Is Your Faith Relational or Just a Routine? A Look at Prayer and Fasting

[00:07:15] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
[00:07:38] Amen.

[00:10:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
Well, good morning, Cove Church.
[00:10:03] It's so great to be with y'all, even if you're not in person.
[00:10:06] We're still together in spirit.
[00:10:08] I hope you guys are staying warm, staying out of the cold, staying out of the ice and the snow.
[00:10:13] Welcome to Snowmageddon.
[00:10:15] We made it.
[00:10:16] We've arrived, and hopefully we've survived, and we're staying warm.
[00:10:20] Hey, listen, I know this is a little bit different this Sunday.
[00:10:22] You know, normally we're gathering together across all of our campuses, and we're worshiping God in person.
[00:10:27] but just because we're in homes just because we're not physically together doesn't mean we're not still coming together as one church to worship our God so I want to encourage you right there where you are whether you're in your house you're at your friend's house you're in your car I hope you're not in your car because it's icy outside but if you are I want to encourage you to still engage with us still
[00:10:48] Engage with the God who is still breathing, working, and moving today in this place.
[00:10:54] If you aren't at home, I want to invite you to, I know it's easy to, you know, kind of put the service in the background while you're making breakfast, while you're getting the kids ready, while you're getting your coffee brewing, but I want to encourage you, pause all that, put a stop to all that, and just gather your family, gather your kids, your spouse, your parents, whoever is with you,
[00:11:11] and just gather and come together as we give the Lord our attention we give the Lord our worship we give the Lord our song we give the Lord our life and we lift up our voices and we declare God we're grateful we're thankful for who you are we're grateful for what you've done we're grateful that we have the privilege and the honor to bless you and to worship you you are the God who was who is and is to come you are the God of the impossible
[00:11:38] You are the God who makes a way where there is no way and today we glorify you.
[00:11:44] In Jesus' name we pray and together we say amen.
[00:11:46] Come on, let's sing this out together.

[00:11:50] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_04]:
And there was no way until you made one.
[00:12:03] Grace upon grace, hallelujah.
[00:12:09] Even though I don't deserve it, You did it Even though I couldn't earn it, You give it Who am I that You keep me on Your mind?
[00:12:29] God, I'm just grateful for You God, I'm just grateful for You
[00:12:36] All my life you've been right here by my side God I'm just grateful for you God I'm just grateful for you Sing holy, holy, there's only one I give you glory for all that you've done And even though I don't deserve it
[00:13:16] Say, who am I that you keep me on your mind?
[00:13:27] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:13:28] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:13:31] You've been right here by my side God I'm just grateful for you God I'm just grateful for you Say who am I and who am I That you keep me on your mind God I'm just grateful for you God I'm just grateful for you
[00:13:56] All my life you've been right here by my side God I'm just grateful for you God I'm just grateful for you Oh I'm grateful for all you've done Lord I'm grateful for who you are The Alpha and Omega My Healer, Redeemer Come on say I
[00:14:27] I'm lifting both of my hands, cause you gave me chance after chance after chance And I, I give you all that I am, cause you gave me chance after chance after chance
[00:14:54] I'm lifting both of my hands Cause you gave me chance after chance after chance, Lord And I, and I'm giving all that I am Cause you gave me chance after chance after chance Come on, let's sing and sing Who am I that you keep me on your mind?
[00:15:20] God, I'm just grateful for you
[00:15:24] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:15:43] And all my life you've been right here by my side.
[00:15:46] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:15:46] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:15:47] And who am I, Lord?
[00:15:47] Who am I that you keep me on your mind?
[00:15:49] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:15:50] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:15:53] Yes, I am.
[00:15:57] And all my life, you've been right here by my side.
[00:16:01] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:16:04] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:16:07] Sing this out, sing.
[00:16:11] And I survived, and I'm here to testify.
[00:16:14] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:16:18] God, I'm just grateful for you.
[00:16:22] I'm just grateful for you

[00:16:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_07]:
as we sing those lyrics all my life you've been right here by my side God I just thank you so much for your faithfulness in my life and in our life even when circumstances weren't the way we thought they would be you've been faithful through them all through the hard times through the good times through the pain the suffering and the victory you've been faithful you've been here you've been present and you've always been good
[00:17:10] Even when circumstances don't feel good, even when the things that we experience haven't seemed good, you've always been good.
[00:17:21] And we thank you for your blessings.
[00:17:24] We thank you for your presence that we so often take for granted.
[00:17:29] Thank you for your word which is alive and active.
[00:17:33] Thank you for your promises.
[00:17:37] Thank you for your presence, Lord, we love you.
[00:17:39] The living God, it's you we worship.
[00:17:45] Right now, right here, wherever we're at, we choose right now to focus on you.
[00:17:52] We choose to give you our love, to give you our song to not hold back.
[00:17:56] For any reason, you are worthy and deserving of it all.
[00:18:02] We love you.

[00:18:07] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_05]:
I breathe in the presence of the living God I take in the goodness of your love I lean in closer to my Father's heart I trust in who you say you are
[00:18:38] You are alive, living and breathing, here in this place right here, speaking and healing.
[00:18:53] Your fullness and glory is right here before me.
[00:18:59] You're the living God, the living God.
[00:19:07] We worship You, King of kings and Lord of lords Lover of our souls, we worship You No one else is worthy
[00:19:36] The joy that's found in you alone and I cling to The peace that won't let go, oh Jesus You're the only one that satisfies and I run to the fountain of your hope
[00:20:08] God is in this place speaking and healing Your fullness and glory is right here before me You're the living God, the living God You are, You are alive
[00:20:36] Let us pray.
[00:21:06] Right where you're at, would you sing your own song to God?
[00:21:29] From your heart, lifting Him up right where you are, would you sing to the Lord?
[00:21:31] Oh, we worship you, Jesus Oh, death is never gonna hold you So it's never gonna hold me
[00:21:33] You're the only thing holding on to me now That was never gonna hold you So it's never gonna hold me You're the only thing holding on to me now That was never gonna hold you So it's never gonna hold me
[00:22:01] You are alive, living and breathing, here in this place, speaking and hearing.
[00:22:32] Let's sing that one more time.
[00:22:45] You are alive, living and breathing here in this place, speaking and healing
[00:23:04] Thank you Lord.

[00:23:20] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_03]:
That you live amongst us.
[00:23:22] You live in our hearts.
[00:23:25] You live in the heavens above enthroned in glory.
[00:23:30] Thank you for the privilege and the honor that it is to come before you to offer up our praises, to offer up our worship, to offer up our lives in submission and surrender to you, Lord.
[00:23:44] We glorify you.
[00:23:46] We praise you.
[00:23:47] In the beautiful name of Jesus we pray and together we all say, Amen.
[00:23:52] Church, it's so great to gather with you again, like we said, in person, in our homes, right there where you are.
[00:23:59] I want to encourage you to get ready, get a notebook, get a pen.
[00:24:02] We've got a great message today from the majority of our campus pastors are going to share with you all just some of their takeaways from this last sermon series, and we get a chance to hear the Word of God together right there in our homes.
[00:24:14] We love you.
[00:24:15] Stay warm.
[00:24:16] God bless.

[00:24:21] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
All right, Cove Church, welcome to our church service in the snow, I guess, is what we're doing here today.
[00:24:31] We are pre-recording this, so I am hoping, I am praying that you got snow today if you're watching this and not just
[00:24:38] I hope you're enjoying being in the comfort of your home or wherever you're joining us from.
[00:24:47] It is weird, it is different being where we're sitting here in the main auditorium at our Mooresville campus and it is weird not having you here with us as we do this message today.
[00:24:59] I'm excited for the format we're going to have today.
[00:25:02] I've got our campus pastor David Porter and campus pastor Josh Hassel with us today.
[00:25:08] Tim Beal, our campus pastor at Salisbury, is scrambling to get his daughter picked up right now, so he's not with us here today, but we're getting ready.
[00:25:20] I want to remind us before we jump into the message this week
[00:25:23] Next week is going to be our Vision Sunday.
[00:25:26] We're going to be talking about really the vision that God has given us for the year of 2026 and what that means for our entire church.
[00:25:35] And so I'm excited.
[00:25:37] Spoiler alert, it includes you.
[00:25:39] So I want to make sure to encourage you to come back, join us.
[00:25:43] I know we can get in the habit of it might be a little cold and we sat at home last week.
[00:25:49] Come join us next week in person.
[00:25:51] You're not gonna wanna miss it.
[00:25:52] I'm excited to talk about the vision the church has for 2026.
[00:25:56] So right now, you guys know these guys.
[00:25:59] They preach with me.
[00:26:00] They carry a large load of pastoring this church with me.
[00:26:04] And I do wanna tell you guys, I'm just gonna say a quick thank you to these two guys.
[00:26:09] We write all of our messages
[00:26:12] and the Holy Spirit.
[00:26:29] A good three hours.
[00:26:30] Almost an hour and a half of that is talking about the Bible.
[00:26:35] The other hour and a half is often spent talking about life and talking about the congregation.
[00:26:41] All sorts of things.
[00:26:42] So you're going to get a look behind the scenes.
[00:26:44] But I want to thank these guys because many of you have said, oh, the messages have been so great lately.
[00:26:49] That is not just me.
[00:26:51] That is a whole team effort.
[00:26:53] And these guys...
[00:26:54] Thank you guys for all that you do.
[00:27:04] I'm gonna stop talking here for a minute because I'm excited to have you with me because I didn't want to preach to an empty room.
[00:27:10] I thought that would be weird.
[00:27:11] I'd rather talk to you guys.
[00:27:14] You know, we're closing up.
[00:27:16] We wanted to kind of do a closing thoughts on this series, Prayer and Fasting, and the things God has taught us personally.
[00:27:23] This has been a series we were excited about, I'd say, six months ago before we were so excited to kick off the year with this.
[00:27:32] So why don't you guys...
[00:27:34] David, I'll start with you.
[00:27:34] Tell me a little bit about, have you done prayer and fasting before?
[00:27:40] I mean, we tried to put it into practice in doing a 24-hour day of no food, water, maybe black coffee.
[00:27:48] How did that go for you?
[00:27:49] Had you done fasting before?
[00:27:53] How did this one compare?

[00:27:54] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Yeah, I have definitely done fasting in the past.
[00:27:57] It started for me...
[00:28:00] Earlier on, probably about 20-some years ago actually, it was one of those moments, and we know, I know you're going to talk about this a little bit, Will, it's not you just fast to receive something, but there was a moment in my life when some things were happening, actually with my mom, and it was one of those moments I had never fasted before, and it was just a refocus.
[00:28:22] It really got me focused in that moment to be able to like, okay,
[00:28:27] God to show up in that moment was just really really special and so it was really one of those moments that it taught me like this is important and this was in the past this was in the past this was in the past so from that point on there have been moments throughout that I have like taken that moment especially when I get to a place of uh where I'm running and it's going crazy and I lose focus on
[00:28:50] on really what I should be doing and being closer to God in that relationship.
[00:28:54] That's why this was really important for me because life is crazy.
[00:28:58] Life is crazy.
[00:28:59] Everything is wild.
[00:29:00] I mean, we all know that.
[00:29:01] You out there today, life is difficult and it's hard.
[00:29:05] There are different seasons.
[00:29:06] So even for me recently, just to refocus.
[00:29:11] So as I was going through this, as we were talking about it, like you said, we've been so excited about this for our church especially.
[00:29:18] And even for me, it was like,
[00:29:20] just this crazy time crazy season and it helped me take a moment and be still and really to focus on what God is doing and I think of the the verse in in Psalms where it says be still and know that I'm God we all hear that we all know it but when we really take that moment and and that prayer and fasting within this series has been really really cool for me to help me grow and see God show up in some amazing ways that's cool and and and one of the
[00:29:48] One of the verses, if it's cool if I can just share a verse real quick.
[00:29:50] Yeah, go ahead.
[00:29:51] In Mark 6, it's when, before Jesus feeds 5,000, and it says, he's talking to his disciples, and it says, let's go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest for a while.
[00:30:05] And for me, when I read this, I think of even Jesus.
[00:30:08] So often, we're like, hey, we don't need to rest.
[00:30:10] We don't need to take time.
[00:30:11] We don't need to do these things.
[00:30:13] Even Jesus himself takes that time to actually to rest.
[00:30:17] And so for me during this, that was what it was.
[00:30:19] It was a time of rest, a time of refocus in that moment and in that prayer, just being still, listening, being quiet.
[00:30:28] So it's just been a super fruitful time for me

[00:30:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
You know that's funny you said the word for me and none of this is rehearsed by the way church just so you know so I don't we'll see we'll see if we uh how this goes we got some verses that we knew we wanted to talk about today but um when you were talking David I I kept thinking about one of the things that's made this a different fast for me I've done fasting before um mainly around times where I've organized it with you know maybe the life group or with our staff or whatever um
[00:31:01] Very rarely have I just taken it on, I think, in my personal life, just totally by myself.
[00:31:07] I think I've done it most of the time with other people.
[00:31:12] And what I've really been focused on is the word of just enjoying it.
[00:31:18] and so you I thought I think that resonates with what you're saying about just going off being alone being still you know I feel like the Lord was just revealing to me just um I just was genuinely looking forward to each time it was coming up it was like you know there's no pressure I'm not like trying to you know I'm not gonna freak out if you know I don't uh get to hear some booming voice or something at the end of this I just want to enjoy just being still with God and

[00:31:48] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
I found a lot of peace in that in during this I think that's that's too so this is a little behind it's behind the scenes pull back the curtain a little bit so when we was talking about earlier how we get together Mondays as CPs we also have a Thursday where we do a run through yeah so the this last time when we were doing the um the prayer how to how to pray while fasting and it's that even the quiet moment even here as staff would I'm just being real Katie I was I was a little bit sick and uh
[00:32:18] I was going through the run-through and staff was all in this room and I'm sitting there talking and I'm going through the prayer at the end
[00:32:25] and being still in that moment and just thanking God for what he has done.
[00:32:30] Katie had brought me a bottle of water up here.
[00:32:32] One of our staff members.
[00:32:33] Yeah, one of our staff members.
[00:32:34] Katie brought me a bottle of water while I was going through the message.
[00:32:36] And then when I prayed about it, I literally started crying up here on stage over a bottle of water.
[00:32:42] And I'm like, that would have never- He did, it was embarrassing.

[00:32:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
I did, it was embarrassing for me.

[00:32:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Honestly, honestly.
[00:32:47] I say it's because I'm getting older.
[00:32:48] I cry more when I get older.

[00:32:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
I think we recorded it somewhere.

[00:32:51] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
It's recorded somewhere.
[00:32:52] You just crying over a bottle of water.

[00:32:55] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
It was ridiculous.

[00:32:56] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Katie was crying with you, so that was good.
[00:32:59] But it was that moment.
[00:33:01] I think that's part of it.
[00:33:02] It was like you're really so focused and then you really just take that time and be still and just be thankful for what he's doing.
[00:33:09] So it just, for me, it was just a special last few weeks.
[00:33:13] That's awesome.

[00:33:14] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
I'll hop on to...
[00:33:16] I think the intentionality this series was great is like I wanted to fast and my kind of my experience with fasting is I always known hey it's important but one of the um during during um college in ministry school there was a time where there was a program in the summer and it was like basically almost like a vacation bible school or like a summer camp that you would train for and go to all these churches and
[00:33:41] and Preach.
[00:33:41] And part of that program during the training is it was required fasting on Tuesdays.
[00:33:45] And so it wasn't necessarily because I wanted to fast.
[00:33:48] That's always good when you're required to do it.
[00:33:50] And I'm not sure how much of that was spiritual and how much of that was just to save money for that Tuesday.
[00:33:57] The verdict is still out.
[00:33:59] But in all seriousness, I appreciate the heart behind that.
[00:34:02] But when it was kind of like, hey, you want to connect with the Lord, when it's something of your own will and your own desire, that was really cool for me this time to just say, you know what?
[00:34:10] Since we started talking about it, like we said, like six months ago, to go, I can't wait for this.
[00:34:16] And not that you can't fast anytime, but it was like, hey, during a series around prayer and fasting, I would love to be able to pray and fast.
[00:34:24] And so it was, for me, it was just like, hey, I'm looking forward to this day.
[00:34:27] And even, I remember, because I think we all picked different days where we were fasting.
[00:34:35] Were you a different day?
[00:34:36] What day were you?
[00:34:36] I was a different day.

[00:34:37] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Mine was Tuesday.
[00:34:39] Oh, you were Tuesday.

[00:34:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
So that was mine.
[00:34:41] Mine was Tuesday.
[00:34:42] And we had an all-staff meeting, and we were bringing, I think we had the tacos for life that we had for that day.
[00:34:51] I was like, oh man, I picked a wrong day to fast today.
[00:34:54] This is the tacos for life.
[00:34:55] And then the Lord was like, no, you picked the right day because if it doesn't cost you something, then is this really fasting?
[00:35:02] Is this really a sacrifice?
[00:35:03] And so I just was walking around smelling everyone else's plate, feeling good about that.
[00:35:09] But in all honesty, I just feel like this series connected some dots for me around prayer and fasting.
[00:35:18] Just the idea of like, this is you,
[00:35:21] Going after who God is and not necessarily just what he can bring to you, but just his presence.
[00:35:30] And I don't know if we want to talk about that right now.
[00:35:33] So the scripture, I think really, and this was just this past Sunday, and I'll pull it up here, but the last scripture that really hit me, and God's been teaching me this for a little bit, there's just this mentality around
[00:35:49] To not do ministry like for God, but to do ministry with Him.
[00:35:54] And I think as pastors, we really relate to this, but I think anyone can relate to this as like, you know, whether you're a mom or a dad or a husband or wife or even just a young adult or a student, it's just like, well, I want to, you know, I want to do my devotions.
[00:36:08] I want to do all these things.
[00:36:09] I want my quiet time.
[00:36:10] I want to pray.
[00:36:10] I want to fast.
[00:36:11] I want to do all these things.
[00:36:12] And it's like the checklist.
[00:36:14] and I just feel very convicted sometimes or recently God has really convicted me around this idea of just like man you don't have to do these things apart from me in fact Jesus says like apart from me you can't do anything and how how messed messed up is that perspective to be like Lord I want to do all these things for you and yet missing out um just on his presence and who he is and so the scripture that really hit home for me last Sunday was uh when you read in Matthew 9 14 and 15
[00:36:42] The disciples of John came to him, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?
[00:36:49] And Jesus said to them, Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them?
[00:36:53] The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.
[00:36:58] And that really hit home for me last Sunday, because I just kept thinking about, man, how many times have I fasted, and even earlier on in the prayer and fasting, of like, Lord, I want direction, I want guidance, I want
[00:37:11] I want to know why and it was just like I want something from God and in that moment it was like the Holy Spirit was just like hey when was the last time you just sat down and was just with me like you just spent some time with me like I don't want anything from you and not not that we can't pray and ask God tells us to he says everything to come to him with prayer and thanksgiving
[00:37:34] But I'm thinking about like what other relationship in our world would we have where every time we call somebody up or get together with them and it's always, hey, can I get something from you?
[00:37:45] That's not really much of a relationship, right?
[00:37:47] That's transactional.
[00:37:49] I think we've all been there.
[00:37:49] Maybe we've been that person before.
[00:37:51] So I don't know if you guys have any thoughts around that, but man, that really hit home for me.
[00:37:54] It's like, God, I want to just be with you.
[00:37:57] Like even if you never give me anything else, like just you are enough.

[00:38:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Yeah.
[00:38:03] Yeah, I think I absolutely resonate with you.
[00:38:05] I think we, probably everyone's experienced a relationship like that where
[00:38:11] Every time you see that name pop up, you go, they need something from me.
[00:38:15] And you're right.
[00:38:19] That is not the person you're most excited to pick up the phone and talk to, if I'm being honest.
[00:38:24] And on the flip side of that, you guys know I always bring it back to kids, because I think the relationship we have with our kids is the most clear example we can give of the relationship the Father has towards us.
[00:38:37] You know, our kids,
[00:38:41] We are proud of them when they do something good or when they bring back good grades or when they get their chores done.
[00:38:48] We're proud of them, there's no question.
[00:38:50] We might even reward them, but none of those things ever make us love our kids any more than we already love them.
[00:39:01] and I mean it's just it's just that simple these things are good I think God is pleased when we do these things prayer fasting when we take seriously pursuing God um but none of these things make him love us more or or like oh you know now now I care more about you because you're praying and fasting you know and I think that's been a good realization as well but but I 100 um there's nothing that

[00:39:30] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
We can do or not do though, may God love us more or less.
[00:39:32] But even as a, again, from the parent perspective, you know, as a dad now, with Jackson and Titus, and we all understand that, as dads, there's something real, like, your love doesn't change for them, but when they're in their moments when they can be like, thank you, or appreciative, it just does something for your heart.
[00:39:51] It moves your heart.
[00:39:53] Right.
[00:39:53] I've got to believe that our Heavenly Father feels that way, like, man, like,
[00:39:57] My love doesn't change, but that was a special moment, right?
[00:40:00] That was a special moment.
[00:40:01] In fact, something that my son Jackson just taught, he taught me something yesterday, not, I think it was intentional, but we've been doing some, changing out some decor in our bedroom.
[00:40:14] We've been waiting to do that for a long time.
[00:40:16] And so we ordered, my wife ordered this picture of like a silhouette of Jesus kind of walking down the road, like up ahead.
[00:40:24] so we've been putting it on just on top of our dresser for it's been there probably for five six days almost probably over a week now but we've been waiting for the rest of the um kind of like photos because i don't want to do them one at a time so we're kind of redecorating everything and so jackson comes in the room and he asked me and he goes when are you going to put jesus up and i thought for i was like oh that's so funny you know like when are we going to put jesus up i was like well that's a picture of jesus but
[00:40:53] Then it hit home, and I was like, especially around this prayer and fasting, I was like, man, especially with what God's been teaching me, like, the goal isn't, you know, what we can get from God.
[00:41:04] It's like, when do we put Jesus and elevate Him, and when He's the center of our life?
[00:41:08] Like, when do we put Him as a first?
[00:41:10] For me, I've been many times, it's like, well, I gotta, you know, read the Bible or pray or even fasting, but that's not the goal.
[00:41:17] Like, that's what Jesus was getting at in that scripture.
[00:41:19] He was like, hey, listen, like, you can do that when the bridegroom's not here.
[00:41:22] Like, when I'm not with you, there's opportunity for that, but the goal is Jesus.
[00:41:26] The goal is a relationship with God and just, hey, you know, like, this is enough just to be in your presence.
[00:41:35] And it kind of reminds me of the story of, like, Martha and Mary, right, and the difference between
[00:41:39] and it wasn't that Martha was doing anything necessarily wrong it was just like hey you're gonna have you're busy but like you're missing out on just like the relationship like I'm here in front of you now I don't know it's it's fun even even uh when your kids can say something and you're like wow that connected even even necessarily unintentionally but just like when is Jesus the very center you know is is he is he elevated have you put Jesus up yeah no I think I think when you

[00:42:06] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Just talk about that, Joshua, about being in His presence as well.
[00:42:08] I'm going to go back to that a little bit.
[00:42:11] That's been what's been so good as well, is just like, just when you're in His presence, you see, and this is what for me is, you see all the things He has done.
[00:42:21] You don't miss them.
[00:42:24] So often we miss what He's blessed us with every day.
[00:42:27] So in that time of just being still, in that time of being in His presence,
[00:42:31] of just being so thankful for you know we're always thankful for our family we're always thankful for our church we're always thankful for these things but man it's just those small things that he's given us day in and day out that we tend to forget so that's just been that piece of being in his presence hey i'm i'm showing you look at all that you've been blessed with look at all you've been given
[00:42:51] and then it's like throughout the day it's like man no matter what happens no matter what goes on it's hard it's difficult but man i'm thankful for this i'm thankful for these things so that's what i that's what i love about just sitting and being in his presence as well it's good yeah and i think i think we have to be i think what i'm learning also is and and we kind of knew this in

[00:43:12] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
It's the idea that it's, again, not fasting is somehow rubbing the genie lamp or whatever.
[00:43:24] It is that it is intentionality and it's focus and it's really, the phrase we used on the first message was putting skin in the game, right?
[00:43:35] Was it's, it's, it's,
[00:43:39] It's going for it, you know, and it just reminds me of...
[00:43:44] like dating my wife right like you know you can be around your spouse all the time we know this right and and have very little connection because you're not actually being intentional to say you know let's have a conversation or let's you know once the kids get down let's sit down and actually talk or let's go out on a date and get a babysitter and get out and you know there's something special happens when you put that level of intentionality into your relationship and not just
[00:44:11] you know get through the day next to each other and turn on the tv at the end of the day and sit next to each other on the couch you know look there are days i do that too i'm not i'm not sitting here saying we don't ever do that but but there is something special when you put a level of intentionality into your relationships and i think that's been the reminder in this series for me with god is that um you know it requires a level of intentionality and and i know we even got questions about like
[00:44:39] You know, well, if I have kids, I still have to prepare food.
[00:44:42] You know, it doesn't really save me that much.
[00:44:45] it's not about the legalism of of you know checking the box of you know it could be something different i heard other people were fasting from electronics we didn't even really talk about that a lot but some people were like for me it's electronics more than the food that's becomes a distraction and you know the legalist side of me even said well we said food you know was my first like response when i heard that but there's there's like you know what for that person
[00:45:13] you're being really intentional about pursuing God in your day if if you're dropping the electronics and you know what that's what God's after is our heart more than he just wants us to suffer that we're hungry you know and and for me that's the conviction if just in every area of my life looking at am I being intentional about pursuing the presence of God or am I just just hoping it'll happen you know just being around good people and hoping maybe something will click

[00:45:40] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
I think that's what is unique about fasting though that I've even come to discover this time is it's deeply personal yeah like what you're saying whether that's hey it's the thing that I'm that's why you know everyone needs to eat but there are other facets of our life where we're like being drawn to and ultimately you know fasting is just saying no to what I want right so I can align my heart to to where wherever God is and so I I think about
[00:46:07] When you fast there's something special about that and you even mentioned like you know being intentional and you have a date night right with your with your spouse like when you when you worship you can kind of worship along with other people right in the mess we have a worship series coming up in March get ready you're gonna hear about that one but you can in other words you can kind of like blend in like you can in other words you can kind of like ride the coattails of other people's faith
[00:46:37] you can't hire out you know fasting like that's between you and God and I think that is another intentionality although again you know Jesus never he never just says hey you have to fast but there's an assumption there because in that scripture he says when you fast like hey there's going to be a point in time where you need intentionality you need to separate and step away from the normal
[00:47:03] things that you're connecting to and and quiet those voices and kind of what you were even saying is like just be still right just be still and we don't do that well like we don't do that well in our culture and i think that's what makes fasting such a novelty for us i mean if you did this for the first time you're going like this is weird right this is strange like what am i doing and it's but it's it's just disconnecting and so i think that's what's also really powerful about the intentionality fasting is again you can't
[00:47:31] Just kind of hide behind somebody else.
[00:47:33] It's you and God.
[00:47:34] That's it.
[00:47:35] You're fasting.
[00:47:36] You can't be like, hey, can you not eat for me for today?
[00:47:40] No, that's not how that works.

[00:47:42] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Yeah, and I think you brought up a great point of it's weird in our culture.
[00:47:47] I do think, and we've got an emotion series coming up as well.
[00:47:51] I'm plugging all our series right now.
[00:47:52] We got an emotion series in February.
[00:47:54] We got worship coming up in March.
[00:48:00] I think it is interesting when you look at Scripture and the fasting that was happening in the Scripture, you know, when there was traumatic things, when there were things that needed to be worked through, they would take days, weeks at a time, not just to fast.
[00:48:17] I mean, fasting sometimes, but just to be still and to reflect.
[00:48:21] And I mean, we see that with Elijah.
[00:48:23] We see that with David.
[00:48:25] We see in these big moments in life,
[00:48:29] They shut everything down and get still with God and take time to pray through that and figure it out.
[00:48:36] We see it with Jesus, right?
[00:48:37] With the 40 days in the desert.
[00:48:38] And so it's interesting to me because we're just so not wired that way in our culture that we can shut everything down.
[00:48:47] I mean, anyone who hears that is going to go, I can't shut down my life for 40 days.
[00:48:51] What are you saying?
[00:48:53] and I don't have an answer to that question to be honest but I do think there's something to be said about the level of intentionality you see back in the Old Testament specifically even the New Testament with Jesus that they they knew how to shut down and be with the Lord and I think it allowed them to process things better I think it allowed them to have closure on certain things better because
[00:49:17] they were getting serious about seeking God in that in that dark season rather than just keep moving for us someone dies we we maybe take the week off to plan a funeral but you bury them everyone else goes home and you pick back up with your life you know but in the back of your mind you're going this this doesn't feel finalized yet and I think it's because we don't take the time to get still with God and process things

[00:49:45] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
I think it just brings it brings you clarity yeah even even if you're like not hey I'm not trying to to get an answer to this it just all of a sudden you start getting clarity of so many things in your life and even the own things that you got to look at yourself like when you take those moments and you're still and you're listening to God and all of a sudden there may be some things in your own life we talked about it through this series like there's certain
[00:50:07] Things that we have, there's sins that we have in our life that we push back and we hide and we're like, we don't want to deal with.
[00:50:14] But when you're in those moments with God, it's like, whew, I've got some things in my life.
[00:50:18] You know, even for me, it was like, there's some things I need to work on.
[00:50:21] There's some things I need to really like quit saying I'll get to that later or I'll work on that later of like, no, it's now, it's intentional.
[00:50:28] So I thought that's what has been good as well is just bringing clarity on some of the things that we just push to the side and try to ignore.
[00:50:36] especially when it comes to sin.

[00:50:38] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Amen.
[00:50:40] Also, I love what you were mentioning about just like being still because our culture, like we're the max.
[00:50:48] Like you said, can we do for 40 days?
[00:50:50] Like ha, forget that.
[00:50:52] Like two days is hard enough or a day is hard enough.
[00:50:56] But how much more then is fasting probably even more needed for us and more powerful for us because we are like,
[00:51:04] It's so contrary.
[00:51:05] Yeah, it's just we're always here.
[00:51:08] And part of that, I think, is American culture and our society.
[00:51:10] It's just like there's more and more and more.
[00:51:11] How can we get more?
[00:51:13] How can we be more efficient?
[00:51:14] And what fasting basically does is it creates space now.
[00:51:17] Like what you're saying is I'm removing things in my life, you know, whether it's eating or these other, you know, opportunities to fast and saying, okay, I don't have
[00:51:28] And I now have margin.
[00:51:30] I've now created space to hear.
[00:51:32] And I think that's another thing that's great about fasting is, like David was saying, the clarity is we're just rushing from the next thing, the next thing, the next thing, the next thing.
[00:51:41] Like even in ministry, right?
[00:51:44] We can get to that place.
[00:51:45] It's like, all right, Sunday's always coming.
[00:51:46] Always got to prepare a message, you know?
[00:51:48] And if you're, wherever you're doing, right?
[00:51:50] You've got to get those kids to school.
[00:51:52] You've got practices.
[00:51:54] and all these extra things that we're doing constantly.
[00:51:58] And when we fast, what it does is it basically just creates space and be like, oh, okay, God, you were speaking to me.
[00:52:05] I just, it was too noisy to hear you.
[00:52:08] I think that's been what was really powerful for me in the fasting is just like every time, instead of taking that, you know, 30 minutes, 45 minutes to eat, just saying, all right, Lord, I'm here to hear from you.
[00:52:19] And to your point again about like, when we go through things,
[00:52:22] Even with its grieving, like we don't really reset.
[00:52:24] We don't really refresh.
[00:52:25] It's like we're still running and it's like, it's almost like trying to fix the plane while it's still in air, right?
[00:52:31] And that's where we are a lot of time in our culture.
[00:52:33] And fasting just allows us to land the plane for a second and just say, slow down.
[00:52:37] Okay, Lord, can some things, and I would say for some of us, we're just like one, if we get one, that's why sometimes when tragedies strike or things that are unforeseen or sick, it's just like the whole thing falls down because we're just so,
[00:52:51] We're so going so quickly, and fasting as a practice allows us to say, you know what?
[00:52:56] Just strip down, strip away, step back, be still, right?
[00:53:00] And let God be God, because we don't have to be.
[00:53:03] I don't know, that really resonated with me.

[00:53:04] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
That pace, that actually happened to me at my last fast that I did.
[00:53:09] I was...
[00:53:12] The idea of we're just moving at a fast pace and the fast just forces us to slow down.
[00:53:16] I had woken up.
[00:53:18] I was getting my kids going because they had school.
[00:53:22] So I still had to heat the mac and cheese and all that stuff.
[00:53:25] And I wasn't, I hadn't even really prayed.
[00:53:27] I had woken up.
[00:53:28] I had gotten the, you know, I was running a little behind.
[00:53:31] Popped right up started getting everything ready for the kids and getting the day going and I was heating their mac and cheese and there was like that little extra piece on my hand and I went to eat it and I went oh no I'm fat and and I'm fasting right and I was like I can't have this macaroni roni noodle on my hand so I went and washed my hands real quick but then it reminded me of the deeper truth right not just of like and this is where this is where I think we all have to grow right because my first oh you can't eat
[00:54:00] but it reminded me of the deeper thing you haven't prayed yet today man you haven't stopped and and just talked to God and I started praying through the Our Father prayer right then and there that um you know we we taught on in week two and that I've enjoyed as well because you you know praying through the Our Father prayer um if you missed that was week two of this series and
[00:54:23] The Lord's Prayer, you know, it's something if you've been a believer a while, you've probably heard a million times and you think, yeah, of course you should pray for these things.
[00:54:31] But when you really slow down and pray through those things and really think through those things, that's been a spiritual growth for me as well in this series.
[00:54:39] I'm like I've prayed for all these things before but I mean I found myself just being intentional about it and I would find ways of oh my goodness I haven't really forgiven this person for this you know and I'm sitting here praying this and really thinking about it or oh my goodness I haven't stopped to just thank God for being my dad in a while you know and that was a very convicting section for me personally in this series was for me as well and that piece of it helped me just for the simple fact because we all know we talked about this in during that message was like we

[00:55:09] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
We get in a habit of prayer.
[00:55:11] That's great.
[00:55:12] But then we get into this like rhythm of like, oh, I'm saying the same thing.
[00:55:16] I'm saying the same prayer because it's like, hey, I'm praying for the same thing over and over again, the same healing I need over and over again.
[00:55:23] Same, like not that's wrong at the same time, but like you go to bed and it's like, oh, and then you just pray this prayer.
[00:55:28] Just being honest that's me sometimes and I just like this really brought it out of me it was like no get out of that ritual that you're doing that you're not what what am I doing with that it's the same idea as what we're talking about with fasting it's intentionality yeah it's it's actual

[00:55:44] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
I was doing it to check.

[00:55:49] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
You do it to check a box.
[00:55:51] Yes.
[00:55:51] A lot of times in that.
[00:55:53] You're a pastor.
[00:55:53] You can't do it to check a box.
[00:55:55] I know it, but I have done it.
[00:55:58] He called me out on it.
[00:55:59] Trust me.

[00:56:01] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Well, even that, it's like, that was a convicting part around that Lord's Prayer too.
[00:56:06] I love the message because it was just around this idea of, again,
[00:56:09] Being intentional in our prayer, right?
[00:56:11] And do we do that to anyone else?
[00:56:13] Like, do we just repeat the same thing over and over and over again?
[00:56:16] My wife asked me to do the dishes a lot.
[00:56:21] I'm not getting into that.
[00:56:22] That's up to you.

[00:56:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
That's a good call.
[00:56:25] I'm probably sitting next to my wife right now as I say that line.
[00:56:28] I'm getting an elbow right now.

[00:56:32] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
But true, like, think about, like, do we go the same way and we just talk to somebody?
[00:56:36] Even sometimes we can...
[00:56:38] I've been convicted of this before where it's just like well lord thank you for today lord we appreciate it and father and it's like dude I don't say like will how you doing today will you doing good today will you know it's like well what's happening there well we just kind of lost intentionality just kind of autopilot and that's what was really good too yeah I would say probably the overall thing of fasting is the intentionality it just forces you to be real intentional and also I think it's so funny that you were doing the mac and cheese because I had a same situation we were
[00:57:05] It was the day, and I think it was tacos for the boys, and I had a little on my finger and I went just like, oh, like, just get it out of my, you know, like, taste it real quick, get rid of it off of my hand, you know, kind of like lick off the thing.
[00:57:16] And I was like, oh no, I can't.
[00:57:17] And then it was like, oh wait, hang on, the idea here is, and we're like that.
[00:57:22] I don't know why, we're just so much check the box, be ritual, gotta make sure it's this way.
[00:57:26] And the heart of it is like, man, just let me connect with the Lord.
[00:57:29] And so, ah, no, this has been an awesome series.

[00:57:31] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
It's been a great series.
[00:57:32] I think it's been a reminder that
[00:57:34] you know prayer and fasting is worship to God but it does something in our hearts too and and I've enjoyed that I I don't know how we close up this service today I guess we're just gonna pray I'm gonna invite each of you guys to to pray and I'll close this up but I want to pray for our church and and
[00:57:54] and I hope you guys stay safe and stay warm and I hope even in the midst of a snowstorm and maybe you got kids running around or you know it's a day off from work and so you're chilling at home take a moment to be still with your God also don't miss the point of it be intentional don't just let these days go by be intentional about seeking after God and I hope that it's not just built around a once a week fast but in our everyday life so let's close up in prayer um David you want to open us and yeah

[00:58:23] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_01]:
Let's pray.
[00:58:24] Father, we just come before you.
[00:58:25] As always, we are going to thank you.
[00:58:26] We're going to praise you for this day you've given us.
[00:58:29] Thank you for this time that we have together right now to be able to just to talk through this past series, all that you have done, all that you've been doing in our lives and so many other lives out there.
[00:58:41] And we just thank you and praise you for all of these things.
[00:58:45] God, just be with every single person.
[00:58:46] Let them
[00:58:47] Just hear your voice.
[00:58:49] What an amazing time to connect with God.
[00:58:52] I mean, we may be sitting here and not have all the social media may be gone.
[00:58:56] We may not have power, whatever that looks like.
[00:58:58] And what an awesome time it would be to just to thank you, God, for who you are, to be in your presence, to be still, to know who you are, to know what you've blessed us with.
[00:59:08] So God, we just always want to praise you and thank you for those things.
[00:59:12] And we just, we give this day to you.
[00:59:14] We give this time to you and we honor you and we praise you.

[00:59:17] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_00]:
Heavenly Father thank you for what you're teaching us and personally but also collectively as a church just want to say thank you for who you are thank you for all that you do for us and and just you know you answer our prayers you're faithful to hear us and Lord even when we fail to say thank you even when we sometimes get so consumed about all the things that we want from you
[00:59:43] And Lord, you still love us.
[00:59:45] You still listen.
[00:59:45] You still care for us.
[00:59:46] And Lord, you're just, you're such a good father.
[00:59:48] And so thank you for that.
[00:59:49] Thank you for just who you are and your presence and that you do things for us, even the things that we don't ask for.
[00:59:56] And you take care of us.
[00:59:58] And so Lord, thank you for teaching us.
[00:59:59] Thank you for being patient with us.
[01:00:00] Thank you for all the ways you provide for us as David just prayed.
[01:00:05] Lord, thank you for, you know, this idea of us just being still and letting you
[01:00:12] Be God and so I pray that you would continue to teach us and instruct us and guide us and Lord I know that the prayer and fasting series is is coming to a close now but Lord that doesn't mean that we have to stop praying and fasting and so we're looking forward to how we continue to grow this year in 2026 and beyond that and so be with our families in that way and um in every in every aspect just to lean and trust in you or just again thank you thank you for the breath in our lungs thank you for a salvation thank you for your your
[01:00:42] Just your son Jesus who died on the cross for our sins and rose again and gave us eternal life for just things that sometimes I feel like I take for granted and just don't stop, slow down and be intentional with thanking you.
[01:00:55] And so God, I just want to say thank you today.

[01:00:58] [SPEAKER SPEAKER_02]:
Yeah, Lord, we do.
[01:01:00] My brother said it.
[01:01:01] Thank you.
[01:01:02] We're so thankful for who you are.
[01:01:04] We worship you today.
[01:01:06] We're just in awe of the God that you are.
[01:01:09] you're such a good God to us God I pray that you'd search our hearts as a church search our hearts for any parts that are being legalistic any parts that are trying to check a box or any parts that are even just working contrary to you and maybe we don't even see that I pray that you'd reveal those things in our hearts as we as we take time to be still before you I pray that our hearts would begin to line up more and more with yours
[01:01:36] Pray for our church that we just have a hunger, a desire, that instead of turning to excuses all the time of why we can't be more intentional, that God, our heart's desire would be before anything else to be in the presence of our God.
[01:01:51] And you are a good God.
[01:01:54] And we're so thankful for the blessing that you make yourself available to us and that we have a way to be in your presence.
[01:02:03] So thank you for Jesus.
[01:02:06] For those here that are listening right now that maybe have never received Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, God, I know it's not really what the message was about today, but maybe the Lord's speaking to you, and right now you know, I haven't made Jesus my Lord and Savior.
[01:02:21] I've been checking a box, or maybe I've never even tried to check the box.
[01:02:25] Right now I want you to know God loves you.
[01:02:27] He sees you.
[01:02:28] You fasting or praying doesn't change how much He loves you.
[01:02:33] He loves you as His child right now.
[01:02:38] But I want to invite you to receive that love, to receive that Jesus Christ died on the cross for your sins, so that you may have a relationship with your Heavenly Father.
[01:02:47] And so right now, would you make your prayer?
[01:02:49] Father, I believe Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins and saved me, and I ask you to be my Father.
[01:02:56] Thank you, God.
[01:02:57] Thank you for these brothers in Christ next to me.
[01:03:00] And thank you for our church.
[01:03:01] What an amazing church across all of our campuses that we have.
[01:03:04] We love you.
[01:03:05] We want to worship you.
[01:03:06] We want to honor you with everything that we do.
[01:03:07] That's our heart's desire.
[01:03:09] And we come to you in the name of Jesus.
[01:03:11] Amen.
[01:03:13] Amen.
[01:03:13] Hey, church, I love you guys.
[01:03:15] I cannot wait to see you next week.
[01:03:17] If you did pray to receive Christ or have prayer requests, you can put them right there in the chat right now.
[01:03:23] Someone would love to pray with you.
[01:03:24] Hey, I love you guys and hope you have a great rest of your week.
[01:03:27] Stay safe, stay warm.
[01:03:29] We'll see you next week.
[01:03:30] Love you, church.

[01:04:08] [SPEAKER UNKNOWN]:
Let's pray.
[01:04:54] Let's pray.
[01:05:32] and more.
[01:08:53] Thank you.