What is Seek Week?
At the beginning of each season in the New Year and in the Fall we dedicate a week toward pursuing God and giving Him our first. The week of September 7th through 12th we will be seeking the Lord in prayer and in worship as a church, and it's always a special time! We hope you'll join us in devoting these nights to gather together in the presence of God. Pastor Nate is also encouraging our church to make fasting a part of this week - to set aside food and really seek the Lord in prayer.
Schedule
What Spiritual Fasting Is
Definition
Voluntarily giving up food (or certain pleasures) for a set time in order to focus on God through prayer, worship, and Scripture.
Purpose
To humble ourselves before God (Psalm 35:13), seek His guidance (Ezra 8:21), repent (Jonah 3:5), or intercede for others (Daniel 9:3).
Heart Posture
Isaiah 58 warns against empty ritual fasting — God desires fasting that leads to justice, compassion, and holiness.
Key Scriptures on Fasting
Jesus assumes His followers will fast but warns against doing it for show.
16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
“Return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping.”
12 “Even now,” declares the Lord, “return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning.” 13 Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the Lord your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.
Early church fasted before sending out Paul and Barnabas.
2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
Nehemiah fasted when he heard Jerusalem’s walls were broken.
4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
Different Types of Biblical Fasts
Fasting in Scripture is never just about skipping food; it’s about seeking God with greater focus, humility, and dependence
Absolute fast
No food or water (Esther 4:16, Acts 9:9) → short-term, very serious.
Normal fast
No food, but water is allowed (Jesus in the wilderness, Matthew 4).
Partial fast
Restricting diet (Daniel 10:2–3).
Corporate fast
Entire community fasts together (Joel 2:15–16).
How to Practice Spiritual Fasting
Great Resources on Spiritual Fasting
"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."
Matthew 7:7-8
What Happens Spiritually During Fasting
Greater sensitivity to God’s Spirit.
Deeper dependence on His strength (not your own).
Heightened clarity in prayer and decision-making.
Breakthrough in areas of spiritual bondage.
