21 days of fasting and prayer.

Fasting is a removal of something in the physical to make room for something in the spiritual.

As a church we take 21 days in the month of January to pray for things collectively and personally. We will be starting January 7th and concluding on January 28th.

On Sunday, the 28th, we will end our fast with a worship night @ 6:00pm.

Why fast & pray?

Fasting brings us closer to the heart of God. It hits the reset button on our souls and renews us from the inside out. When we take a break from something important—like food or technology—space opens up for God to move and us to notice.

Types of fasts.

Selective Fast

This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.

Partial Fast

This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.

Complete Fast

In this type of fast, you drink liquids—typically water—with light juices as an option.

Soul Fast

This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.

Tips for your fast.

Seek God first about what He wants you to fast from. Food? Alcohol? Social media? TV?
When we crave those things, pray during that time.
Write down insights and growth throughout the fast.

Things you could pray for.

Solomon’s prayer -Wisdom

God asked Solomon what he wanted (which is a crazy thing for God to ask). And Solomon answered that he wanted wisdom to fulfill the purpose God had given him. Maybe this coming year you need wisdom to navigate the complexities of your life/wisdom to make good choices/wisdom to accomplish hard things.

1 Kings 3:3-9

David’s prayer -Holiness

David was hyper aware of his own propensity to do things that God didn’t want him doing. He knew how easily he could run to sin. So, he prays this prayer asking God to help him avoid sin and live a life pleasing to God. Maybe this coming year you need to reclaim a closeness to God…or maybe you want to draw closer to Him than you ever have before.

Psalm 19:13-14

Elisha’s request – Spirit of God

When Elijah was nearing the end of his life he asked his successor, Elisha, what he could do for him. Elisha asked for a “double-portion” of Elijah’s spirit. This is a huge ask. Elijah was the most powerful prophet to ever live. But Elisha boldly asked for a double portion of that power. Maybe this coming year you need God’s spirit to move mightily through you.

2 Kings 2:9

Jehoshaphat’s prayer - Guidance

King Jehoshaphat and the people of Israel were surrounded by enemy armies. The attack came faster and more powerfully than they ever expected. Jehoshaphat goes to God and lays out the situation—admitting that he does not know what to do. He turns to God for guidance and provision. Maybe this year…you don’t know what to do and you need God to show up and show you the way.

2 Chronicles 20:6-12

Jabez’s prayer – Expansion

The name Jabez means “born in pain”. So, we can assume Jabez had a rough beginning to his life. He prays a prayer asking God to expand his territory and keep him from pain…and God said yes. The request is simple and the answer is simple. So simple it’s almost shocking. Maybe this year you desire an area of your life to expand, or for an area of pain to stop.

1 Chronicles 4:10

Early disciple’s prayer– boldness

Shortly after Jesus ascends to heaven Peter and John are arrested for sharing the Gospel. They are told to stop. Their response is to pray…for boldness. Not for protection. Not to stay out of jail. Not for political power against their enemies. Boldness. Boldness to do the thing that God had called them to do no matter the cost. Maybe this year you need to pursue what God is calling you to despite resistance, pain, or consequences.

Acts 4:29

Tax collector’s prayer- mercy

Jesus told a parable of a Pharisee and a tax collector praying. The pharisee prayed telling God how good he was. The tax collector simply prayed “be merciful to me, a sinner”. Jesus held up the tax collector as the example for us to follow—to know we are sinners in need of God’s mercy. THAT is the right disposition before God. Maybe this coming year you are very aware of the distance between you and God…and you NEED His mercy.

Luke 18:13

Resouces from the Bible.

Matthew 6:16-18

Matthew 9:14-15

Ezra 8:23

Resources

7 Basic Steps to Prayer and Fasting

by Dr. Bill Bright

Learn More

Guide to Fasting and Prayer

by Dr. Bill Bright

Learn More

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Ezra 8:23

New Living Translation (NLT)

²³ So we fasted and earnestly prayed that our God would take care of us, and he heard our prayer.

Nehemiah 9:1-3

New Living Translation (NLT)

The People Confess Their Sins

¹ On October 31[a] the people assembled again, and this time they fasted and dressed in burlap and sprinkled dust on their heads. ² Those of Israelite descent separated themselves from all foreigners as they confessed their own sins and the sins of their ancestors. ³ They remained standing in place for three hours[b] while the Book of the Law of the Lord their God was read aloud to them. Then for three more hours they confessed their sins and worshiped the Lord their God.

Acts 27:33-37

New Living Translation (NLT)

³³ Just as day was dawning, Paul urged everyone to eat. “You have been so worried that you haven’t touched food for two weeks,” he said. ³⁴ “Please eat something now for your own good. For not a hair of your heads will perish.” ³⁵ Then he took some bread, gave thanks to God before them all, and broke off a piece and ate it. ³⁶ Then everyone was encouraged and began to eat— 37 all 276 of us who were on board.

Luke 18:9-14

New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Pharisee and Tax Collector

⁹ Then Jesus told this story to some who had great confidence in their own righteousness and scorned everyone else: ¹⁰ “Two men went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee, and the other was a despised tax collector. ¹¹ The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed this prayer[a]: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people—cheaters, sinners, adulterers. I’m certainly not like that tax collector! ¹² I fast twice a week, and I give you a tenth of my income.’

¹³ “But the tax collector stood at a distance and dared not even lift his eyes to heaven as he prayed. Instead, he beat his chest in sorrow, saying, ‘O God, be merciful to me, for I am a sinner.’ ¹⁴ I tell you, this sinner, not the Pharisee, returned home justified before God. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Matthew 9:14-15

New Living Translation (NLT)

A Discussion about Fasting

¹⁴ One day the disciples of John the Baptist came to Jesus and asked him, “Why don’t your disciples fast[a] like we do and the Pharisees do?”

¹⁵ Jesus replied, “Do wedding guests mourn while celebrating with the groom? Of course not. But someday the groom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.

Matthew 6:16-18

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁶ “And when you fast, don’t make it obvious, as the hypocrites do, for they try to look miserable and disheveled so people will admire them for their fasting. I tell you the truth, that is the only reward they will ever get. ¹⁷ But when you fast, comb your hair and wash your face. ¹⁸ Then no one will notice that you are fasting, except your Father, who knows what you do in private. And your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.