Purpose

The Gulf States Conference Department of Women’s Ministries strives to encourage and help each woman to Grow in Faith Through Service. This is accomplished by helping her realize and develop the unique talents and spiritual gifts given to her by God which will assist her in reaching others for His kingdom. Our ministry has been a vital part of the Gulf States Conference since our very first retreat in 1988 with guest speaker Kay Kuzma. We look forward to growing together in Christ and being the woman, wives, sisters, mothers and daughters God wants us to be.

Lisa LaPerriere
Women's Ministry Director

Important Dates:

Southern Union Women’s Ministries Convention
24 - 27 August 2023
Orlando, FL - Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

More information can be found here!

Registration is Open Now

The following is a list of psalms for fasting you can learn from and use as a guide to your own practice of fasting:    

1. Psalm 35:13, KJV:

But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom. 

2. Psalm 69:10, KJV:

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me. When I wept, and chastened my soul with fasting, that was to my reproach. 

3. Psalm 109:24-27, KJV:

My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness. I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads. Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy: That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it. 

4. Psalm 69:11, KJV:

I made sackcloth also my garment; and I became a proverb to them. 

5. Psalm 10:12, 17 KJV:

Arise, O LORD; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble. LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.

6. Psalm 61:1-2, KJV:

Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. 

7. Psalm 5:3, KJV:

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. 

8. Psalm 17:1, KJV:

Hear the right, O LORD, attend unto my cry, give ear unto my prayer, that goeth not out of feigned lips. 

9. Psalm 39:12, KJV:

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. 

10. Psalm 44:25, KJV:

For our soul is bowed down to the dust: our belly cleaveth unto the earth. Arise for our help, and redeem us for thy mercies’ sake. 

11. Psalm 86:1, KJV:

Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. 

12. Psalm 102:17, KJV:

He will regard the prayer of the destitute, and not despise their prayer. 

13. Psalm 142:1-2, KJV:

A Prayer when he was in the cave. I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 

14. Psalm 143:1, KJV:

Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 

15. Psalm 143:7-8, KJV:

Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. 

16. Psalm 86:6, KJV:

Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 

17. Psalm 55:1 KJV:

Give ear to my prayer, O God; and hide not thyself from my supplication.

18. Psalm 119:170, KJV:

Let my supplication come before thee: deliver me according to thy word. 

19. Psalm 31:22, KJV:

For I said in my haste, I am cut off from before thine eyes: nevertheless thou heardest the voice of my supplications when I cried unto thee. 

20. Psalm 6:6, KJV:

I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. 

21. Psalm 102:5, KJV:

By reason of the voice of my groaning, my bones cleave to my skin. 

22. Psalm 38:6, 9, KJV:

I am troubled; I am bowed down greatly; I go mourning all day long. Lord, all my desire is before thee; and my groaning is not hidden from thee. 

23. Psalm 28:1, KJV:

Unto thee will I cry, O LORD my rock; be not silent to me: lest, if thou be silent to me, I become like them that go down into the pit. 

23 Effective Prayer Points For Breakthrough to Pray Daily

The following are prayer points for breakthrough you can pray right now:

1. Oh Lord my Father, Like you did Bazaleel and Aholiab, fill me with your Spirit for creative breakthroughs, in the name of Jesus. I ask for sound mind, in Jesus name (See Exodus 31:3, Isaiah 11:2, 2 Tim 1:7)

2. Oh Lord, take away laziness from my life, help me to stand up with grace to everything I need to do and every work I need to work that is required for my breakthrough, in Jesus name  (See Proverbs 21:25, 19:24, 22:13, 12:24)

3. Lord, I pray that you give me wisdom and knowledge to relate with people as I go about my day to day activities for I do not know who is who. (See 2 Chronicles 1:10)

4. Father, I pray that you bring me into profitable relationships and connect me with people that will fast track my breakthrough, in the name of Jesus Christ (See 1 Samuel 18:1, 3, Daniel 1:9, Genesis 39:2, 4).

5. Oh Lord, teach me good judgment and knowledge that I may know the right steps and choices to make for my breakthrough, in Jesus name. (See Psalm 119:66)

6. Lord, I pray that you endow me with skill and knowledge for supernatural breakthrough, in the name of Jesus. (See Daniel 1:17)

7. Father, give me strength and make my hand strong to do things that make for acclaim and praise, in the name of Jesus Christ. Remove weakness of body, mind and soul from me, in Jesus name. (See Genesis 49:24). 

8. Lord, bless me with your divine favor, let favor bring and set me among the nobles, high and the mighty, in the name of Jesus (See Psalm 5:12)

9. Lord, with you is wisdom and strength, counsel and understanding, I ask and I receive them all, in the name of Jesus (See Colossians 2:3, Job 12:13)

10. Lord, let your inspiration inspire my spirit with understanding for witty inventions, in the name of Jesus Christ. Let creativity be born in my heart, in Jesus name. (See Job 32:8)

11. Father, I pray that you give me understanding to keep your word, so I can do what it says until my change come (Joshua 1:8, Psalm 119:34)

12. Lord, just as you have said in your word, do a new thing in my life; make a way for me even in hard and seemingly impossible places, in the name of Jesus Christ. (See Isaiah 43:19)

13: I declare that I’m blessed with all blessings; spiritual, mental and material, in the name of Jesus Christ. I pray that these blessings begin to show in my life now, in Jesus name (See Ephesians 1:3, 3 John 2).

14. Lord, as I observe to do your word, I declare that I am fruitful like a tree planted by the riverside, I bring forth my fruit in good time, I prosper in all I do, in Jesus name. No more drought in my life, in Jesus name (See Psalm 1:1-3)

15. Father, I ask for a heart of obedience and service in all that I do, in Jesus name (See Job 36:11)

16. Father Lord, I ask and I receive liberating truth, truths (facts and information) that make for financial and all round breakthrough, in the name of Jesus. Bring me Lord to places of opportunities where I will be acquainted with facts that make for success, in Jesus name (See John 8:32)

17. Lord, open the eyes of my understanding to see so that I may know what I need to do to break forth with life, in Jesus name. Lead me Lord and show me the way to go and the how to go in life, in Jesus name (See Ephesians 1:18)

18. Lord, I ask for a renewed mind, a new way of thinking that makes for insight and understanding about the world and opportunities that abound around me, in the name of Jesus Christ (See Romans 12:2)

19. Father, grant me supernatural intelligence to grasp with speed facts, skill and knowledge that make for all round breakthrough, in Jesus name.

20. Lord, I declare that no weapon formed against me to keep me perpetually poor and down shall prosper. I say they will not stand nor succeed against me. For I rise above them, all in Jesus name. (See Isaiah 54:17)

21. Oh God of all grace, I ask for grace to be diligent and prudent with all my dealings, in Jesus name. (Proverbs 8:12, 10:4)

22. Father, it is your part to bless and it is my part to position myself for the blessing through the work of my hand, I ask for your blessing upon my ways and my affairs, in the name of Jesus. (Proverbs 10:4)

23. I refuse the spirit of fear and fright in the name of Jesus. I declare that I have a sound mind in Jesus name. I receive boldness to act and to take steps on the path that you lead me Lord until I come through to success, in the name of Jesus Christ. (See 2 Timothy 1:7)

Amen!

Spiritual Benefits Of Fasting And Prayers

1. Spiritual Authority (Over Demons and Forces of Nature)

From the scriptures, you’d see that fasting and prayers confer on you spiritual authority. Men and women in the Bible that weird spiritual authority and exercise supernatural influences got to such positions only after they had fasted and prayed as led by the Spirit.

Jesus Christ is a perfect example of this. Before He went fasting as led by the Spirit for 40 days and nights, He did not demonstrate any form of spiritual power and authority. But after the 40 days and nights of fasting and prayers, Scripture record says:“Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.” (Luke 4:14, NIV)    Fasting and prayers conferred on Jesus spiritual authority.

In another place, Jesus told the disciples that a certain kind of demon will only go by prayer and fasting, implying that fasting and prayers will bring the disciples into positions of power and authority where they will be able to exercise control over such demons. (See Matthew 17:21, KJV)

2. Soul Emptying and Repositioning

King David knew about this. (See Psalm 35:13, KJV)  Fasting and prayer has the ability to humble the soul and bring it to a place where it can readily and freely be accessible to the Spirit of God.  The soul is the part of you that house your naughtiness, pride, ego and self. But with the power of fasting, the soul can be humbled.  That is to say, the soul through fasting can lose grip of self, pride and all.

Fasting and prayers will stimulate denial of self in you. So, if you are having to deal with arrogance and pride, fasting is the best recommendation for a cure.  (See Psalm 69:10, AMPLIFIED)

3. Seeking And Hearing From God

One beautiful thing fasting and prayers does is that it helps you seek God in a new dimension and at the end you will hear God.  All through Scripture, you’d see people who sought God in fasting and at the end they heard God.  Cornelius did and God spoke to him through and angel. (See Acts 10)  Some disciples did in Acts chapter 13 and the Spirit of God spoke to them.

4. Intimacy with God

Fasting and prayer above all else foster deep intimacy with God.  If you want to constantly be in touch with heaven, then you must be a person who is given to fasting and to prayers all the time.  John the Baptist was the kind of person who walked in power and intimacy with God through fasting and prayers. (See Luke 1:80, KJV)

5. Preparation For Ministry

If God ever called you to ministry, He will call you time and again for fasting and prayers in order to prepare you for the assignment.  So, among every other thing that adds up to your making as a minister of the Gospel, fasting and prayers is pivotal.

Jesus did fast and pray for 40 days and night in preparation for His 3 and half years of ministry on earth.  No wonder His ministry was a success from start to finish.  Apparently, fasting and prayers unlock the flow of the Holy Spirit’s anointing in your life for a successful ministry.

6. A Means Of Repentance and Penance

Fasting as practiced in Scripture was a means of repentance and penance. Nehemiah and Daniel fasted and prayed for Israel seeking God’s forgiveness and mercy for the children of Israel – repentance. (See Nehemiah 1: 4-11 and Daniel 9:1-19, KJV)

David too fasted and prayed doing penance having sinned against the Lord and against Uriah. (2 Samuel 12:15)  So biblical fasting is a sure way to show your remorse before the Lord, doing penance for your wrong doing with the goal to obtaining forgiveness from the Lord. (See also 1 Samuel 7:6 and 1 Kings 21:27, KJV)

7. Spiritual Healing

Among many other things that fasting and prayers do is that it makes for spiritual healing.  If you are wounded spiritually, fasting and prayers can restore and heal your spirit. Spiritual wound can be sin, loss of an anointing, demonic attacks, prayerlessness and being lukewarm about the things of God.  Fasting and prayer can help restore the fire, heal the wounds and put you back on the path of faith and righteousness again.  

8. Deliverance From Death and Destruction

Fasting and prayers can help secure God’s deliverance for you, your family, church and even a nation as a whole.  Fasting and prayer helped Esther secure the deliverance of the Jews from Haman’s plot of a genocide against them.  Whether physical, spiritual or mental, fasting and prayer can secure your deliverance from death and destruction.   

9. Commissioning For Ministry

Through fasting and prayer, you or other persons can be commissioned for ministry.  This was a practice of the early church as seen all through the Acts of the Apostle (See Acts 13: 3 and 14:23)  You can be commissioned even by the Holy Spirit Himself for ministry through fasting and prayers.

10. Increase Revelation And Understanding Of The Word

Fasting and prayer brings increase in revelation and in understanding of the very word of God. The Holy Spirit kind of breath on your mind for insights into the word when you fast.  (See Ephesians 1:17-19 and Isaiah 58:8 KJV)

11. Opens You Up To Seeing and Understanding The Spiritual Realm

Through fasting and prayers you can come to a place where God begins to open your spiritual eyes to see into the realm of the Spirit. When your soul is completely subdued and your spirit takes the center stage of your life, seeing into the realm of the spirit will become a new normal for you.

Apart from the spiritual benefits of fasting and prayers, there are physical and mental benefits as well:

12. Improved Physical Health

Fasting and prayer guarantees speedy recovery and health (See Isaiah 58:8, KJV).  This is so true that doctors recommend fasting as cure and management for certain ailments. So if you are sick right now, fasting and prayer may just be your cure.  Caveat: Just only be sure that you are led of the Holy Spirit to do it.

13. Improved Mental Health

Fasting and prayer enhance and improve your mind and understanding.  It makes you of keener intellect and finer understanding in all things. When fasting and prayer is practiced the right way and by the Spirit, you will soon discover that you are beginning to make accurate decisions and wise choices. The breath and divine influence of the Spirit on your mind will make you think right and straight and act wise and well. (Isaiah 58:8, 11:2-3)

Conclusion

There’s so much to gain when you fast and pray, truly the benefits of fasting and prayers are amazing. You stand to gain spiritually, mentally and physically.  You stand to gain spiritual power and authority, insights into the word and fresh new revelation of scriptures.  You also do your body and mind great good – health and sharper intellect.

These and much more are the benefits of fasting and prayers that you stand to gain in the short and long run. Did you know you can actually shape history through fasting and prayers?

So much more my friend! Take advantage of the power of fasting and prayer. All the best!  

Prayer Requests

We would love to spend time in prayer for you. Take a moment and fill out the form below or send your request to GSC-WomensMinistries@gscsda.org