Whatever your financial situation, we challenge you to spend the next 40 days fasting! The path to a generous life begins by shedding the yoke to buy, and buy, and then buy some more. Whether you consider yourself a good steward or a spendthrift, all of us consume more than we need.
In order to support each other, the St. Matthew’s Family is making this spiritual and financial journey in two ways. Firstly, we will gather to pray together every morning at 6:30AM over the phone – for 15 minutes – beginning on Wednesday, February 10, and ending the day before Easter, Saturday, March 26. Starting the day in prayer helps regulate our lives and draws us closer to God and each other. We won’t gather on Sunday mornings to pray because we hope to see you in worship. To join us in prayer Call: (712) 775-7031 and enter the Access Code: 111576270.
Secondly, we will give you a daily Scripture reading to help you to stay focused.
Let’s take this journey and grow in God together!
Reason and Strategy for Fasting
Through financial fasting we are exercising discipline in our spending and changing our mindset toward the way we handle our money. Get a journal and write down all the instructions for your financial fast and organize a plan and schedule before you begin. This is important because once the fast begins, you might try to convince yourself to quit. The schedule can then act as a contract you have made with the fast that you must keep. Remind yourself why you are doing the fast and remember why it is important.
FINANCIAL DISCIPLINES
•PRAY: daily for God to give you direction in managing your finances.
•READ: books, blogs, and websites on financial empowerment.
•SET FINANCIAL GOALS: Work toward paying down your highest bill first.
•MAKE A COMMITMENT: Open up a savings account or deposit money into your existing
•SAVE: $5 a day and give a sacrificial offering of $200 to St. Matthew’s at the end of the fast.
•PREPARE: a weekly budget for your household (only spend what you plan for).
•TRACK YOUR SPENDING: Write down all expenses (include everything, i.e. gas, coffee, lunch, etc) You will be surprised at how much you spend in a week on these items.
•COOK: meals at home (as much as possible) – Limit dining out.
•STAY AWAY: from Payday Loans and Check-Cashing stores.
•INVEST: in your children’s future…research ways to help your children understand fiscal responsibility and put them on a financial plan
•EXPECT: your “net worth” to grow, your “faith” to be stretched, and your generosity to increase.
DAILY SCRIPTURE & PRAYER FOCUS: (Starting on Ash Wednesday, February 10, 2016)
Day 1: Joel 2:21-22 | Day 17: Proverbs 30:8-9 | Day 33: Psalm 25:2 |
Day 2: Proverbs 3:7-10 | Day 18: Psalms 37:21 | Day 34: Psalm 119:133 |
Day 3: Proverbs 22:9 | Day 19: Luke 14:28 | Day 35: Isaiah 6:8 |
Day 4: Ephesians 3:14-19 | Day 20: I Thess. 5:18 | Day 36: Matthew 5:16 |
Day 5: II Corinthians 4:7 | Day 21: II Kings 4:7 | Day 37: Psalm 92:12-13 |
Day 6: Psalm 77:14 | Day 22: Proverbs 21:20 | Day 38: Isaiah 41:10 |
Day 7: Psalm 90:17 | Day 23: Philippians 4:12 | Day 39: Romans 10:17 |
Day 8: II Corinthians 4:16-18 | Day 24: Luke 21:1-4 | Day 40: Proverbs 10:22 |
Day 9: Deuteronomy 11:18-20 | Day 25: Matthew 23:11-12 | Day 41: Psalm 119:8 |
Day 10: Luke 6:28 | Day 26: Proverbs 3:27-28 | Day 42: Psalm 23:1 |
Day 11: Ephesians 6:10-11 | Day 27: Isaiah 45:6 | Day 43: Psalm 27:2 |
Day 12: II Corinthians 5:7 | Day 28: Daniel 11:32 | Day 44: I Corinthians 12:4 |
Day 13: James 1:17 | Day 29: Psalm 1:1-3 | Day 45: Matthew 1:23 |
Day 14: Matthew 7:7 | Day 30: Deuteronomy 28:4 | Day 46: Psalm 32:8 |
Day 15: Psalm 37:23 | Day 31: Philippians 4:8 | |
Day 16: I Timothy 6:18 | Day 32: I Corinthians 13:1-2 |