Firm Foundations (Pt. 19) Prayer and Fasting – Paul M. Williams

Part 19 – How Do I Pray and What Is Fasting? As one opens the Bible and turns to the pages of the New Testament, one is struck by the sheer number of references and exhortations calling God's people to prayer.  As Christians, we cannot dispense of this holiest discipline since it is the very lifeline not only of the Christian but of the Church.  Yet sadly, the prayer meeting has almost disappeared from view and if there is one, it is the least attended meeting of the week.  What is prayer?  Prayer in its most basic form is talking to God and includes in its function petitions, supplications, intercessions, praise, thanksgiving and worship.  In this nineteenth teaching part, we examine some of these functions and explore practically and theologically the question, 'How do I pray?'  Finally, there are times in our lives that call for desperate action; times of great calamity or urgent needs where prayer alone does not seem to cut it.  It is during these times that we may resort not only to heightened times of prayer but enjoin to our prayers the discipline of fasting.  We shall seek also in this teaching then to bring some practical help and guidance to this matter and in so doing, clear up some of the misconceptions surrounding prayer and fasting. Download teaching notes (pdf) https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bethesdashalom/19_How_Do_I_Pray_and_What_is_Fasting.pdf