Apr 16, 2026 Prayer and Fasting This Weekend – Words of Grace Blog – April 17, 2026
The sermon passage in Acts last Sunday gave us a glimpse into the praying and fasting practices of the church in Antioch (Acts 13). This Sunday we will see the work of missionaries who were sent from that church to proclaim the gospel. It is no coincidence that prayer, fasting, and proclamation were together used by God to bring people to faith in Christ.
This Sunday night at Grace Community Church we are holding a prayer meeting to pray specifically for the salvation of family members and friends who do not know Christ and are not walking with him.
It may seem to be judgmental to say that someone is not a Christian, not in fellowship with Christ, or not being faithful to his church, and then to pray for their repentance. But if your heart is truly burdened for friends who are not Christians, children who have walked away from Christ and his church, or parents who don’t know the Savior you have come to know, then you know that this kind of gathering for prayer is an act of love.
What about the fasting part? Well, try it this weekend. Fast from a meal or two, or for a day, to give special attention to worship, prayer, and meditation on Scripture.
Go back and read Acts 13:1-3. You will see that fasting was not self-punishment or self-righteousness. Fasting was a form of self-sacrifice in worship and in seeking wisdom from the Lord. It was evidence of earnestness and intentionality in prayer. When you pray with fasting for your child, parent, and friend this weekend, you will be focused on interceding for their soul.
Fasting and prayer are not ways to manipulate God and convince him to do what we ask. They are acts of obedience that God has ordained as means by which he works. Let the mystery remain, let God be God, let us be faithful.
So, take time this weekend to pray, and if you can, fast. Then join us Sunday morning for worship and Sunday evening for prayer. May the Lord be gracious to show his saving and sustaining hand among us.
-Scott