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21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

January 7-28, 2024

We want to launch into 2024 by seeking God and putting Him first.


Fasting is a way to conquer the physical and open the door to the supernatural in your life. When you deny your body by fasting and praying, you feed your spirit and grow closer to the Lord.


Join us for 21 days of prayer and fasting from January 7 to January 28, 2024.

FASTING SCHEDULE

We will start our time of prayer and fasting on January 7, 2023 and end it on January 28, 2024.

We will be hosting nights of prayer at the church:

  • Friday Jan. 12 at 7:30PM
  • Friday Jan. 19 at 7:30PM
  • Friday. Jan 26 at 7:30PM

Fasting Guide

WHAT IS FASTING?

Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose. The true goal of all fasting is to enter into a deeper personal experience with God. Furthermore, According to Matthew 6, there are three duties of every Christian: give, pray and fast.


Biblical fasting takes a lot of discipline and strength—strength which you can only receive from God. Your private discipline will bring you rewards in Heaven, says Matthew 6. When you give God your first through fasting, prayer, and giving at the beginning of the year, you set the course for the entire year.

WHY SHOULD I FAST?

We will be praying and fasting for our church and especially for the launch of our second location, but fasting is also personal:

  1. Are you in need of healing or a miracle?
  2. Do you need the tender touch of God in your life?
  3. Is there a dream inside you that only He can make possible?
  4. Do you want to live a life that overflows (John 10:10)?
  5. Do you desire a deeper, more intimate and powerful relationship with the Lord?
  6. Are you ready to have heightened sensitivity to the desires of God?
  7. Do you need to break away from bondages that have been holding you hostage?
  8. Is there a friend or loved one that needs Salvation?
  9. Do you desire to know God’s will for your life?


If you answered yes to even just one of these, then you should join us and let’s believe God together!

TYPES OF FASTING

There are several types of fasting. The one you choose is between you and God. He will honour your best sacrifice.


Full Fast

Drink only liquids. Aside from water, you may also have clear broth and 100% fruit and vegetable juices in order to maintain your strength when necessary.


Partial Fast

A partial fast is from 6AM to 6PM or from sun-up to sun-down. You can select from three types of fasting —a Full Fast, Daniel Fast or give up at least one item of food.


The Daniel Fast

Eat no meat, no sweets and no bread and no dairy. Drinking only water. Avoid anything processed or deep-fried. Essentially, you are solely eating fruits, vegetables, and anything that is directly grown from the earth.

HOW LONG SHOULD I FAST?

Fasting is something which is essentially a Spirit-lead experience. Therefore it is important through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to determine the nature and duration of a fast. Probably the two most common fasts practiced today are the one-day and the three-day fasts:


  • Biblical examples of a one-day fast: Leviticus 23:27; 1 Samuel 7:6; 14:24; Jeremiah 36:6; Nehemiah 9:1
  • Biblical examples of a three-day fast: 1 Samuel 30:12; Matthew 15:32; Mark 8:2, 3; Acts 9:9.


At Weston we are calling the church to come together corporately for prayer and fasting for a duration of 21 days.


We will start on Sunday, January 7, 2024 and end on Sunday, January 28, 2024 with a communion service.

FASTING: QUICK TIPS

Taken from JentezenFranklin.org



How to Begin

Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family issues? Are you facing financial difficulties? Ask the Holy Spirit for guidance. Pray daily and read the Bible.


Preparing Spiritually

Confess your sins to God. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas of weakness. Forgive all who have offended you and ask forgiveness from those you may have offended (Mark 11:25; Luke 11:4; 17:3-4). Surrender your life fully to Jesus Christ and reject the worldly desires that try to hinder you (Romans 12:1-2).


Deciding What to Fast

The type of fasting you choose is up to you. You could go on a full fast in which you only drink liquids, or you may desire to fast like Daniel, who abstained from sweets and meats, and the only liquid he drank was water. Remember to replace that time with prayer and Bible study.


Deciding How Long

 You may fast as long as you like. Most can easily fast from one to three days, but you may feel the grace to go longer, even as much as 21 to 40 days. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.


What to Expect

When you fast, your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and irritability during withdrawal from caffeine and sugars. And naturally, you will have hunger pains. Limit your activity and exercise moderately. Take time to rest. Fasting brings about miraculous results. You are following Jesus’ example when you fast. Spend time listening to praise and worship. Pray as often as you can throughout the day. Get away from the normal distractions as much as possible and keep your heart and mind set on seeking God’s face.


How to End

Don’t overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually; eat small portions or snacks.

FASTING: HOW TO INVOLVE KIDS

We are so excited that you’ve decided to join us in fasting as we head into 2024. It is our prayer that God would do something truly deep and life-altering in you and your family. For those of you who are parents or guardians, we encourage you to take the time to really talk to your kids about what it is that the church is doing, as well as explaining and unpacking the ‘why’ of it all with them. Remember: there is no “JR” Holy Spirit. Be serious with your children as you discuss this fast – they might even surprise you. We’ve tried to break it down in the most kid-friendly way possible. Hopefully this information is helpful in your explanation and discussion! 


What is Fasting?

Fasting is when you choose to give up something that you really want for a determined period of time, so that you can focus more clearly on God and prayer during that time. Normally, you pray with your spirit and soul (which is what makes up who you are inside), but fasting gets your body involved, too. It's sort of like body prayer. When you fast, it’s like you are praying with your whole self.


How do I include my Kids?

  • Spend time each day praying and reading scripture as a family. Really work on specific verses you would like for them to have “in their hearts,” and make it a point to encourage memorization.
  • You can invite them to participate in the fast along with you.
  • Ask your child(ren) to choose what they believe that they should give up. For kids this does not need to just be limited to food. They could choose to fast a certain toy/game, T.V. show, dessert, etc. Really work with them, and help them pray through this decision. 
  • Provide them with something to fast. Have some sort of treat that they enjoy placed in plain sight and tell them that every time that they think about this particular treat, they are to pray, and that once the week is up they may enjoy it as they please.  


These are just a few limited suggestions. Feel free to come up with something that fits YOUR family. The goal here is that your kids develop an understanding and appreciation for the discipline of fasting, and that as they grow it would be a consistent aspect of their spiritual life.