21 DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING

Introduction

Rise City Church is entering into 21 days of prayer and fasting this January. This is a season of focused prayer and fasting as a church family. You may also choose to fast at other times during the year for your own spiritual development. It’s very typical to fast a single meal, a whole day, or three days or more. The timing of your fast is not as important as the strength of your focus on God as you fast. Here are some descriptions of different types of fasts for you to pray about. Your "choice" of fast for these 21 days is personal to you and is prayerfully discerned as an act of worship and dependence on God. Please consider your fasting and prayer schedule as we move closer to Jan 6th when we will begin our fast as a church family. 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 a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. 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. SCRIPTURE REFERENCES Matthew 6:16-18 | Matthew 9:14-15 | Luke 18:9-14 | Acts 27:33-37 | Nehemiah 9:1-3

DAY 1

January 6, 2025

Day 1: Surrender to God’s Will Scripture: Matthew 6:10 "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Prayer Points: - Surrender your plans and desires to God. - Seek God’s guidance for the coming days. - Pray for the strength to align your will with His. Encouragement: Remember that God's plans for you are greater than your own. Surrendering to His will opens the door to His abundant blessings.

DAY 2

January 7, 2025

Day 2: Repentance and Cleansing Scripture: Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." Prayer Points: - Confess and repent of any known sins. - Ask for God’s forgiveness and cleansing. - Pray for a renewed spirit and a pure heart. Encouragement: God's mercy is vast, and His forgiveness is complete. As you repent, know that you are embraced by His love and grace.

DAY 3

January 8, 2025

Day 3: Gratitude and Thanksgiving Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you." Prayer Points: - Thank God for His love, grace, and provision. - Express gratitude for the blessings in your life. - Pray with a heart of thanksgiving in all circumstances. Encouragement: A grateful heart attracts God's favor. As you give thanks, you open the door to experience God's work in your life.

DAY 4

January 9, 2025

Day 4: Seeking God’s Presence Scripture: Psalm 27:8 "My heart says of you, 'Seek his face!' Your face, Lord, I will seek." Prayer Points: Desire a deeper relationship with God. Seek His presence in your daily life. Pray for a hunger and thirst for God's Word. Encouragement: In God's presence, you find joy, strength, and peace. As you seek Him, may you experience the fullness of His love.

DAY 5

January 10, 2025

Day 5: Faith and Trust Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Prayer Points: - Pray for increased faith and trust in God. - Surrender areas of your life where trust may be lacking. - Ask for the strength to lean on God's understanding. Encouragement: In trusting God, you find stability and direction. May your faith grow stronger each day, knowing that He is faithful.

DAY 6

January 11, 2025

Day 6: Obedience and Surrender Scripture: James 1:22 "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." Prayer Points: - Seek God's guidance for areas of disobedience. - Pray for the grace to surrender your will to God's. - Ask for the strength to obey His Word faithfully. Encouragement: Obedience to God's Word brings blessings. As you submit to His will, anticipate the fulfillment of His promises in your life.

DAY 7

January 12, 2025

Day 7: Intercession for Others Scripture: 1 Timothy 2:1 "I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people." Prayer Points: - Intercede for the needs of others (family, friends, community). - Pray for healing, restoration, and salvation. - Lift up leaders, both spiritual and secular. Encouragement: Your prayers make a difference in the lives of others. God hears and responds. Trust in His power to bring about change.

DAY 8

January 13, 2025

Day 8: Spiritual Strength and Renewal Scripture: Isaiah 40:31 "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Prayer Points: - Pray for spiritual strength and endurance. - Seek renewal in your mind, body, and spirit. - Ask for the ability to soar above challenges. Encouragement: In God, you find strength beyond your own. As you wait on Him, expect a renewed sense of purpose and vitality.

DAY 9

January 14, 2025

Day 9: Patience and Waiting on God Scripture: Psalm 27:14 "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." Prayer Points: - Pray for patience in times of waiting. - Seek God's timing in your life. - Ask for strength and courage during periods of uncertainty. Encouragement: God's timing is perfect. As you wait on Him, you develop patience and trust in His plan, knowing it is for your best.

DAY 10

January 15, 2025

Day 10: Humility and Servanthood Scripture: Philippians 2:3-4 "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others." Prayer Points: - Pray for a humble and servant heart. - Seek opportunities to serve others. - Ask for the ability to put others' needs before your own. Encouragement: In humility, you reflect the character of Christ. As you serve others, you discover the joy of selflessness.

DAY 11

January 16, 2025

Day 11: Healing and Restoration Scripture: Jeremiah 30:17 "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds," declares the Lord, "because you are called an outcast, Zion for whom no one cares." Prayer Points: - Pray for physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. - Seek restoration in areas of brokenness. - Ask for God's healing touch in your life and the lives of others. Encouragement: God is the ultimate healer. Trust in His ability to bring restoration and wholeness to every aspect of your being.

DAY 12

January 17, 2025

Day 12: Wisdom and Discernment Scripture: James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Prayer Points: - Pray for wisdom and discernment in decision-making. - Seek God's guidance in specific areas of your life. - Ask for insight to understand His will. Encouragement: God's wisdom surpasses human understanding. Trust that as you seek Him, He will provide the guidance you need.

DAY 13

January 18, 2025

Day 13: Breaking Chains and Strongholds Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:4 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds." Prayer Points: - Pray for freedom from any bondage or strongholds. - Seek God's power to break chains of addiction or unhealthy habits. - Ask for strength to resist the enemy's schemes. Encouragement: In Christ, you have the power to break free. Trust in His strength to overcome any chains that bind you.

DAY 14

January 19, 2025

Day 14: Graciousness and Forgiveness Scripture: Colossians 3:13 "Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." Prayer Points: - Pray for a heart of forgiveness. - Seek God's grace to forgive those who have wronged you. - Ask for healing in relationships through forgiveness. Encouragement: Forgiveness is a gift you give yourself. As you forgive, experience the freedom and peace that comes from God's grace.