Prayer and Fasting: A Primer

By Rev. Dr. Lionel Stokes

If you want to have a conversation with God, then you need to do two things: pray and fast. In this primer focusing on these fundamental activities of faith, Rev. Dr. Lionel Stokes shares her transforming life experiences, exploring

what the Bible says about prayer;

why there are so many misconceptions about fasting; and

how fasting and praying interact with each other.

True prayer is a conversation with God, but many think of it as a monologue because of the way it occurs in church. Its often like a one-way telephone conversation, in which one person goes on endlessly without the slightest pause for even an aha from the other partyand then the caller hangs up before a response can be made. Whatever our circumstances or situations, there are times when we want or need to communicate with God or to hear from Him. The means by which we do this, therefore, must be simple and clear.

If you want to have a real conversation with God and develop a stronger relationship, with Him, then praying and fasting are the answersbut you need to do it right. Take a balanced approach thats safe and effective, and move closer to the Lord with Prayer and Fasting.

• Language: English
• Publisher: iUniverse
• Release date: Jun 24, 2013
• ISBN: 9781475993455

Rev. Dr. Lionel Stokes

Rev. Dr. Lionel Stokes, an Arkansas native, earned a master of theology degree from McCormick Theological Seminary and a doctorate in education from National Louis University. She served as an adjunct professor at Northeastern Illinois University and is currently an adjunct professor, administrator, and adult educator at Kennedy-King College in Chicago. She is the daughter of a Baptist minister and is an ordained elder and member of the Martin Temple AME Zion Church.

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CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction

It’s Never Too Late

Part I What Is Prayer?

What Does The Bible Say About Prayer?

Why Should We Pray?

To Whom Do We Pray?

How Do We Pray?

Part II Fasting

Defined

Misconceptions

History

Interlude

In Search Of Fasting As A Spiritual Practice

Part III Praying And Fasting

Spiritual Prayer And Fasting

The Church

Fasting Methods And Types

Epilogue

End Notes

Special thanks to

My Children for their love and support

Bishop Nathaniel Jarrett, Jr. for his spiritual guidance and counsel

Rev. Dr. Dennis A. Haggray, a clergy-brother beloved, for his help and assistance, which were immeasurable

Prayer is the soil in which hope grows best.

PREFACE

I Used to Be Ashamed

Deacon John Q. Eggleston, my grandfather—a tall, handsome, and slender man—would stand before the congregation, lead them into his favorite long metered hymn, "Father, I Stretch My Hands to Thee", and as the hymn was coming to the end, he would turn, kneel on one knee, prop himself on the chair next to him, and begin to pray. All who heard him knew that heaven had opened and God was indeed listening.

Without fail, every day at noontime, my sainted grandmother would stop whatever she was doing, start humming a hymn, which was usually A Charge to Keep I Have, and make her way to her bedroom for her afternoon prayer. Sadly, even with such powerful examples, I came into my prayer life late.

Prayer was a constant in my family’s home, and growing up I went through all the traditional Baptist programs and events. For example, I started on the mourner’s bench at age ten. For those unfamiliar with the mourner’s bench, let me explain. The setting was a week-long evening revival and at the beginning of the service, lined across the front of the church was a row of chairs often occupied by young children who had not yet accepted Christ as their personal savior; or in the terms of the older/senior saints, had not yet been born again. The activities of the evening proceeded with hymns, prayers, and more prayers, a sermon from the guest evangelist; more prayers; and then the benediction. By Friday, my eight year old sister Lillian and I were the only ones left. That night I crossed over. Was I reborn? Let’s put it this way: my sister left me by myself and so I got up and followed her thinking; "you’re not going to leave me here alone!"

During those formative years, Sunday School and Baptist Training Union were on the top of my activities list. By age twelve I had learned all sixty-six books of the Bible, and throughout my young-adult years I was an active choir member and organizational leader. It was many years later, however, that I realized that I had lost that constant—prayer. It saddens me to recall, that prayer was not as constant with my immediate family as it was when I was growing up. Oh, yeah, my children knew and said grace, they learned the Lay Me Down to Sleep prayer and The Lord’s Prayer, and Sunday School

Reviews for Prayer and Fasting

[Belonwu Anazor · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book gives insight to the types of fast. A good read indeed