Welcome to Pursuit 21!
Welcome to Pursuit 21! I’m excited that you have decided to take the next step in your spiritual walk through the life-changing principal of fasting!
Fasting is a principle that God intended for everyone to be able to enjoy. It’s not a punishment; it’s a privilege! By making fasting a way of life, you will get closer to God and grow in your spiritual walk like never before.
“Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled” (Matthew 5:6).
Men and women from around the world are participating in Pursuit 21 and following these blog posts. Some have fasted many times before. Others are fasting for the first time. Regardless of your experience with fasting, God is going to bless your season of fasting and prayer. He promises to fill those who hunger and thirst for Him!
Make Yourself at Home
I hope you feel at home on the Shades of Grace website for the next 21 days (and beyond). Please feel free to post comments, ask questions, submit further prayer requests and share updates about your fasting experiences and answered prayers.
My Commitment to You
I commit that over the next 21 days, I will fast and pray for you daily – praying for your fast and agreeing with you in prayer for the requests you’ve submitted.
I also commit to provide Biblical teaching that will motivate you on your fast and guide you as you pray. In addition to the subject of fasting, posts will include content designed to bless and inspire you in your personal prayer and devotion.
Helpful Information
If you were an overnight guest in my home, I would give you a tour and make sure you knew where to locate necessary items. Since this website is your Pursuit 21 home, I would like to take a moment to give you a tour and make sure you know where to find the pages and links you may need.
Subscription
During Pursuit 21, various guest authors and I will be posting daily in order to encourage you on your fast. In our article archives, you will also find daily fasting posts that will provide helpful insights into fasting. Many deal with scriptural precedent – what God did for those in the Bible who combined fasting with prayer – and therefore, what you can believe and expect God to do in your life as a result of your prayer and fasting!
You might also like to subscribe to receive blog posts via email or RSS. (You can unsubscribe at any time.) As a subscriber, you will receive a fasting devotional each morning during Pursuit 21.
Fasting Contract
It is important that you make a list of your causes for fasting (feel free to utilize the Pursuit 21 Contract). Keep it with you throughout the day as you fast. In the first few days, as your body adjusts to the fast, you may not feel like praying. You may feel lousy. That’s when you pull out your list of reasons for fasting and lay it before the Lord. This is your hit list! Keep it handy and pray over it frequently.
Twitter / Facebook / LinkedIn / Google+
Each day, throughout the day, I will post inspiring quotes and scriptures pertaining to prayer and fasting. You might like to also join me on either Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn or Google+
Just because we’ve committed to prayer and fasting doesn’t mean temptations won’t come. Someone at work will bring doughnuts – your favorite kind. There will be a birthday party, a business lunch, a family gathering. As I mentioned above, in the first few days, as the body rids itself of toxins stored from months of unhealthy eating, you may feel rough physically.
In these moments it might be nice to see an encouraging word on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn or Google+. I will also be sharing on social fasting articles from the archives.
Helpful Links
- Types of Fasts
- The Daniel Fast
- Helpful Tips
- Fasting Contract
- Posts About Fasting
- Prayer Requests
- Fasting Testimonies
A Candid Visit
I want to be as helpful and encouraging to you as possible – and pray for your needs. Almost everyone who has joined Pursuit 21 has submitted their causes for fasting. Not only will I be praying daily for your causes for fasting, but the ministry team will be praying over them weekly as well.
Traveling in ministry over the years, I’ve often been a guest in someone’s home. A guest stay always seems to broaden my perspective of the hosts. I get to know them better — their routines, their joys, their sorrows, their needs, their likes and dislikes.
Being in someone’s home often begets candor on the part of both hosts and guests.
You’ve been candid with me about your needs. I will be candid with you about mine.
I receive hundreds of prayer requests via website submission, email, twitter, Facebook and events…and am blessed and privileged to take these needs to God in prayer. My natural response is to strictly give and minister, and never ask for prayer in return. My focus is on you and God’s work in your life.
However, God has been bringing it to my attention this year that I should not be bashful in asking for your prayers. As a ministry, we face major challenges and obstacles. I face many personally as well.
So I ask simply that as you fast, you would remember Shades of Grace and me in prayer.
Thank you for joining me on this 21-day journey of fasting and prayer! It’s going to be an adventure! It will rock your world…for the rest of the year!
Holy Anticipation
I am so excited about this particular fast – for you and me both! God has given me holy anticipation about this Pursuit 21 – more so than any other Pursuit 21 in year’s past. I can sense His presence here with us already, before we’ve officially begun!
The fast begins this Sunday. The way God is already revealing Himself, I cannot wait for the next 21 days! And I get to share them with you! Thank you for that privilege.
So come on in…let’s taste and see that the Lord is good!
“Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him” (Psalm 34:8)
Prayer Focus: Are you expecting to taste and discover how good God is as you are taking refuge in Him through prayer and fasting? Come to Him with an expectant attitude of faith.
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A few posts that will help you prepare for your fast:
- How Should I Prepare for a Fast?
- Are You Ready To Begin Your Fast?
- Washing and Preparing for a New Season
FROM THE FASTING ARCHIVES:
- Fasting Day 1: Five Questions as You Begin
- Fasting Day 1: Welcome
- Fasting Day 1: Drawing Near
- Fasting Day 1: A Moment of Worship
- Fasting Day 1: Washing and Preparing
- Fasting Day 1: Seeking First
Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, Shades of Grace will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
“Natalie Grace Nichols is experiencing God’s grace and freely expressing it. My wife, Betty, and I thank God for the ministry of Jesus through Natalie.”
“I’m so thankful that God is raising up women like Natalie for a new generation, providing biblically balanced teaching, encouragement, and comfort for people who are enduring life’s trials.”
