"Then they will fast"

View of the city of Gherla from the hill in the summer

Many evangelical churches call for a fast during the month of January.  It is an appropriate time since the holidays are over and few other events interfere.  Our church, the Open Bible Church in Gherla, Romania, is fasting right now, asking God for the church to be transformed according to his will and for the entire city of Gherla to come to know Jesus Christ as Lord.
Those in our church who wished to join the fast signed up for the days they would fast. The manner of fasting is left up to the individual.  Some people are going without food for a meal or for all day on their fast days.  Others are doing a Daniel fast, eating mostly vegetables.  The teens are encouraged to give up using their phones on their fasting days.  The point is we deny ourselves something that we depend on and enjoy daily in order to focus our attention on the Lord.
Jesus said his followers would fast after he was no longer with them in the flesh (Matthew 9:15) and that is what we are doing. Fasting does not force God to listen to us nor does it change his mind.  Fasting changes us by helping us change our focus from ourselves and what we want to God and what he wants.  Fasting helps us pray according to the will of God as we listen to him.
If you are fasting and praying this month, please add us and Gherla, Romania to your prayer list.  We are asking God here in Romania for what believers are asking around the world--a mighty spiritual awakening.  Lord, hear our prayers!