya with strength for the battle. (Psalm 18:39).<br />
• Your mercies are new every morning for my country. (Lam. 3:22-23).<br />
• My Kenya’s path grows brighter and brighter every day. (Prov. 4:18).<br />
• The boundary has fallen for Kenya in pleasant places. (Psalm 16:6).<br />
• Kenya has a delightful inheritance in the Lord. (Psalm 16:6).<br />
• You have made Kenya the head of the nations. (Psalm 18:43).<br />
• You have made a nation and a company of nations of my child, and, kings shall<br />
come from my child’s body.<br />
Nairobi Chapel, Bank Name: NIC Bank Ltd Branch: City Centre Account Name: NAIROBI CHAPEL-NGONG ROAD<br />
Account No: 1<strong>00</strong>0236906 Tel: 0725650737, 0733678311 | Email: info@nairobichapel.org<br />
Web: www.nairobichapel.org . Giving Via MPesa? Nairobi Chapel Business no. 508701.<br />
Account Name: Indicate reason for giving, such as Tithe, Kid’s Camp, Logos Scholarship, etc.