Prayer
Prayer is an opportunity to spend time with God. To really understand the heart of God, you need to pray. In John 15:15, Jesus says He no longer calls us his servants, but calls us His friends. Talking with God develops a deeper relationship with Him. During lock down this day has become an entire day of prayer with someone praying every hour.
Prayer is one of the most powerful weapons God has given us. We turn to prayer because it is the most personal way to experience God, to encounter Him and to grow in knowledge of Him. We encourage everyone to make prayer a part of your daily life.
Fasting
Fasting is an essential part of this special day.
Fasting is a deliberate abstinence from physical gratification, usually going without food for a period of time in order to achieve a greater spiritual goal. Fasting is intentionally denying the flesh in order to gain a response from the spirit; it means renouncing the natural in order to invoke the supernatural.
We urge everyone to fast for the day and put aside the time saved for God. You don’t have to fast from food, you can fast from TV or Netflix, social media or even your phone.
All we ask is that the time you would normally spend doing this activity is actually spent seeking God, listening for His voice and giving Him your undivided attention regularly throughout the course of the day.
Day of Prayer and Fasting
On the 1st day of each month, we encourage the whole church to join in a day of
prayer and fasting.
Prayer and fasting is a sign of our desire and hunger to seek God. Through prayer and fasting, we develop a passion for God that supersedes everything else. When this happens, the Holy Spirit begins to flow into us, allowing us to live above our circumstances and low self expectations.
To help plan our day of prayer, we use a 24-7 prayer room and publish notes to help you pray for the hour you choose. You can book an hour prayer slot through the newsletter link the week before or by clicking on the button below.To book and hour slot during our day of prayer and fasting, please click on the button below.
Day of Prayer and Fasting Notes
1st November 2024
THANKSGIVING - First Twenty Minutes
Sing a praise song, which one comes to mind? Find it and sing along a few times, let it get into your spirit, think about the words, sing it again. What is God saying to you through it?
Please let us be thankful for what God has provided, and for what he is doing at NBC.
Give thanks for each member of your life group, your ministry group, your friendship group. Name them, give thanks for them.
Give thanks for those who serve us. Name and give thanks for the staff team, (Mary Ann, Steve, Sarah, David, Frances).
Give thanks for the church leaders ( Mike P, Kevin L, Barbara N, Dan GD, Tracey S, Parmjit M, Anuran W, Neil W, Viv W, David R); Give thanks for worship team – who comes to mind, give thanks for them and their continued serving of the church, those who do coffee, welcome, kids work, youth work, collection, set up, toddlers, pastoral care, finance, GUAB, etc, cooks and servers and organisers of Sun Lunch and Meet n eat…give thanks by group and by name where you can.
PRAYER - Second Twenty Minutes
With those groups above and any others you have named and prayed for, please pray for the Lords practical PROVISION, PROTECTION, AND PRESENCE.
PROVISION of finance and people to serve and to resource the amazing work God is doing here through his people.
PROTECTION particularly from the three old enemies, the world (our culture which can be anti-Christian and put up strong barriers to our work) the flesh (our own stuff which causes us to be consumers, or divided, or offended, or self-interested) and the devil who always seeks to steal and kill and destroy. Some good verses in Ephesians 6. Colossians 2:15.
PRESENCE. Jesus is the servant king, and we long for his presence. The bible says that Jesus is always interceding for us, the Holy Spirit intercedes in us, and so as we join in with God, we find His presence with us and in us.
Third Twenty Minutes
Specific November events.
Please intercede for these events happening in November.
- The leaders are taking a day and night away to think and pray and about the church and the year ahead, please pray that they will find Gods heart, word and direction for NBC during 2025. Pray for Clarity, unity and Levity as they gather with Ken Benjamin who will take some time to teach envision and refresh them.
- Please pray for May Ann and the team on 24th November in the evening as they partner with Sunnyside at the Berkhamsted festival of light, providing activities for kids, and they have conversations with parents about Christmas and light and life.
- Please pray as we prepare for our Christmas programme, services, Kids events, social events and community events. Pray for good decisions, good planning, the distribution of cards and invites to the neighbourhood, and the presence of the Lord at each event. That many will come to faith in Jesus Christ, that many from church will be encouraged and move forward in their discipleship, that there will be a tremendous sense of unity and love as we gather to give thanks for Gods great gift.
- Services- 1st December; 8th December; 15th December; 22nd December; 25th December.
- Carol service 6pm 15th ; Nativity service 1030pm 22nd; Christmas day service 25th.
- Sun Lunch Christmas 1pm 8th December; Gingerbread Decorating 14th 5pm; youth, children, toddlers Christmas events.
- Pray for everyone involved including staff and leaders not to get over tired.
Breakthrough Prayer Clinic
If you would like to have someone pray for you, please email prayerministry@northchurch.com to book an appointment in person or online.
Alternatively, you can check out our Prayer Clinic Page.
Spiritual Rhythm
We believe that a regular spiritual rhythm plays a key role in our walk with God. That's why on Tuesdays we have our rhythm of prayer throughout the day. We would encourage people to get involved with prayer.
To see all our prayer meetings, just click Spiritual Rhythm.