Fasting on the 16th of the Month

Fasting is an ancient Spiritual discipline that helps us live for God’s kingdom instead of our own. When we fast, we intentionally disrupt our daily practices by refraining from food. As Jesus taught, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4) The point is not deprivation, but to experience God more fully. As with other Spiritual disciplines, through fasting, God works to sanctify us.

As you prepare to fast, here are a few tips:

1. Start Small but with Big Expectations: Pick a meal or a day to fast from food. Otherwise, go about your day as normal. If you are new to fasting, you may experience a slight difficulty in the beginning. That is OK; it's a part of the process. This is something God uses to grow us in the grace of self-control. Approach your fast with the expectation that God will meet you in this experience.

2. Prioritize Scripture & Prayer: Replace the time you would spend eating (30-minute or so increments) in prayer, meditation, and worship.

3. Give Thanks: Thank God for his lavish goodness and provision in your life.

4. Use Fasting to Pray for Urgent & Specific needs: During 2026, we are asking our Redeemer church community to fast on the 16th of each month. Join us in praying that God would fulfill his promise to build his church so that even the gates of hell would not be able to stand against it. (Matt 16:18)

Specifically, it is our prayer that God would build Redeemer by providing a permanent facility. We hope this facility will be a place of worship, will allow us to be present in our community, and will aid our church in the ministry of the gospel.

5. Be Discreet: Don’t parade your fast before others: Guard your own heart from personal pride.