Season #2 of Prayer and Fasting
Week 3

He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God? Micah 6:8 (ESV)

For this season of prayer and fasting, we will spend the next 3 weeks focusing on different aspects of Micah 6:8. While you are free to abstain from food and anything else the Lord may put on your heart, we are specifically inviting you to fast from specific behaviors and attitudes, replacing them with practices and prayers that honor God and love your neighbor.

Week 3 - Walking Humbly with God: Humble - To walk submissively, modestly with God (Gesenius’ Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon from blueletterbible.com)

Fast (abstain, give up):
1. Trying to impress others (with your knowledge, your humor, your talents, your words, your spiritual practices)
2. Having to do things “your” way*
3. Being defensive and unapproachable

Practice:
1. Using your gifts, your knowledge, your talents, your words to empower others and help them shine
a. Luke 9 - Jesus’ ministry culminates in empowering his disciples to do what He did.
b. Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a gifted piano player. History says that when he would play with his siblings he intentionally played in such a way that their mistakes were covered. Use your gifts the same way.

2. Private prayer and “invisible” obedience
a. Matthew 6:6 “When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret.” ESV
b. Matthew 6:2-4 “Thus when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret.”

3. Being Teachable
a. As your leaders (pastors, bosses, etc.) give you instruction, intentionally honor them by doing what they say (if it doesn’t go against Scripture)*
b. Try doing things someone else’s way*
c. Receive correction and criticism as discipleship and not death. “For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” Hebrews 12:11 ESV

Prayer: You are invited to pray this prayer every day. Pay attention to how your thinking changes, as well as opportunities that arise for you to practice what you pray.

Prayer from Psalm 139:23-24 ESV
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me and lead me in the way everlasting!”

*From Mark Pollock