The 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting Guide

FASTING 101

Fasting, simply stated, is about eliminating distractions in order to draw nearer to God. Fasting gets us focused on God and renews us from the inside out. The most important part of prayer and fasting is your time with God.

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We’re asking our entire church family to join together in united prayer for 21 days (and fasting if you choose and feel led of the Lord to do so. We’re suggesting the following different types of fasting. Your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your own body and to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do. Remember, it is the attitude of a heart sincerely seeking Him to which God responds with a blessing (Isaiah 58).

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Utilize our Personal Guide to Fasting resource for an in-depth look at fasting, complete with lots of helpful tips.

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Personal Guide to Fasting

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WHY FAST?

• Do you desire to know God’s will and direction for your life?

• Are you in need of a miracle or breakthrough?

• Do you have a dream inside you that only God can make possible?

• Are you in need of a fresh touch from God in your life?

• Do you want a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord?

• Are you ready to have greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit’s voice?

• Do you need to break free from bondages that have been holding you captive?

• Do you have a friend or loved one that needs Jesus?

• Do you sense that God has more for your life?

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TYPES OF FASTS

• Complete Fast: drinking only liquids, typically water, with juice as an option.

• Daniel Fast: removing meat, sweets and alcohol from your diet (see Daniel 1:8).

• Partial Fast: sometimes called a Jewish Fast, calls for abstaining from food for a specific part of each day. This might be from sunup to sundown, or 6 am to 3 pm, lunches, or something suitable for you.

• Electronic Entertainment Fast: abstaining from social media and all forms of electronic entertainment (movies, TV, video games, etc.). This is a wonderful fast for everyone! This is also a good fast to combine with one of the food fasts. It’s helpful to refocus areas of life that might be out of balance. When breaking the fast, carefully bring that element back into your life in an orderly fashion.

• God is My Comfort: fast from what pacifies you, what has mastered you, addictions, etc.

• The Hoarders Fast – this can be a radical challenge to a gatherer’s lifestyle. During the hoarders’ fast persons are to purge possessions that are cluttering their life, in order to focus more fully on the Lord in simplicity.

 

Prayer Focus

Ask the Lord to show you areas to target during your time of fasting and prayer. We believe that as we seek God and give Him our best at the first of the year, He will bless our ENTIRE year (Matthew 6:33)! During this season of prayer, we will seek the Lord in these areas:

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• Declaring our dependence on God in every area of our lives.

• Praying for a closer relationship with God and hearing His voice.

• Praying for our city – that God would draw people to Himself and many hearts would turn to Him.

• Praying for your neighbors – walk your neighborhood several times per week and pray for the people who live in each house.

• Ask for guidance in your life for the year.

• Believing God for answered prayer for specific needs.

• Victory over areas of sin, and asking for forgiveness for our sins – personally and corporately.

• Inviting the Presence and power of God to work in our church and our lives.