21 Days of
Prayer & Fasting
January 6th – 26th
There is no better way to start a new year than by intentionally drawing closer to God and seeking His guidance for our lives. Join us for 21 days of prayer and fasting as we disconnect from the things of this world and connect to God.
WHAT IS FASTING?
As followers of Jesus, we grow closer to Him as we block out the world’s noise. Blocking out daily distractions by doing as Jesus called us to do in Luke 9:23 allows us to truly focus on Him and what He may ask of us. “And He said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” By taking up our cross daily, we put down things that might interfere and distract us from spending time with Him and hearing Him so that we may follow where He leads us. In this generation, it’s so easy to get distracted. From work to school, kids, social media, stress, relationship problems, or what may pop up throughout our day – it can be overwhelming and take control of our thoughts and our time.
From January 6th to 26th, we will silence the noise of the world and set aside distractions that keep us from seeking Him first and picking up our cross. We do not lose something when we fast; we gain something: A deeper relationship with Jesus!
HOW DO WE FAST?
PRAY
Fasting isn’t just about taking something away from our lives. When we fast from things that distract us in our walk with Jesus, we fill that time and space with prayer, ultimately bringing us closer to Him.
Before you begin your journey of 21 days of prayer and fasting, commit to a fast and stay determined. Preparation is critical, and it is most effective if you choose one thing to fast from and stick with it!
PLAN & COMMIT
EXAMPLES OF FASTS
The Food Fast: Intermittent fasting, only one meal per day, fruits and vegetables only, or traditional fasting (only eating sun up to sun down, Monday- Friday) are many ways to follow a food fast.
The Social Media Fast: Delete those apps off your phone. Social media can be a massive distraction in spending time with Jesus.
The Television Fast: Imagine what God can do when you use your TV time to spend with Him.
Scripture References for Fasting:
We believe Jesus wants to do something incredible for our kids and students during this time of prayer and fasting, just like He will for adults. When we teach the next generation and allow them to participate, they grow in their personal relationships with Jesus.
TEACHING CHILDREN ABOUT FASTING
TIPS FOR LH FAMILIES
- Make an intentional choice as a family about the type of fast you will do: no sweets, one meal, media fast - TV, social media, games, etc.
- Spend quality time with God daily through worship, prayer, or starting a Bible plan on the YouVersion Bible App. “KIDS: 21 Days of Fasting and Prayer”, “Dangerous Prayers”, and “A 7-Day Guide To Prayer” are three good plans to begin with. You may also search “21 Days of Prayer and Fasting” under Plans in the app.
- Create a time for the family to talk about what God is teaching you and what you are struggling with—a great place for this is at the dining room table or before bed.
- Encourage one another daily.
- Write down prayer requests and pray together during the 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting.
THINGS FOR KIDS & STUDENTS TO FAST
- Choose to stay away from sweets or something specific, like ice cream.
- Choose one show to not watch for 21 days.
- Choose to put the AirPods/Headphones away for the next 21 days to help you be present with God and the people around you.
- Fast from TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat, or BeReal for the next 21 Days. Replace the app on your home screen with The Bible App, Hallow, or Spotify (to listen to worship music when you want to log in/scroll social media).
- Do choose to read your Bible daily.
- Do spend time praying to God when you wake up, at lunch, and at bedtime.
- Do listen to worship music.
- Don’t forget the reason you are fasting.
- Don’t stop fasting if you eat something you’re not supposed to or slip up and start scrolling.
- Don’t compare your fast to someone else’s.
DO'S AND DON'T'S
CHECK OUT OUR LH FAMILIES HANDOUT WITH TIPS, QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION, AND A CALENDAR TO TRACK YOUR PROGRESS!
STAY CONNECTED
Through 21 Day’s of Prayer & Fasting
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS? ASK USING THE BUTTON BELOW.
During our 21 days of prayer and fasting, we want to come together as a family by submitting and praying for one another’s requests. Fill out the form below. Once your prayer request is received, we will share it according to your instructions. Feel free to submit as many prayer requests as you like!
When inputting your prayer request please be sure to fill out all of the below fields. We will be praying for you.
Meghan Pieters
Please pray for my husband Aaron. He was recently diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver despite getting sober on his own prior to knowing he was sick.
Received: January 15, 2025
Natalie Wicks
Please pray for my ability to lean into scripture and mind my business even when it feels like turning a blind eye. I need to trust in the power of prayer and asking God to intervene on behalf of my beloved son to find and believe in Jesus. Really taking to heart that his salvation cannot be accomplished by my insistence or fond wishes but only through the power of the Holy Spirit acting on behalf as a result of trust and prayer. Please also pray for his breakthrough as well...
Received: January 14, 2025
Anonymous
Prayer request for my husband, Mark who has been diagnosed with a strange virus that is affecting his muscles
Received: January 14, 2025
Kristina
My mom went through 12 treatments of chemotherapy last year for colon cancer stage 3. Her latest scan shows that her cancer may be back and she’s having a biopsy done Thursday. Please pray for everything to be okay and if it’s not, may be use God’s strength to continue on this journey with our mom in a faithful way and that she recovers fully from this disease. Through God’s holy and precious name, Amen
Received: January 14, 2025
Anonymous
To pray for my cousin Mary K, who was diagnosed with a very rare liver cancer. God gave her a huge healing a little over a year ago! And she beat the odds. She needs another miracle as there is now a new tumor on her liver.
Thank you!
Received: January 13, 2025
Shannon Martin
I have a troubled 15 yr old son who has refused school for 3 years now and is supposed to be in 10th grade. The school system has agreed to place in him residential school to force him to go, my prayer is for god to direct me what the right decision is for this situation. His mental and emotional health is extremely fragile and he is in a state or refusal with everything in life, won’t leave the house, no friends, doesn’t talk to anyone. I have over the last 3 years exhausted every resource known and all I just keep praying for god to free him from the bondage in his own heart and mind and for him to find Jesus and see the light, he’s ruining his life and as a mother it is gut wrenching. Thank you in advance for the prayers. God bless everyone who read this.
Received: January 13, 2025
Debra Fitzpatrick
Pray that while I start my journey with Youth For Christ at Arundel Middle School on Tuesday that the Holy Spirit guides me and gives me wisdom to have the right words to speak to the students to relate to them all the love Jesus has for them.
Received: January 13, 2025
Anonymous
Please pray for for my granddaughter Ava. She is having a hard time in Kindergarten. She is not sitting all day and the teacher us disappointed that she can’t listen and ir males Ava feel bad about herself. She misses her Dad whom she hasnt seen in 3 months and it may run longer or indefinitely Please pray for him I think he is in trouble after making poor choices. She is getting less attention at home as ther is a new baby.. and she ahs just moved again for the 5th time. i fear she feels abandoned (although she does get lots of love and attention from her grandparents). She lows Jesus amd thanks him eveyday .
My heart hurts so badly for her.
It greives me so deeply.
Thank you!
Received: January 13, 2025
Anonymous
Please pray for a family member struggling with depression. Please pray for peace and complete healing from this debilitating mental health issue. Thank you. God Bless you.
Received: January 13, 2025
Anonymous
I bought my husband a Bible and asked God to let me know when I should give it to him. Of course God delivered as one day my husband asked if he could have a Bible and I gladly gave him the one I bought for him. If you could please pray;
For my husbands salvation in Jesus Christ. That as my husband reads his Bible for the first time God speaks to him and touches his heart and soul and opens his eyes to know that the Bible is true and that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. That God takes away all my husbands doubts of the Bible and Jesus being God and allows him to accept the truth.
Thank you!