PRAYER

24 Hour Prayer Event
Prayer 101 Tuorial	Fasting Guide

LAUNCH PRAYER COUNTDOWN

The Launch Countdown is a way for us to come together as a church family to seek God and His will for Keystone. God told Moses, “Go and I will show,” and we are asking God to show us where he wants us to go and what we are willing to sacrifice?

The Launch Countdown will guide you through a prayerful process over the next 40 days to hear from God. Our hope is that this guide will help you experience a passionate life in Christ, connect to the vision of Keystone Church and receive direction regarding your two year sacrificial commitment that will make the vision a reality.

It is vital for all of us to take the time to pray during this time in our Church! If you have not previously received our e-newsletter and you would like to subscribe to the Launch Countdown, please make a note on your connection card and provide your current email address.

24 HOUR PRAYER EVENT

November 6th at 5:00 pm through November 7th at 5:00 pm

Pray anywhere, Pray with anyone, Pray for one hour

Keystone will join together for a continuous 24 hours of prayer to pray for Keystone Church. To be a part of this amazing time, sign up below for one hour with your family, community group or individually. We desire every hour to be filled with many who are praying and connecting to Christ.

SIGNUP for the 24 Hour Prayer Event using SlyReply

SUGGESTIONS for your hour of 24 Hour Prayer Event

PRAYER 101 Tutorial

We are called to pray. The Bibles says, in 1 Thess. 5:16-18, "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." We might think that it's too hard to pray, it will take too much time or that our prayers won't be heard. These misconceptions couldn't be further from the truth.

You can pray at ANY time and ANY where! Of course you can pray in church or on your knees privately in your "prayer closet" or your bedroom. But you don't HAVE to pray only in these ways or in these places. Here are some other ideas of when and where to pray and some tips to help you jump start your prayer life as we begin to pray for Keystone and what God wants to do through His church:

God wants us to talk to Him (Isaiah 65:23, 24). Prayer is simply talking to God.

We don't have to be "good enough." to pray. Anyone can pray, and He will hear you.

If you don't feel worthy enough to talk to God, then ask Him to forgive you of your sins, and He will -- instantly! Then continue praying!

Talk to God from your heart as if He is your very best friend, because He wants to be!

Just do it! You don't have to set aside hours and hours at a time to pray. Pray "on the go," when you're exercising, driving, showering, any time!

If a schedule or calendar helps you keep on track, then schedule time to pray regularly. Perhaps you need to get up a few minutes earlier for your scheduled time of prayer, or spend time praying during your lunch break.

Meal times are often a popular time to pray. Expand your meal time prayers to include praying for Keystone Church and other people's needs.

Instead of or in addition to praying before your meal, take a few minutes with your family or by yourself after your meal to pray. This is a good time to read a Bible verse together as a family as well.

You can pray silently or out loud. God hears you either way.

You can pray with your eyes open or closed. It doesn't matter. When I pray with others, I keep my eyes closed so that I don't get distracted by what others are wearing, hairs that are out of place or the expressions on other people's faces, etc. If you pray while you're driving, it's best to keep your eyes open!

Go for a walk to pray, or sit in your favorite chair or pray while you're cleaning your house, gardening, cooking or working in your garage. The important part of this equation is to focus on God, His greatness and how much He wants to hear from you in prayer!

Before you turn on the T.V., stop for a few minutes and pray. Pray for as long as you feel comfortable. You might be surprised when you're finished and find that you prayed through a whole sitcom! (You can always DVR it!)

Journal your prayers. Write them down in a special prayer journal, spiral notebook or just on a tablet of paper. Some people find that they communicate better in writing than by speaking, so just write your prayers to God! He can read too!

If you don't know what to say, ask God what He wants you to pray about, be quiet for a few minutes, then pray for those people or needs that come to your mind.

Tell God what you want, and then focus on God, not on the problem or on yourself. Focus on how great God is, how all powerful and all knowing He is and let Him decide how to answer your prayer. Don't keep focusing on the problem -- focus on God! 2 Chronicles 20:12 says, "O our God, we are powerless against this great multitude that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you."

Thank God in your prayers. Think of all that you have to be grateful for, and one by one, thank God for each of these.

Pray with others -- your family, friends, community group, etc. Take turns praying "popcorn prayers" where each person who wants to pray out loud says a short prayer to God, and this goes on around the group until your prayer time is over.

Turn Bible verses into prayer. Here are some to get you started:

Psalm 17:6 -- I call on you, O God, for you will answer me; give ear to me and hear my prayer.

Mark 11:24 -- Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

Romans 12:12 -- Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Matthew 9:35 -- Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Psalm 100:4 -- Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Just be quiet before God and let Him love you.

Remember, you can pray any time, any where. Your prayers don't have to be long and complicated. "Help!" is a prayer. So is "Thank You, Lord." Try it. Just do it!

FASTING GUIDE

Short Course on Fasting

“Sacrifice is giving up something you love for something you love more.”

With this in mind, we count it an honor to give up something for God as we seek his face over the next 40 days.  This isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s definitely worth the pain.  Fasting is simply an act of sacrifice and we would like you to consider giving up one thing over the next 40 days to better enable you to seek God’s direction for Keystone, and your personal role as a vital part of Keystone’s LAUNCH.

Why should I fast?

1. Fasting is a means of worship, which must be God-centered, God-intended, and God-ordained. Fasting is an expression of grief, distress, or repentance.
2. Fasting is preparation for God's guidance and renewal (Daniel 9; Exodus 24). Fasting helps to reveal the things that control us and hinder our intimacy with God.
3. Fasting is to remind us that we are sustained "by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."
4. Fasting is to help keep our balance in life.

How Do I Fast?

You may want to consider giving up a type of food, drink, or entertainment (Facebook, TV, movies, sports). It could be as simple as turning off the music in your car for 40 days so you can talk to God while driving. The idea is that as we remove ourselves from something we love or enjoy, we will take the time, affection, and attention we give to it and turn it over to God.

Fasting also can look like abstaining from food or drinks for short or long periods of time. You can do this in the following ways:

1. OCCASIONAL FASTING – eat a light meal (fruit, vegetables, yogurt, etc.) Skip 2-3 meals, and drink a lot of water. Break the fast with fruit juices followed by a light meal. Avoid oils, dressings, and starch for a couple of meals.
2. REGULAR DISCIPLINE OF FASTING – begin slowly with a partial 24-hour (2 meal) fast once a week for several weeks. During this time, drink fruit juices. After succeeding with this for several weeks, move to a 36-hour (3 meal) fast. Break these fasts with a light meal of fruit and vegetables.

Points to remember while fasting:

1. Monitor your heart attitudes and maintain an attitude of worship.
2. Be careful not to call attention to what you are doing.
3. Devote this fasting time to devotional activities.
4. Seek the Lord regarding extended fasting. *
5. Remember that the major work of scriptural fasting is in the realm of the spirit.
6. Pray for God to lead you through these days of fasting and praying.
   
* Get additional information on extended fasting and clear the fast with your physician (people with certain physical conditions should not fast).

Pray for God to lead you through these days of fasting and praying.

No, this is the kind of fasting I want: Free those who are wrongly imprisoned; lighten the burden of those who work for you. Let the oppressed go free, and remove the chains that bind people. Share your food with the hungry, and give shelter to the homeless. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. Then your salvation will come like the dawn, and your wounds will quickly heal. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind. Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
Isaiah 58:6-9

“Bear up the hands that hang down, by faith and prayer; support the tottering knees. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down.”
John Wesley