The Battle Plan for Prayer by Stephen Kendrick & Alex Kendrick
Week 10: Chapter 9 — Praying with Fasting
Read Chapter 9 of The Battle Plan for Prayer. Key passages: Matthew 6:16–18; Isaiah 58:6–7; Acts 13:2–3; Mark 9:29.
Previewing Week 10 of The Battle Plan for Prayer
Read 3 of 7 discussion questions below. Unlock the complete 17-week guide when you’re ready.
Fasting is one of the most neglected weapons in the believer's arsenal — the Kendricks make a compelling case that prayer joined with fasting carries a distinctive spiritual intensity.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.What is your honest history with fasting? Have you fasted before? If so, what was your motivation and experience? If not, what has kept you from it?
2.The Kendricks note that Jesus said 'when you fast' (Matthew 6:16), not 'if you fast' — treating it as a normal Christian discipline, not an advanced spiritual practice. Does this assumption match the culture of the churches or communities you have been part of?
3.Isaiah 58 describes the kind of fast God actually chooses — one that loosens chains of injustice, feeds the hungry, and brings freedom to the oppressed. How does this passage challenge any tendency to treat fasting as merely a personal spiritual upgrade rather than a practice connected to love for others?
a.How might fasting sharpen your compassion for those who are hungry, poor, or oppressed — not just heighten your own spiritual sensitivity?
b.What might God be calling you to do in response to Isaiah 58's vision of fasting?