Fasting helps us focus on God by abstaining from something for a set period. Here are some questions that can help you decide how to incorporate fasting into your prayer life:
Why should I fast?
The main benefits of fasting are internal. Fasting is good for your spirit. When you fast, you are making a conscious decision to seek God. Hunger reminds you there is something more satisfying than food and points you to God. You might want to fast for a specific request or breakthrough. You might be pursuing God in a specific way. Or, fasting might be something you do regularly to connect with God.
How should I fast?
There are many ways to fast. You can customize your fast however you want. There should always be some area of denial, and no one finds fasting easy. If you're not used to fasting, begin with a less intense fast to train your body and spirit. Here are some examples of fasts you could consider:
- Total Fast: In this fast, you only drink liquids. You can choose which liquids you'll allow, but it's always important to drink plenty of water.
- Partial Fast: You choose what/when you will eat. For example, you could choose to fast during the day for multiple days in a row.
- Daniel Fast: Based on how Daniel fasted, this fast removes meat, processed sugar, caffeine, dairy, strong drink, and bread from your diet. You drink water and eat only fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes, and vegetables.
Fasting from food is the most common way to fast, but it's not the only way. If you have health issues that prevent you from fasting from food or need to address an imbalance in another area of life, consider fasting from something else for a season.
This could be social media, television - literally anything.
However God leads you to fast, remember: it's about saying "no" to something in your everyday life so that you can say "yes" to more of God.
January 1 - Do you hear that?
Read - Joel 2:12-32
Ways to Pray
Thank God for the good gifts you have been given. Spend some time grieving with God over the condition of our country. Mourn the disunity, racism, and disease we see.
Pray that our church would be desperate for a move of God. Pray that God would pour out His Spirit in a powerful way.
Pray that our reading, praying, and fasting will stir urgency among God's people.
January 2 - The kind of fast God wants!
Read - Isaiah 58
Ways to Pray
Ask the Holy Spirit to breathe life into your spiritual practices.
Ask God to open your eyes to the injustices and needs around you.
Spend time asking God to show you where He has more freedom for you to experience.
January 3- Prepare for a battle!
Read - Ephesians 6:10-24
Ways to Pray
Where does the enemy have a stronghold against you? Where do you need to trust God's protection?
If you've been believing the enemy's lies more than God's promises, confess and repent today. God is a good Father who understands and covers you with His grace.
Ask God to show you which pieces of armor he most wants you to focus on today.
January 4 - What makes you weep?
Read - Lamentations 1
Ways to Pray
Ask the Lord to make you aware of the seriousness of your sin.
Ask Jesus to forgive and cleanse any sin and rejoice in the good news of Jesus Christ.
Pray for revival in our church and in our land.
January 5 - How to live in God's Kingdom!
Read - Romans 12
Ways to Pray
Personalize Romans 12:1 as you pray it. Let your posture show that you are offering your body to God. Try praying this verse while kneeling or raising your hands to God.
Renew your mind by reading this chapter throughout the day.
Ask the Holy Spirit to show you where He wants you to use the grace He has given you.
January 6 - The one thing that really matters!
Read - Psalm 27
Ways to Pray
Repent of spending more time looking at the news and social media than in the Word, worship, and prayer. Ask for grace to reverse that balance today.
Pour out every fear and worry before God, then use Psalm 27 as a declaration of your fearlessness in God, and His protection for you, His beloved.
Use Psalm 27:4 as your prayer and ask God to give you the grace to make Him the one thing in your life.
January 7- Where's the love?
Read - Revelation 2:1-7
Ways to Pray
Pray that our church bears with patient endurance through the circumstances we face throughout the year.
Pray that our church leaders would have insight and wisdom.
Pray that the members of our church would operate in love, counting others more significant than themselves.
January 8- What's driving your sacrifice?
Read - Isaiah 1:11-20
Ways to Pray
Ask God if there are any empty expressions of religion in your life.
Pray that this time would cause your heart to turn again toward God and that you'd know deep intimacy with Him.
Pray that future Sunday gatherings would be marked by the presence of God.
Ask God for opportunities to do good, seek justice, correct oppression, and bring justice in your circles of influence.
January 9- Where to find peace in a storm!
Read - Mark 5: 35-41
Ways to Pray
Ask God for the comfort, peace, and protection that can only come from His presence.
Cast your anxiety on Jesus. Tell the Lord that you trust Him, even in the storm.
Ask God to teach you something specific through this time of fasting. What is He calling you into? What does He want to do for you?
January 10 - Stand in the gap!
Read - Ezekiel 22:17-31
Ways to Pray
Ask God to open your eyes to the worthless things that captivate us.
Ask God to show you where you can stand in the gap for your friends, family, and community.
Ask God to revive a desire for repentance and to pour out His grace and mercy on our country.
January 11 - Humble yourself before God!
Read - James 4
Ways to Pray
Where have you grown impatient with God and tried to make your own way? James 4:6 reminds us that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." Humble yourself today, and ask God to show you where you need to change.
Where do you see disunity or arrogance in the church? Pray for repentance.
Is there an area of your life where you know the right thing to do? Ask God for the courage to go do it!
January 12 - Receive the breakthrough!
Read - Isaiah 43 and Revelation 21
Ways to Pray
As you read the passages, connect them to 2026 thus far. Ask God to show you how He is making all things new.
After reading, take a moment to sit or kneel in silence. Then, thank God for what you have experienced over these 12 days.
Examine what is still broken in our world and ask God to bring newness to each issue.
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