The last several days I have been going back again and again to Mark 9:29. It\u2019s the verse where the disciples tried to cast out a demon from a young boy but were unable to do so. After Jesus brings healing, his friends ask why they were not able to perform the miracle themselves. Jesus says, \u201cThis type can only come out by prayer (and fasting*).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Thank you disciples for asking so many questions for our benefit! Are we doing it right, God?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the early quiet of my living room, I read this and asked God the same questions having to do with my prayer list. I\u2019ve been praying, should I add fasting? Is there anything else I should be aware of? Participating along with you? Have in conjunction with? He invited me to put the verse into my own words. Prayer and Fasting are words tied to so many experiences and stories\u2026he challenged me to say it without my known terminology.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis situation is drawing you to relationship and reduction.\u201d (Mark 9:29, Sommer Style)<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prayer walking; it\u2019s just about fasting (reducing the input) from the schedule of the day to have prayer (relational conversation) with God.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Quiet Time; fasting (reducing the fear of loss) of my physical sleep, to start my day in prayer (relationship building) with Jesus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The disciples knew about prayer and fasting, but this is the upside down Jesus version of prayer and fasting. It is not to add more requirements in order to get it right. It is to reduce the external requirements in order to receive deeper connection.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The notes on Mark 9:29 say most manuscripts do not include the word \u201cfasting\u201d in this verse. Commentators suggest it was later added to help bring emphasis and significance. In the original language, the same word for prayer is used in phrases like \u201cdevoting themselves to prayer\u201d (Acts 1:14) or \u201ccontinued all night in prayer\u201d (Luke 6:12) or \u201cin everything by prayer and supplication\u201d (Philippians 4:6) or \u201che prayed earnestly\u201d (James 5:17)\u2026all indicating an intentional, purposeful and engaged type of prayer.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In response, I am making momentary mini fasts to intentionally turn my heart to prayer. In a meeting I could feel myself getting frustrated and I heard God say, \u201cFast your position of authority in this moment and listen to me in humility\u201d. In the evening routine with my kids I hear God say, \u201cFast your productivity right now and see me in this conversation with her.\u201d While driving and running errands he draws me in, \u201cFast your music and multitasking list-making, hear me sing over you, laugh with you, process that with you, warm you with the sunshine through your window, and wow you with a demonstration of knowing you.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fast and Pray this week. It\u2019s so fun. It\u2019s so good. I don\u2019t fully know what\u2019s on the other side of it, but the midst of it is sensational. Reduce something to make room for relating to Jesus about our church family and building, finances, relationships, opportunities, great joys and celebrations, deep challenges and trials, or wherever your heart is led when you make space to follow.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The last several days I have been going back again and again to Mark 9:29. It\u2019s the verse where the disciples tried to cast out\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":620,"featured_media":1391189,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"wds_primary_category":471,"footnotes":""},"categories":[299],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1391188","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-prayer-initiative",""],"blockli_fields":{"post_type":"","post_action":"","post_type_icon":"","background_image":""},"bb_bookmark":{"bookmark_id":0,"is_bookmarked":false,"bookmark_date":0},"app_bookmark":{"bookmark_id":0,"is_bookmarked":false,"bookmark_date":0},"comments_count":"1","content_native":[{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
The last several days I have been going back again and again to Mark 9:29. It\u2019s the verse where the disciples tried to cast out a demon from a young boy but were unable to do so. After Jesus brings healing, his friends ask why they were not able to perform the miracle themselves. Jesus says, \u201cThis type can only come out by prayer (and fasting*).\u201d<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"The last several days I have been going back again and again to Mark 9:29. It\u2019s the verse where the disciples tried to cast out a demon from a young boy but were unable to do so. After Jesus brings healing, his friends ask why they were not able to perform the miracle themselves. Jesus says, \u201cThis type can only come out by prayer (and fasting*).\u201d"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
Thank you disciples for asking so many questions for our benefit! Are we doing it right, God?<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Thank you disciples for asking so many questions for our benefit! Are we doing it right, God?"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
In the early quiet of my living room, I read this and asked God the same questions having to do with my prayer list. I\u2019ve been praying, should I add fasting? Is there anything else I should be aware of? Participating along with you? Have in conjunction with? He invited me to put the verse into my own words. Prayer and Fasting are words tied to so many experiences and stories\u2026he challenged me to say it without my known terminology. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"In the early quiet of my living room, I read this and asked God the same questions having to do with my prayer list. I\u2019ve been praying, should I add fasting? Is there anything else I should be aware of? Participating along with you? Have in conjunction with? He invited me to put the verse into my own words. Prayer and Fasting are words tied to so many experiences and stories\u2026he challenged me to say it without my known terminology. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
\u201cThis situation is drawing you to relationship and reduction.\u201d (Mark 9:29, Sommer Style)<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"\u201cThis situation is drawing you to relationship and reduction.\u201d (Mark 9:29, Sommer Style)"}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
Prayer walking; it\u2019s just about fasting (reducing the input) from the schedule of the day to have prayer (relational conversation) with God. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Prayer walking; it\u2019s just about fasting (reducing the input) from the schedule of the day to have prayer (relational conversation) with God. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
Quiet Time; fasting (reducing the fear of loss) of my physical sleep, to start my day in prayer (relationship building) with Jesus.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Quiet Time; fasting (reducing the fear of loss) of my physical sleep, to start my day in prayer (relationship building) with Jesus."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
The disciples knew about prayer and fasting, but this is the upside down Jesus version of prayer and fasting. It is not to add more requirements in order to get it right. It is to reduce the external requirements in order to receive deeper connection. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"The disciples knew about prayer and fasting, but this is the upside down Jesus version of prayer and fasting. It is not to add more requirements in order to get it right. It is to reduce the external requirements in order to receive deeper connection. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
The notes on Mark 9:29 say most manuscripts do not include the word \u201cfasting\u201d in this verse. Commentators suggest it was later added to help bring emphasis and significance. In the original language, the same word for prayer is used in phrases like \u201cdevoting themselves to prayer\u201d (Acts 1:14) or \u201ccontinued all night in prayer\u201d (Luke 6:12) or \u201cin everything by prayer and supplication\u201d (Philippians 4:6) or \u201che prayed earnestly\u201d (James 5:17)\u2026all indicating an intentional, purposeful and engaged type of prayer. <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"The notes on Mark 9:29 say most manuscripts do not include the word \u201cfasting\u201d in this verse. Commentators suggest it was later added to help bring emphasis and significance. In the original language, the same word for prayer is used in phrases like \u201cdevoting themselves to prayer\u201d (Acts 1:14) or \u201ccontinued all night in prayer\u201d (Luke 6:12) or \u201cin everything by prayer and supplication\u201d (Philippians 4:6) or \u201che prayed earnestly\u201d (James 5:17)\u2026all indicating an intentional, purposeful and engaged type of prayer. "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
In response, I am making momentary mini fasts to intentionally turn my heart to prayer. In a meeting I could feel myself getting frustrated and I heard God say, \u201cFast your position of authority in this moment and listen to me in humility\u201d. In the evening routine with my kids I hear God say, \u201cFast your productivity right now and see me in this conversation with her.\u201d While driving and running errands he draws me in, \u201cFast your music and multitasking list-making, hear me sing over you, laugh with you, process that with you, warm you with the sunshine through your window, and wow you with a demonstration of knowing you.\u201d <\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"In response, I am making momentary mini fasts to intentionally turn my heart to prayer. In a meeting I could feel myself getting frustrated and I heard God say, \u201cFast your position of authority in this moment and listen to me in humility\u201d. In the evening routine with my kids I hear God say, \u201cFast your productivity right now and see me in this conversation with her.\u201d While driving and running errands he draws me in, \u201cFast your music and multitasking list-making, hear me sing over you, laugh with you, process that with you, warm you with the sunshine through your window, and wow you with a demonstration of knowing you.\u201d "}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}},{"type":"core\/paragraph","render":"
Fast and Pray this week. It\u2019s so fun. It\u2019s so good. I don\u2019t fully know what\u2019s on the other side of it, but the midst of it is sensational. Reduce something to make room for relating to Jesus about our church family and building, finances, relationships, opportunities, great joys and celebrations, deep challenges and trials, or wherever your heart is led when you make space to follow.<\/p>","content":[{"type":"text","data":"Fast and Pray this week. It\u2019s so fun. It\u2019s so good. I don\u2019t fully know what\u2019s on the other side of it, but the midst of it is sensational. Reduce something to make room for relating to Jesus about our church family and building, finances, relationships, opportunities, great joys and celebrations, deep challenges and trials, or wherever your heart is led when you make space to follow."}],"data":[],"style":{"textAlign":"left","color":"","dropCap":false,"parent_style":{}}}],"app_access":{"can_access":true,"restrict_message":null},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1391188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/620"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1391188"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1391188\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1391189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1391188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1391188"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lwrv.org\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1391188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}