In his book Hunger for God John Piper states, “What’s new about Christian fasting is that it rests on all this finished work of the Bridegroom. It assumes that. It believes that. It enjoys that. The aching and yearning and longing for Christ and His power that drive us to fasting are not the expression of emptiness. Need, yes. Pain, yes. Hunger for God, yes. But not emptiness. The firstfruits of what we long for have already come. The down payment of what we yearn for is already paid. The fullness that we are longing for and fasting for has appeared in history, and we have beheld His glory. It is not merely future. We do not fast out of emptiness. Christ is already in us the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27). The new fasting, the Christian fasting, is a hunger for all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19), aroused by the aroma of Jesus’ love and by the taste of God’s goodness in the gospel of Christ (1 Peter 2:2–3).”

In Matthew 9 John’s disciples asked Jesus, “Why do we fast and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus’ response was not that fasting was only an Old Testament principle but rather He equates fasting to longing for Him. His response was that as long as the bridegroom (Jesus) is with His disciples they do not need to fast. But when the bridegroom (Jesus) is taken, then they will fast. Friends, fasting is longing and yearning for Jesus.

The Forgotten Spiritual Discipline by Kevin Celestin

Fasting: For the Purpose of Godliness by Luke Sedotal

What is the purpose of fasting? by John Piper

In the month of February we will fast as a church. Fast from whatever God is calling you to fast from. For example, you can fast from food, TV, social media, etc. You can fast one day a week, several days a week, or the entire month. Pray about what you should do. As you are starving those earthly cravings make sure that you replace it with a craving and delight for Christ by praying.

There will be several groups throughout week where men and women will gather to pray. The groups will last about 45 minutes to an hour.

Women’s Prayer groups:

Mondays @ 9:00 am
Location: Fellowship Hall
Leader:    Tina Detillier

Mondays @ 6:30 pm
Location: 220 Back Project Rd, Schriever
Leader:    Carrie Bourgeois

Tuesdays @ 6:00 pm
Location: 1728 Savanne Rd., Houma
Leader:    Jettie Daly

Thursdays @ 6:00 pm
Location: 1510 Himalaya Ave, Thibodaux
Leader:    Jody Snow

Sundays @ 4:00 pm
Location: Church Nursery
Leader:    Sarah Burch

Men’s Prayer Groups:

Mondays @ 5:30 pm
Location: Sanctuary
Leader:    John Dighton

Tuesdays @ 6:00 am
Location: 220 Back Project Rd, Schriever
Leader:    Biff Bourgeois

Thursdays @ 6:30 pm
Location: Marriot Courtyard, Houma
Leader:    Chad Guidry

Thursdays @ 6:00 pm
Location: Sanctuary
Leader:    Lucas Bolden

Pray for personal spiritual growth.

Pray for a deeper love for God, His word, people, prayer, service.

Pray for these specific church members:

Gerald & Barbara Andre
Hunter & Haley Babin
Rachel Babin
Levi Bekesza
Clark & Jenna Bergeron
Lucas Bolden
Alexa Boudreaux
Andrew Boudreaux
Madison Boudreaux
Jaime & Jamie Boudreaux
Adam & Malorie Bourgeois
Biff & Carrie Bourgeois
Bonnie Bourgeois
Jacob Davis
Tom & Paulette Brantley
Guy and Sarah Burch

Pray for your family.

How to pray for your wife:

1. Grace to submit to and respect our husbands and to love our husbands and our marriage the way God intended.

2. That the Lord would help us to be fulfilled and content with the roles He has designed for us and that we would constantly be aligning our will with His will.

3. To have a desire to be used by God to be an encouragement to other women.

4. To be humble and to find and surround ourselves with friends who are encouraging and guiding us Biblically.

5. That our faith would be strong and that we would have growth in spiritual disciplines.

6. That we would be thankful, humble, and faithful servants of the Lord, prioritizing His Word over everything else.

7. Wisdom and discernment in parenting our children and prioritizing devotion time and discipleship with them.

8. Health and safety for us, our husbands, and our family members.

9. Salvation for our children, their spouses, and our family members.

10. Strength in our roles and careers.

11. That our hearts would be guarded from worldly desires and pursuits and filled with a desire to serve and disciple others.

How to pray for your husband:

1. To have a greater love for God and His people.

2. To be more disciple-minded at home.

3. To be more in tune with the Holy Spirit.

4. To have patience with their children.

5. To love their wives like Christ loved the church.

6. To share the gospel faithfully with the lost.

7. To balance time with work, church, and family.

8. To have wisdom in leading family decisions.

How to pray for your children:

1. Pray for their salvation.

2. Pray for humility.

3. Pray for generosity.

4. Pray for a servant’s heart.

5. Pray for their friends.

6. Pray for their future spouses.

7. Pray for their obedience.

8. Pray for God’s protection.

Pray for these specific church members:

Kevin & Beth Celestin
Silas Celestin
Clay & Lisa Cortez
Michele Cunningham
Jeff & Angel Daigle
Seth Daigle
Steven & Jettie Daly
Diane Dawson
Seth Dawson
Tina Detillier
John & Deana Dighton
Chloe Dighton
Joe Doughty
Jonathan & Jenna Fontenot
Sara & Mason Foret
Richard Green
Shanon & Amy Guidry

Pray for the lost.

1. Pray that God would open their eyes (Acts 26:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4).

2. Pray That God would give you an open door to share the Gospel to them (Colossians 4:2).

3. Pray for God to send people into their lives to share the Gospel to them.

Pray for these specific church members:

Chad & Danielle Guidry
Matt & Emily Guidry
Jason Haynes
Joe and Candace Hebert
Alice & Charlie Himel
James & Jennifer Jett
Cherie Knight
Gerard & Colleen Lavergne
Tanner Lavergne
Tonya Lavergne
Matt & Kacie Leblanc
Tony & Lauren Ledet
Carolyn Marcel
Jimmy & Paulette Mayon
Nicholas Mayon
Michael & Linda McLain
Ashley Meissner

Pray for the church.

1. Pray for the pastors and their families.

2. Pray for the preaching and teaching ministries of the church.

3. Pray for the ministries and ministry leaders of the church.

4. Pray that the church will be united.

5. Pray that the church will be God-focused and Word-focused.

6. Pray that the church will have a Biblical focus on fellowship.

Pray for these specific church members:

Ashley Munson
Coleman & Lauren Nave
Caleb Nave
Luke Nave
Todd & Belinda Orgeron
Huey & Ann Rivet
Jerry & Mandie Rivet
Cass Rivet
Isabella Robertson
Chloee Rodriguez
Phillip & Victoria Romo
Steven & Cassie Scrivner
Luke & Sarah Sedotal
Danny & Rachel Shoop
Kevin & Kim Smith
Amy Snow
Shawn & Jody Snow
David & Lindsay Spencer
Michelle Toups
Greg & Christa Veillon
Josiah & Katherine Wommack