FAST FOR COURTNEY
Tue June 2 @ 7pm
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Tue June 2 @ 7pm 〰️
We will fast from Tuesday 6/2 to Wednesday 6/3
7pm-7pm
What Fasting Is And Why We’re Doing It
Fasting is one of the oldest and most powerful acts of prayer in Scripture — it’s a way of turning down the volume of the world and turning our full attention to God.
Here are some helpful references on fasting, taken from Donald S. Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines For The Christian Life:
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“A biblical definition of fasting is a Christian’s voluntary abstinence from food for spiritual purposes. The discipline’s motives and purposes are to be God-centered…”
“(Is is) the voluntary denial of a normal function for the sake of intense spiritual activity.”
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“Whenever men are to pray to God concerning any great matter, it would be expedient to appoint fasting along with prayer.’ - John Calvin
“There’s something about fasting that sharpens the edge of our intercessions and gives passion to our supplications. So it has frequently been used by the people of God when there is a special urgency about the concerns they lift before the father. The Bible does not teach that fasting is a kind of spiritual hunger strike that compels God to do our bidding. If we ask for something outside of God’s will, fasting does not cause Him to reconsider. Fasting does not change God’s hearing so much as it changes our praying.”
In Arthur Wallis’ book, God’s Chosen Fast, he writes: “Fasting is calculated to bring a note of urgency and importunity into our praying, and to give force to our pleading in the court of heaven. The man who prays with fasting is giving heaven notice that he is truly in earnest… Not only so, but he is expressing his earnestness in a divinely-appointed way. He is using a means that God has chosen to make his voice to be heard on high.”
How to Participate in Fasting
The fast runs from 7pm on Tuesday, June 2 to 7pm on Wednesday, June 3 — a full 24 hours. We will break the fast together by joining the Healing Service at Courtney's church at 7pm on June 3 (in-person or livestream if you’re able to join).
What to Fast A biblical fast is most traditionally a fast from food. If you are able, we encourage you to abstain from all food for the full 24 hours, drinking water and staying hydrated throughout the day.
If you have a medical condition that prevents you from fasting food, your fast is no less meaningful. Consider fasting from:
Social media and news feeds
Television and streaming
Music and podcasts
Your phone during non-essential hours
Coffee or a specific comfort food or habit
Shopping or entertainment
The goal is not the specific thing you give up — it is the intentional space you create for God to fill.
Your Fast is a Privilege
This fast is an invitation, not an obligation. Donald Whitney reminds us that fasting is the acceptance of a divine invitation to experience His grace in a special way. Come to it freely, and come to it with expectation.
Keep It God-Centered
Your fast must have a purpose — and that purpose must be God-centered, not self-centered, for the Lord to bless it. Our purpose today is clear: we are fasting and praying for Courtney's healing. When hunger comes — and it will — let it be a prompt, not a distraction. Let every pang of hunger remind you to pray. Let the desire to eat redirect your attention toward God and toward Courtney. Use it. That is exactly what it is there for.
Ask the Lord How to Pray
You do not have to have the perfect prayer. Ask the Lord to show you how to pray. Ask Him what to say, what to believe, and what to hold. Then pray what He gives you. Some of the most powerful intercession begins with simply saying, "Lord, I don't know how to pray for this — show me."
Trust His Reward
Jesus is direct in Matthew 6:17–18: "But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Your fast is seen. Your prayers are heard. And while we come before God with full faith that He heals — because He does — we also come humbly, trusting that His wisdom exceeds ours. As Donald Whitney puts it: if you knew what God knew, you would give yourself the identical blessing that He does. None of His rewards is worthless.
Break the Fast Together At 7pm on June 3, we invite you to join the Healing Service at Courtney's church — in person or via livestream — to close the day in worship and communion. Those attending in person, including Courtney, will have the opportunity to go forward to be prayed for with the laying on of hands and anointing of oil. You are welcome to come forward for your own healing as well. All are invited. Come as you are. Come expecting.
Stay Connected Through The Fast & Share Encouragement and Scripture
Throughout the day of fasting, we'll share prayers, scriptures, encouragement, and moments of worship in a group chat. Everything shared becomes a living record of God's mercy and faithfulness — something Courtney can look back on and be strengthened by for years to come.
Join the Group
Tab the green button above on your phone. WhatsApp will open and ask you to confirm joining.
Set Your Name
Go to WhatsApp Settings —> Profile and make sure your name (first and last) is showing so Courtney others know who you are.
Plan with Purpose
If you prefer to check when there are new messages, you can mute notifications.
Open the group, tap the group name at the top, then select “Mute Notifications”. Choose the option you’d like to be able to check-in at your own pace without being overwhelmed.
How to Leave
If you find that the group chat isn’t your style, no worries! You can leave the group by tapping the group name —> scroll down —> Exit Group. No explanation needed, come and go as feels right for you.
A Few Kind Reminders About Group Texting
This group is a supportive space — share what's on your heart freely, whether it's a prayer, a scripture, a word of encouragement, or even just a ❤️
Be mindful of the flow — if you have a lot to share, consider spacing it out through the day rather than posting many messages at once.
Not everyone will respond or react to every message, and that's okay. This isn't a conversation — it's a chorus.
Keep the focus on prayer and encouragement for Courtney. Side conversations are best saved for direct messages.
You don't need the perfect words. A simple "praying for you, Courtney" is powerful and enough.
Everything shared in this group may be saved as a keepsake — how cool will it be for Courtney to have a thread of encouragement to draw on, and prayers to look back on and praise Jesus for?!