DAY 3

Verse

"For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength." – Philippians 4:13 (NLT)

Thought

Paul figured out the secret: No matter what life throws at us – good days, bad days, totally chaotic days – Jesus gives us the strength to handle it. God is a Father we can always rely on, and know He’s there for us!

Prayer

God, when life feels like too much, remind me that You’ve got my back. You are my strength, and that’s more than enough. No matter what happens, I’m good because I’ve got You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

DAY 2

Verse

"Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then, you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." – Philippians 4:6-7 (NLT)

Thought

Have you ever found yourself in a full-blown stress spiral? Yeah, me too. But God’s saying, “Hey, don’t waste time worrying – just talk to Me about it.” Instead of overthinking, let’s over-pray and watch His peace replace our stress.

Prayer

God, help me swap out worry for prayer. Instead of freaking out, I want to run to You first. Fill me with peace that doesn’t even make sense. You’ve got this, and I trust You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

DAY 1

Verse

“Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” - Proverbs 16:3

Thought

As we begin these 21 days of prayer and fasting, we start with one simple posture: surrender. Fasting reminds us that we don’t rely on our own strength — we rely on God. Prayer reminds us that we don’t move forward alone — we move forward led by Him.

Prayer

Lord, as we begin these 21 days of prayer and fasting, we commit everything to You. Align our hearts with Your will and guide every step we take as a church. Bless this time, not for our recognition, but for Your glory. May our church be a place where people encounter You. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

TYPES OF FASTING

You might be wondering, "How do I even fast?" Great question! There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, and the focus isn’t on being “extra holy” based on your choice. The whole point of fasting is to draw closer to God by removing distractions and creating more space for Him in our lives.

So, before you start, take a moment to pray and ask God what He’s leading you to do. Below are a few different fasting options – pick the one that feels right for you!

Types of Fasts:

🥦 Selective Fast – This involves cutting out certain foods from your diet. A great example is the Daniel Fast, where you eliminate meat, sweets, and bread and instead eat fruits and vegetables and drink water/juice.

💧 Complete Fast – This is a liquid-only fast, where you drink only water (and possibly light juices). If you choose this one, listen to your body and consult a doctor if needed!

⏳ Partial Fast – Sometimes called a "Jewish Fast," this means skipping meals for part of the day, like fasting from sunup to sundown or following intermittent fasting (for example, eating only between 12 PM - 8 PM).

📱 Soul Fast – Not everyone can fast from food (and that’s okay!). A soul fast is about stepping away from things that consume too much of our time or attention – like social media, TV, video games, or other distractions. This is also an excellent option for families! You can sit down with your kids and decide together what to set aside – maybe video games, tablets, or favorite shows – and replace that time with prayer and Scripture as a family.

No matter which fast you choose, the most important thing is to use this time to focus on God. Let’s step into these 21 days expectantly, seeking His presence, His voice, and His direction in our lives. Are you ready!? Let’s do this together! 🙌

INTRODUCTION

So, why do followers of Jesus take time for prayer and fasting? There are some great reasons behind it! One major reason is that we find it highlighted in Scripture—just like Daniel, who devoted 21 days to humbling himself before God and seeking understanding (Daniel 10). And let's not forget, Jesus fasted as well!

Right before Jesus began His public ministry, He spent 40 days in the wilderness fasting and praying (Matthew 4:1-11). During that time, He was tempted by the enemy. But because He was spiritually strong and relied entirely on God, He overcame every test. Fasting wasn’t about suffering – it was about strengthening. It was a way for Jesus to step fully into His purpose, totally focused on His Father. If fasting was essential to Jesus, it should be necessary for us, too!

Mark 9 shows the importance of fasting again. As Jesus’ disciples struggled to cast out a demon, he told them, “This kind can only come out by prayer and fasting.” Fasting gives us spiritual power, aligning our hearts with God’s and making room for Him to work in ways we can’t even imagine.

This is about you and your walk with Jesus. Where’s your heart at? Are you spiritually healthy? Where is the heart of this church at? Will people see Jesus in us when they walk through our church doors?

Our hope for these 21 days is simple:

✨ That we grow closer to Jesus.

✨ That we step into this season with anticipation and enthusiasm for what God has in store for us as a church and in our lives.

✨ That we pray bold prayers – asking for God’s blessing, provision, and protection over everything ahead.

We never want to step into anything without giving God our first and best. This is our chance to make sure He’s at the center – not an afterthought. Let’s use this time to go all in, seek Him with everything we’ve got, and remember why He alone is worthy of our worship and praise!

Are you in!? Let’s do this together!