For the next 21 days, we are going to lay the spiritual foundation for the rest of the year through prayer and fasting. Fasting disconnects us from the world, while prayer connects us to God. When we put the two together, we will see God do a tremendous work in our lives!

What is Fasting?
Our challenge is to fast from food for a period of 24 hours
during each week. The attitude and purpose behind the fast are just as important as the physical steps. Fasting is not a tool to manipulate God or earn His favor—it is an act of humility, drawing us closer to Him and aligning our hearts with His will.

Purpose and Attitude in Fasting

• Fasting is not a negotiation. The purpose is to humble oneself, draw closer to God, and align with His will.
• Guard your heart’s motive. Focus on God, not on personal reward or pride. (Matthew 6:16–18)
• Prioritize spiritual discipline. Replace food with prayer, Scripture, and worship—otherwise, fasting becomes a diet.
• Expect temptation and opposition. The enemy often attacks when we are weak—stay vigilant and rely on God’s strength.
• Avoid distractions. Limit media, entertainment, and other distractions to stay focused on God.
• Handle failure with grace. If you break your fast, receive God’s grace, and continue with sincerity.

The next key to making these 21-days successful is establishing a prayer routine that works for your schedule. We are creatures of habit, and the goal for these next three weeks is to establish a healthy habit of prayer we can carry with us for the rest of the year.

Your strategy should consist of three things—a time, a spot, and a plan.

Pick a Time
What is a time that works for you every day? If you have young kids, there is a good chance it will either have to be before they wake up or after they go to bed. It doesn’t matter when it is; just pick the time that is going to be easiest for you to stick to and put it in your calendar right now.

Pick a Spot
Your prayer times will be a lot more consistent if you designate a specific spot for them. Maybe it’s a certain chair or closet. Or maybe it’s your backyard or your car. Again, it doesn’t matter what spot you choose; it only matters that you pick one and stick with it.

Pick a Plan
The best way to ensure you will have success during your prayer time is to go into it with a plan. There are many different models you can follow for this, and in week two, we will walk through one together (praying The Lord’s Prayer). But go into your prayer time with a plan.

One option is to pray through the acronym: ACTS.
Adoration: Start your prayer by praising God for who he is.
Confession: Admit any sin in your life.
Thanksgiving: Next, express gratitude for a few things in your life.
Supplication: Finally, end your prayer by praying for one person.

Pick your guide up from the church or follow along through our church app.