PRAYER AND FASTING GUIDE
FASTING: FALL 2026 - August 16th - 30th
Fasting enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God. It prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives as we draw near to Him. When you fast, you partner with God. He desires to have a divine partnership with you in the area of fasting and prayer for your family, your life, and His purpose in the earth.
When deciding on a fast, we encourage you to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
How to Begin
Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you desire a deeper, more intimate, and powerful relationship with the Lord? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family? Is there a friend or loved one that needs Salvation? Do you need a breakthrough in any area of life? 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 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. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
We are going to do 2 rounds of fasting throughout the month of August. Choose your fast and time of fasting to begin with the church as a whole.
First round of fasting: August 16th - 22nd
Second round of fasting: August 23rd- 30th
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. Read your Bible. 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.
Types of fasts:
Complete Fast - In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.
Selective Fast - This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.
Partial Fast - This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.
Soul Fast - This fast is an option if you have health issues that prevent you from fasting food. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.
We strongly encourage that if health allows you to do a food fast to do some form of a fast involving food. Abstaining from food is essential to a Biblical fast.
Verses about fasting:
Ezra 8:23 - So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.
Matthew 6:16-18
16 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
Fasting enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God. It prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives as we draw near to Him. When you fast, you partner with God. He desires to have a divine partnership with you in the area of fasting and prayer for your family, your life, and His purpose in the earth.
When deciding on a fast, we encourage you to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
How to Begin
Start with a clear goal. Be specific. Why are you fasting? Do you desire a deeper, more intimate, and powerful relationship with the Lord? Do you need direction, healing, restoration of marriage or family? Is there a friend or loved one that needs Salvation? Do you need a breakthrough in any area of life? 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 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. Use wisdom and pray for guidance. Beginners are advised to start slow.
We are going to do 2 rounds of fasting throughout the month of August. Choose your fast and time of fasting to begin with the church as a whole.
First round of fasting: August 16th - 22nd
Second round of fasting: August 23rd- 30th
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. Read your Bible. 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.
Types of fasts:
Complete Fast - In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.
Selective Fast - This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.
Partial Fast - This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.
Soul Fast - This fast is an option if you have health issues that prevent you from fasting food. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.
We strongly encourage that if health allows you to do a food fast to do some form of a fast involving food. Abstaining from food is essential to a Biblical fast.
Verses about fasting:
Ezra 8:23 - So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.
Matthew 6:16-18
16 When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.