7 Days of Prayer and Fasting (jump to times and places)
Prayer is the single most important thing we can do as individual believers and as a church and fasting expresses our dependency on God. This week, the elders and I (Si) are calling Life Church to pray* and fast** as we seek God.
We are not coming with our own agenda or prayer points, but we are seeking first the Kingdom of God believing that all other things will be added to us. If you sense God speaking to you, as we believe he will, please share it with us at one of the prayer meetings or elders@lifesouthampton.org.
I’d encourage you to make every effort to join something during the week whether in person or on zoom and if you can’t make anything then take the time to pray on your own or with your household. On the evening, of Friday 23rd January I will be co-hosting the ‘Turn the Battle’*** prayer meeting with Sanjay Rajo at Lighthouse International Church so please do come expectant to bring your contributions and to worship and pray with others.
On Sunday 25th we will break the fast together with communion and a small meal and a time of praise and worship at the Boathouse – this will be a church family moment that all are welcome to!
I have recently been struck by this quote shared by Jim Cymbala, “You can tell the popularity of the church by who shows up on a Sunday. You can tell the popularity of Jesus by who turns up to the prayer meeting.”
Friends, see you at the prayer meetings.
Si Munsie
Additional notes and resources:
* Use the suggested bible passages (to follow on Sunday in printed booklets) as a launchpad to pray from and a lens to make sense of the world. Take words, passages or themes and pray God’s own word back to him. “The richness of the Word of God ought to determine our prayer, not the poverty of our heart.” ~ D. Bonhoeffer. Read the passages more than once. Assume that God wants to speak to you from it and then allow yourself to pray those thoughts and leadings. “Let the word of God dwell in you richly.” Colossians 3:16.
** We are calling all who can to fast from food from sunrise to sunset each day from 18-25th January. If you are unable to fast from eating for any reason, consider how you might also fast with us. How to fast is an excellent resource which may be very helpful to you.
*** ‘Turn the Battle’ is a national prayer and fasting initiative bringing churches together to pray for our nation together, with 3 days of prayer and fasting, 21-23 January 2026. In addition to the gatherings we have integrated into our week of prayer you can read more about Southampton’s full prayer gathering schedule on the One Body Southampton website.
An overview of the week:
Click an event for full details.
(a printed version with additional devotional guide will be handed out this Sunday)