Dear Church Family,

We are so excited that you are with us on this amazing week of Prayer and Fasting here at Great Life Church.  Thank you for downloading our APP and we encourage you, if you haven't already, to connect with us in our daily Bible reading as we journey through the Bible together in 2021.

Fasting stated simply, is refraining from food for a Spiritual purpose.  Fasting has always been a normal part of a relationship with God, and it brings us deeper and more intimate with God.  We want direction and to be able to hear His voice more clearly.  As a church, as a nation we need to hear from God more now than ever before.  

Here are some simple things to remember:

1. Choose the fast that God is directing you to do.  As a church we are fasting January 3 - 10th.  God may lead you to fast longer or shorter.  
2.  Choose the type of fast, Daniel Fast, one meal a day, liquids only, water only, etc
3.  Fasting is not dieting.  Fasting is spiritual and is always accompanied with prayer.
4.  Set aside time for prayer and devotions with the Lord everyday.  Let's read the Bible together as a church.

As we eliminate food from our diet for a number of days our spirits become uncluttered by the things of this world and amazingly sensitive to the things of God.  Psalm 42 is an inspiration to begin every fast.  Pastor and I love you all so very much.  We are excited for 2021 and this tremendous joy we have to hear from God together as a church family.

Stay tuned each and every day for updates.

Love you All,

Pastor Ellen

One of the most amazing passages of scripture we find on fasting is found in Matthew 6.  Jesus provided a pattern for each of us to follow on how we should approach three things.  Prayer, fasting and giving.

When you pray, when you fast and when you give.  He made it clear that each of these are a normal part of the Christian Life and each of these should be done humbly and in secret.  

I have always found my strength to be in the time I set apart to God in prayer.  In those times God will clearly speak to us and give us instruction.  Our blessing always comes after our obedience to the father.

What we faithfully do in secret.  God will reward openly.  Jesus repeatedly tells us in Matthew 6, "do not be like the hypocrites", He also tells us not to worry but to give everything to the Father.  Our lives, our full attention, everything.

Matthew 6:33 - is the crowing verse of this awesome chapter.  "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.  Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things.  

We've covered these first two days of the importance of why we fast and how our attention needs to be totally devoted to Him.  We've learned that this spiritual process is not only beneficial for every believer but very necessary in the next days, weeks and months ahead.  God is so good!

Don't forget your daily bible reading section on the app.  We are blessed to be able to read the bible together as a church family.  

Love you all,

Pastor Ellen

Today is such a very important day for our nation.  God will lead us and direct us as to how to pray and fast.  In 2 Chronicles 20:3-4  we together as a church family can unite and be encouraged with these words.  

All of Judah fasted, even the women and children. They desperately needed to know the Lord’s plan to defeat this great enemy army. In the midst of that assembly of fasting people, God spoke to His people through a prophet, who encouraged them, saying, “‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.…You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you” (verses 15 - 17).

In the midst of the whole assembly, God told Judah exactly how that enemy army would approach and exactly what they were to do in response. They gave tremendous praise to the Lord, and He set ambushes against the enemy army and defeated them.

Praise God!  He always fights for us. There is such a tremendous strength when we come together in one accord and in unity. We love our church, our families and our nation.  Together fasting, together praying, and together praising!  A threefold cord cannot be broken.  

Be encouraged today to stay the course on this third day of our journey together.  The best is yet to come!

Pastor Ellen

A true prayer life begins at the place of anguish, a place where lifetime moments are made. If you set your heart to pray God is going to come and start sharing His heart with you.  This truth has been so powerful in our lives and ministry.  As Pastor and I have prayed and ministered for over thirty years now, we have seen God's faithfulness over our lives.

Anguish is not a scary word.  It simply means that God will place a heavy burden on your soul for something.  It could be family, your community, souls ....anything.  As we fast and pray everyday, we expect God to open up His heart.   He’s going to show you the condition of your own heart.   He’s going to come and He’s going to say now if you’re going to bear My burden, if you’re going to be an instrument of restoration you will walk through some waters but I will be with you all the way.

There are times you’re not going to know what to do. You have no time to run to the closet. You have to hear His voice, “This is the way, walk in it”. Instant. Nehemiah was very afraid, so he prayed to the God of heaven, fasted and set himself apart to hear from God.  God then placed a burden on his heart for his people in exile.  This birthed anguish. God, change me. And when you get desperate before God you’ve set your heart to seek Him, then you can hold God to His covenant promises.
 
But if ye turn unto me, and keep my commandments, and do them; though there were of you cast out unto the uttermost part of heaven, yet will I gather them from thence, and will bring them unto the place that I have chosen to set my name there. (Neh 1:9 KJV)

Let's continue to pray for this very significant and historic day in our nation today.  As Nehemiah was burdened for his people in exile.  Today we are burdened for our nation, and God will lead us and direct us, and give us the courage to move forward.  We must hear His voice.

Pastor Ellen

As we separate ourselves during this week of fasting and prayer, Gods word is very clear at what fasting can accomplish in our lives. Read this scripture below to encourage yourself in God's word today!

“Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, To undo the heavy burdens, To let the oppressed go free, And that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, And that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; When you see the naked, that you cover him, And not hide yourself from your own flesh? Then your light shall break forth like the morning, Your healing shall spring forth speedily, And your righteousness shall go before you; The glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard. Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer; You shall cry, and He will say, ‘Here I am. ’ “If you take away the yoke from your midst, The pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, If you extend your soul to the hungry And satisfy the afflicted soul, Then your light shall dawn in the darkness, And your darkness shall be as the noonday. The LORD will guide you continually, And satisfy your soul in drought, And strengthen your bones; You shall be like a watered garden, And like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. Those from among you Shall build the old waste places; You shall raise up the foundations of many generations; And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In. “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath, From doing your pleasure on My holy day, And call the Sabbath a delight, The holy day of the LORD honorable, And shall honor Him, not doing your own ways, Nor finding your own pleasure, Nor speaking your own words, Then you shall delight yourself in the LORD; And I will cause you to ride on the high hills of the earth, And feed you with the heritage of Jacob your father. The mouth of the LORD has spoken.””Isaiah 58:6-14 NKJV

While we are fasting this week, we are waiting on God.  At times, we wonder why God seems like He's not listening, why He seems so far away.  One of the most quoted verses from the Book of Isaiah is found in chapter 40: “But those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint”.   You will renew your strength as you wait on Him.

So what do you do while you wait on the Lord? You are still.

Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!
PSALM 46:10

When we fast, we quiet ourselves. Get still by turning off the silly distractions of this life and press into God’s presence. Open God’s Word and devour it. God will speak to you through His Word. The Bible contains the answer to every trial you face, and if you will read it as you fast, God will speak to you. The Lord instructed Joshua to keep His Word before him and meditate on it day and night. God’s Word should become part of your being, changing your inner man to line up with God’s will.

This past Sunday I shared that consistency is the key.  Let's stay the course and be determined to wait on the Lord.  God always fulfills His promises.  He is never late and is always on time.  He fights for us and is with us.  Our constant source, our constant strength, our rock, our redeemer, unwavering, solid, our hope, our strength and our everything.  There aren't enough words to describe how awesome our God is.  Rejoice today as you wait on the Lord and be still for it's already done.  In Jesus name.

Pastor Ellen

As we are fasting and praying this week, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you again with a fresh anointing. When you are battle weary, it is so easy to just give up. But if you will fast, it will replenish your spirit and your authority in Christ. Pray until you feel that authority. Pray until the Spirit touches and fills you afresh. Pray until you get broken before God.

“Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise” (Heb. 10:35–36).”

I don’t care what the enemy throws at me; I have made up my mind that I am not turning back. I am not of those who draw back, and I don’t believe you are either. There is no quit option. I have had prayers answered, and I’ve had prayers go unanswered.
Pastor and I have seen great  miracles happen, and we have endured many challenges.  But we have never waivered or doubted our God and we are not in this for what we can get out of Jesus.  He loved me first and gave Himself for me. When I will recognize my weakness and trust in His strength, He will give me the mercy and grace to endure. “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

Let's continue today to pray for our families, church, nation and for those in authority.  

Pastor Ellen