21 Day Prayer and Fasting
8-28 January 2024
What does it mean to fast and why do we do it?
Biblical fasting is something that was very common throughout Scripture, both in the Old and New Testament. It is a way of humbling ourselves and intentionally seeking more of God. The 21-day fast is commonly based on the Daniel 10 passage where Daniel had been practicing what we call a partial fast. He abstained from rich food and meat. He basically only ate vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts and whole grains. For more details about what the traditional Daniel fast includes check out the link (Daniel Fast).
Daniel's fast (full surrender, humbling of self and praying for understanding) is believed to have been the key to the angels arriving to give Daniel understanding of the vision. Daniel 10:12-13a states, "since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before God, your request has been heard in heaven. I came (the angel) in answer to your prayer. But for 21 days the spirit of the kingdom of Persia (the enemy) blocked my way." Basically, the enemy was blocking the angel from giving understanding to Daniel, but Daniel's persistence in prayer brought help to allow the angel to go to Daniel.
Is fasting magical? Does it always reveal some great knowledge? Not necessarily. It is more about surrender. The Daniel Fast or any partial or full fast is a helpful way to focus on God. When we change our habits to not rely on the comforts of food, it can be a reminder (physical hunger or habit of eating) that we need to rely on God. We know that true satisfaction is found only in Christ. It is important that our motives for fasting are for the right reasons.
In the New Testament, Jesus fasted for 40 days. This prepared Him for the beginning of ministry. Remember though, after he prayed and fasted for 40 days, satan tried to tempt Him to surrender to him. Read Matthew 4 1-11 for more about this time of prayer, fasting and temptation by satan.
During this 21 day time of prayer and fasting, please choose the fasting you feel the Lord leading you to do. You can do a partial fast (like the Daniel Fast) or a complete fast (make sure you have medical clearance to do so). You might also choose to fast from something other than food or food and something else (ex: social media).
The most important part is that you are seeking the Lord, spending time with Him in prayer (alone and corporately), listening for His voice and obeying what He says. We look forward to what the Lord will do in and through this time of fasting and prayer.
*Each day the church building will be open for anyone (congregation and community) to come to pray.
Below you will find the dates, focused of prayer for that day, Scripture to read (with a link to the Scripture) as well as the hour the church will be open on that date.
Biblical fasting is something that was very common throughout Scripture, both in the Old and New Testament. It is a way of humbling ourselves and intentionally seeking more of God. The 21-day fast is commonly based on the Daniel 10 passage where Daniel had been practicing what we call a partial fast. He abstained from rich food and meat. He basically only ate vegetables, fruit, legumes, nuts and whole grains. For more details about what the traditional Daniel fast includes check out the link (Daniel Fast).
Daniel's fast (full surrender, humbling of self and praying for understanding) is believed to have been the key to the angels arriving to give Daniel understanding of the vision. Daniel 10:12-13a states, "since the first day you began to pray for understanding and to humble yourself before God, your request has been heard in heaven. I came (the angel) in answer to your prayer. But for 21 days the spirit of the kingdom of Persia (the enemy) blocked my way." Basically, the enemy was blocking the angel from giving understanding to Daniel, but Daniel's persistence in prayer brought help to allow the angel to go to Daniel.
Is fasting magical? Does it always reveal some great knowledge? Not necessarily. It is more about surrender. The Daniel Fast or any partial or full fast is a helpful way to focus on God. When we change our habits to not rely on the comforts of food, it can be a reminder (physical hunger or habit of eating) that we need to rely on God. We know that true satisfaction is found only in Christ. It is important that our motives for fasting are for the right reasons.
In the New Testament, Jesus fasted for 40 days. This prepared Him for the beginning of ministry. Remember though, after he prayed and fasted for 40 days, satan tried to tempt Him to surrender to him. Read Matthew 4 1-11 for more about this time of prayer, fasting and temptation by satan.
During this 21 day time of prayer and fasting, please choose the fasting you feel the Lord leading you to do. You can do a partial fast (like the Daniel Fast) or a complete fast (make sure you have medical clearance to do so). You might also choose to fast from something other than food or food and something else (ex: social media).
The most important part is that you are seeking the Lord, spending time with Him in prayer (alone and corporately), listening for His voice and obeying what He says. We look forward to what the Lord will do in and through this time of fasting and prayer.
*Each day the church building will be open for anyone (congregation and community) to come to pray.
Below you will find the dates, focused of prayer for that day, Scripture to read (with a link to the Scripture) as well as the hour the church will be open on that date.
1/08/2024
PRAY FOR SELF AND CONGREGATION TO FULLY SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF THE LORD
JAMES 4:7-8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 6AM-7AM
PRAY FOR SELF AND CONGREGATION TO FULLY SURRENDER TO THE WILL OF THE LORD
JAMES 4:7-8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 6AM-7AM
1/09/2024
ASK THE LORD TO HELP ALL OF US HEAR HIS VOICE CLEARLY
PSALM 95:1-7
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 2PM-3PM
ASK THE LORD TO HELP ALL OF US HEAR HIS VOICE CLEARLY
PSALM 95:1-7
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 2PM-3PM
1/10/2024
PRAY THAT WE WILL DEVELOP A DEEPER TRUST/FAITH IN THE LORD
PSALM 143:8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
PRAY THAT WE WILL DEVELOP A DEEPER TRUST/FAITH IN THE LORD
PSALM 143:8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
1/11/2024
PRAY FOR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING FOR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
1 PETER 2:24
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 6AM-7AM
PRAY FOR PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALING FOR CHURCH AND COMMUNITY
1 PETER 2:24
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 6AM-7AM
1/12/2024
ASK THE LORD TO HELP US BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WORD AND TO WHAT HE IS SPEAKING
1 SAMUEL 15:22
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 10AM-11AM
ASK THE LORD TO HELP US BE OBEDIENT TO HIS WORD AND TO WHAT HE IS SPEAKING
1 SAMUEL 15:22
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 10AM-11AM
1/13/2024
PRAY WE ARE READY FOR WHAT THE LORD DESIRES FOR US TO DO (INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY)
JEREMIAH 29:11-13
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 9AM-10AM
PRAY WE ARE READY FOR WHAT THE LORD DESIRES FOR US TO DO (INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY)
JEREMIAH 29:11-13
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 9AM-10AM
1/15/2024
PRAY FOR THE LORD TO OPEN DOORS NONE OF US COULD OPEN AND CLOSE THOSE THAT ARE NOT FOR US
PROVERBS 3:5-6
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 8AM-9AM
PRAY FOR THE LORD TO OPEN DOORS NONE OF US COULD OPEN AND CLOSE THOSE THAT ARE NOT FOR US
PROVERBS 3:5-6
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 8AM-9AM
1/16/2024
ASK THE LORD TO REMOVE OBSTACLES THAT KEEP US (INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY) FROM
(SEEING/HEARING) HIM
ISAIAH 57:14
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 12NOON-1PM
ASK THE LORD TO REMOVE OBSTACLES THAT KEEP US (INDIVIDUALLY AND CORPORATELY) FROM
(SEEING/HEARING) HIM
ISAIAH 57:14
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 12NOON-1PM
1/17/2024
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH TO EFFECTIVELY REACH THE COMMUNITY
PSALM 96
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH TO EFFECTIVELY REACH THE COMMUNITY
PSALM 96
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
1/18/2024
PRAY THAT WE (CORPORATELY) WILL GROW CLOSER TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
1 JOHN 4:7-8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 6AM-7AM
PRAY THAT WE (CORPORATELY) WILL GROW CLOSER TO GOD AND ONE ANOTHER
1 JOHN 4:7-8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 6AM-7AM
1/19/2024
PRAY FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP (CURRENT AND FUTURE)
HEBREWS 13:7
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
PRAY FOR CHURCH LEADERSHIP (CURRENT AND FUTURE)
HEBREWS 13:7
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
1/20/2024
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH TO BE UNIFIED IN HEART AND MIND
1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 8AM-9AM
PRAY FOR THE CHURCH TO BE UNIFIED IN HEART AND MIND
1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-13
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 8AM-9AM
1/22/2024
PRAY FOR UNITY AMONG FERGUSON COMMUNITY CHURCHES
EPHESIANS 4:2-3
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 7AM-8AM CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
PRAY FOR UNITY AMONG FERGUSON COMMUNITY CHURCHES
EPHESIANS 4:2-3
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 7AM-8AM CANCELLED DUE TO WEATHER
1/24/2024
PRAY FOR NCCS: STUDENTS TO KNOW JESUS AND GROW TO BE LIKE HIM
2 TIMOTHY 3: 14-15
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
PRAY FOR NCCS: STUDENTS TO KNOW JESUS AND GROW TO BE LIKE HIM
2 TIMOTHY 3: 14-15
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 5PM-6PM
1/25/2024
PRAY FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF NCCS STUDENTS TO GROW CLOSER TO JESUS
LUKE 15:1-10
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 7AM-8AM
PRAY FOR PARENTS AND FAMILIES OF NCCS STUDENTS TO GROW CLOSER TO JESUS
LUKE 15:1-10
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 7AM-8AM
1/26/2024
PRAY FOR FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR NCCS AND THE CHURCH
2 CORINTHIANS 9:8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 2PM-3PM
PRAY FOR FINANCIAL PROVISION FOR NCCS AND THE CHURCH
2 CORINTHIANS 9:8
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 2PM-3PM
1/27/2024
PRAY FOR THE MISSOURI DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND PASTORS
EPHESIANS 1:15-23
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 12NOON-1PM
PRAY FOR THE MISSOURI DISTRICT LEADERSHIP AND PASTORS
EPHESIANS 1:15-23
CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER 12NOON-1PM
1/28/2024
PRAY FOR THE GLOBAL CHURCH, LEADERS, MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES
MATTHEW 28:16-20
BREAKING FAST TOGETHER (POTLUCK 5PM)
PRAY FOR THE GLOBAL CHURCH, LEADERS, MISSIONS AND MISSIONARIES
MATTHEW 28:16-20
BREAKING FAST TOGETHER (POTLUCK 5PM)
