Prayer and Fasting for Missions: Igniting a Movement Through Dependence on God

In this episode of Wisdom for the Wilderness, Pastors Zack and Josh dive into Overland Church's week of prayer and fasting, timed strategically with their seasonal missions focus and offering. They reflect on how a leadership exercise revealed the church's "prayerless" culture years ago, prompting four annual intentional weeks to seek God's heart, align with His mission, and depend on His power—without earning favor.Fasting is explained as a biblical practice of self-denial (primarily from food) to express "I want You more than I need this," creating hunger for God, humility, clarity, and breakthrough from apathy. Practical tips include starting small (one meal, not 40 days), using meal times for focused prayer, and exceptions for health reasons like pregnancy or blood sugar issues. Avoid Pharisaical showiness; keep it private and genuine.The discussion shifts to missions' utter dependence on the Holy Spirit (Acts 1, 13), with prayer and fasting as non-negotiable for empowerment amid opposition. Historical examples highlight prayer's role in revivals: the Moravian 100-year continuous prayer chain sparking the modern missions movement (influencing William Carey); the Haystack Prayer Revival birthing senders/goers like Adoniram Judson and Luther Rice. Prayer aligns our purposes with God's kingdom, fuels impossible obedience, and combats distraction—unreached peoples remain so not due to a weak gospel, but a distracted church.Closing wisdom: Prayer feels unnatural and hard (like pulling teeth), but persist—it's long-term "banked" investment. Missionaries thrive on knowing they're prayed for; send a quick note. Listeners are challenged to fast, pray the guide, and join the movement.