Week 1: A Month of Prayer & Fasting
Welcome to Week One of our month of prayer and fasting. This week, we will focus on listening and talking with Jesus about the first of St. Albert Alliance’s (StAAC’s) four growth areas: Embracing Holy Spirit. At StAAC, we desire to increase our capacity to experience the presence and power of Holy Spirit in every area of life. This email and the enclosed video will guide you through the first week of this church-wide initiative. To fully engage in this week’s activity, you will need a candle.
Setting the Table
In John 14:15, Jesus promises that he and the Father will give his disciples, which includes you and me, a helper, an advocate, a counsellor—Holy Spirit who will be with them and help them to practice the way of Jesus forever. In Acts 1:8, Jesus makes another promise to his disciples; this time, the promise is the gift of Holy Spirit to empower them to live on mission with Jesus everywhere they go. These promises are not just for the disciples gathered at that moment; they are promises for all disciples at all times; they are promises Jesus makes to you and me. To seek the presence and power of Holy Spirit is to embrace the promises of Jesus and the gift your heavenly Father offers.
Feasting on the Word
As we seek to grow in our capacity to experience the presence and power of Holy Spirit in every area of our life, I invite you to join me in reading and meditating on John 14, 15 and 16. John 14-16 are the core teachings of Jesus concerning the person, purpose and presence of Holy Spirit in our lives.
The following reading plan will guide you through the passage.
As you read and meditate on these passages, ask the following questions:
The following reading plan will guide you through the passage.
- Monday – John 14:1-13
- Tuesday – John 14:15-31
- Wednesday – John 15:1-17
- Thursday – John 15:18-26
- Friday – John 16:1-15
- Saturday – John 16:16-33
As you read and meditate on these passages, ask the following questions:
- What does this passage reveal about Holy Spirit?
- What does this passage reveal about my need for Holy Spirit’s presence and/or power in my life?
- How should what I’ve read shape my prayer time today?
- Who can I share what I’ve learned with?
Seeking After More
After you have finished reading and meditating spend at least 5-10 minutes in listening prayer and then move into a time of contending prayer using the prayer prompts mentioned in the video and listed below. As you begin your time of listening and contending prayer, light a candle to remind you of the tangible presence of Holy Spirit and to help you refocus your attention when you become distracted. Depending on the size of your candle, you could keep the candle lit all week to continually remind yourself of Holy Spirit’s presence throughout your day.
During the time you spend in listening prayer today, ask Holy Spirit the following questions:
Write down whatever you hear. Holy Spirit could bring a Bible verse, phrase, or word to mind. Holy Spirit could cause you to see an image or a picture. Holy Spirit will speak in a way that fits with who you are and is easily recognizable to you as his voice. Share with a friend what Holy Spirit said to you at some point during the day.
During the time you spend in contending prayer (speaking with Holy Spirit about what is on your heart and mind), let the following prompts guide you as you pray. As a church, we desire to see Holy Spirit transform people’s lives through his presence and power. We have a goal of celebrating 5000 stories of life transformation by 2030. As you pray this week,
This week, open yourself to the personal presence of Holy Spirit in your life and ask him to transform you and the lives of the people around you.
May you experience deep fellowship with the Spirit this week. Peace be with you.
During the time you spend in listening prayer today, ask Holy Spirit the following questions:
- What do you want me to know today?
- What do you want me to do today?
Write down whatever you hear. Holy Spirit could bring a Bible verse, phrase, or word to mind. Holy Spirit could cause you to see an image or a picture. Holy Spirit will speak in a way that fits with who you are and is easily recognizable to you as his voice. Share with a friend what Holy Spirit said to you at some point during the day.
During the time you spend in contending prayer (speaking with Holy Spirit about what is on your heart and mind), let the following prompts guide you as you pray. As a church, we desire to see Holy Spirit transform people’s lives through his presence and power. We have a goal of celebrating 5000 stories of life transformation by 2030. As you pray this week,
- Ask Holy Spirit to transform the areas of your life where you are struggling, experiencing conflict or difficulties. Ask Holy Spirit to reveal himself in your life and fill you a fresh with his presence.
- Ask Holy Spirit to bring to mind a person who needs to encounter the presence and power of the Spirit. Pray that this person will become open to the Spirit, be drawn close to Jesus, and experience the transforming work of the Spirit in their life.
- Ask Holy Spirit to be tangibly present in our church—in our children, teens and adults. Ask the Spirit to fill our elders, pastors and staff a fresh with his presence, wisdom and power as they lead the church in 2025. Ask Holy Spirit to lead us into seeing and celebrating 5000 stories of life transformation by 2030.
This week, open yourself to the personal presence of Holy Spirit in your life and ask him to transform you and the lives of the people around you.
May you experience deep fellowship with the Spirit this week. Peace be with you.
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