21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING

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21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING

P R A Y E R G U I D E

2 0 2 1

T H E Y E A R O F H O P E

hope

/hōp/ noun

Confident expectation; the sure certainty that what God has promised

in the Word is true, has occurred, and or will occur.

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Why do we fast?

The goal of fasting is to draw nearer to God. Biblical fasting always has to do with eliminating distractions for a spiritual purpose; it hits the reset button of our soul and renews us from the inside out. It also enables us to celebrate the goodness and mercy of God and prepares our hearts for all the good things God desires to bring into our lives. Remember, your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and, most importantly, to

seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.

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 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.

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Daily Prayer Guide

DAY 1

JANUARY 10

Focus: Year of hope

Scripture:

You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in your Word.

Psalm 119:114

Prayer:

“God, I pray that during these 21 day of prayer and fasting that I would draw closer to you. Renew my hope this year. Teach me to hide within you, and find hope in your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What does it look like to hope in God’s Word? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 2

JANUARY 11

Focus: Fasting with intentionality

Scripture:

“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.”

Matthew 6:16

Prayer:

“God, help me to remain disciplined and intentional during this time of fasting. I will remain faithful in fasting with the focus of devoting this year to you. My goal is to be righteous in your site, not in the site of others. Help me to do this. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What are you believing God for during these 21 days? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 3

JANUARY 12

Focus: God’s freedom and favor

Scripture:

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Galatians 5:1

Prayer:

“God, thank you for the freedom and favor that only comes from you. During this time of prayer and fasting, I will rejoice in being reminded of what you have given me through Christ. Help me today to walk in that freedom and favor. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What does it look like to walk in the favor of God? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 4

JANUARY 13

Focus: Solitude Scripture:

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own…

1 Corinthians 6:19 Prayer:

“God, today I ask you to help me slow down and remember that you are within me. As I take time to be still, help me to hit the spiritual reset button, and may this time of prayer and fasting set me on course for a year of spiritual

fruitfulness. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What will you do to alot time for solitude? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 5

JANUARY 14

Focus: Racial reconciliation

Scripture:

For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to

reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

Ephesians 2:14-16 Prayer:

“God, I pray that you would bring about equality and peace throughout the nation. I pray for those who have been hurt and abused due to racial injustice and I ask that you would mend their wounds. I pray for those who do not look like me. Help me to learn and understand them, and help them to learn and understand me. I pray for unity. I pray for reconciliation. I pray for healing. Forgive us as we forgive those who have sinned against us. Thank you that under heaven, we are all equal in your site, and may your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How will you actively participate in racial reconciliation? ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________

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DAY 6

JANUARY 15

Focus: Sharing the Gospel

Scripture:

At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them.

Luke 4:42 Prayer:

“God, I know people need hope in this season. I pray that you would use me to bring people who are looking for hope to you so that they may find true hope. Once they find you, I know they will want to stay within your presence, so help me to be a witness to those who need to find you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How will you share the Gospel in your sphere of influence? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 7

JANUARY 16

Focus: Life for all

Scripture:

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 10:10

Prayer

“God, help my loved ones and I to experience the fullness of life that you came to bring. Guard my family, my friends, and my church from the attacks of the enemy and bring a sense of fulfillment in life for 2021. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Write a prayer for someone you know who is going through a hard time.

______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 8

JANUARY 17

Focus: Hope in the Lord

Scripture

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:7

Prayer:

“God, today I choose to put my hope in you. In doing so, may my hope be unshakable. Help me to not put my hope in things or circumstances, but remain in you and you alone. I trust you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What area is God asking you to trust Him greater in 2021? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 9

JANUARY 18

Focus: Fighting fatigue

Scripture:

Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…

Ephesians 5:18

Prayer

“God, help me as I approach the middle of this time of prayer and fasting. Fill me with the power of the Holy Spirit, and give me the strength to remain

disciplined through this time of devotion to you. I will lean on you, and the Spirit you have filled me with. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How is the fast going so far? How will you finish strong? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 10

JANUARY 19

Focus: Praise and worship

Scripture:

Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Psalms 100:1-5

Prayer:

“God, I will devote time each day to worship you. I will praise you and remember all of the goodness you have given me throughout my life, and I will worship you as Lord above all. You are God, you are Savior, and you are the Lord of my life, and I will live a life of worship to you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What do you want your time of worshipping Jesus to look like? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 11

JANUARY 20

Focus: Marriages Scripture:

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself.

Ephesians 5:21-28 Prayer 1:

“God, I pray for the marriages throughout our church. Through this challenging year we just came through, I pray for reconciliation for marriages that have been broken. I pray for love and respect to be reestablished as the pillar of the home. I pray that you would surround them with other couples that they can lean on and be a support to through challenging times. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Prayer 2:

I pray for my [future] spouse and I. I pray that you would bless us and our love for one another. Help us to pursue you first and keep you at the center of our marriage. Teach us how to love one another better, and allow love and respect to be the pillar of our home. I pray that you would surround us with other

couples that we can lean on and that we can be a support to through challenging times. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Write a specific prayer for your spouse or a couple you know.

______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 12

JANUARY 21

Focus: The Church

Scripture:

For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.

Romans 12:4-5 Prayer:

“God, today I pray for my church and the Church around the world. I pray that you would continue to bless the Church to do the work you have set for it to do. I commit to praying for our church and the global Church, as well as doing my part to be part of the unified Body of Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How is God challenging you as a part of the Body of Christ? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 13

JANUARY 22

Focus: Those in need

Scripture:

But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:3-4

Prayer:

“God, I pray that you would use me to bless those in need. I ask that you would bless me with more than I need so that I can be the biggest blessing I possibly can be. Help me to be more generous this year, to see those in need, and do meet them at their point of need, so that I may share your love with them. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How can you be more generous in this season and to whom? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

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DAY 14

JANUARY 23

Focus: Our pastors

Scripture:

Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Acts 20:28

Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.

1 Timothy 5:17

Prayer:

“God, today I commit to praying for our pastors. Thank you for the responsibility you have given them to lead our community. Help them to lead our church to fulfill the vision you have placed on their hearts. I commit to doing my part to helping fulfill that vision that you have given them for our church. Bless them and their family. Guard their home, guard their health, and guard their marriage. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Write your own prayer for your pastors and spiritual leaders. ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 15

JANUARY 24

Focus: Finishing strong

Scripture:

But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Matthew 6:6

Prayer:

“God, thank you that you see me even when others don’t. Thank you for promising to reward that which I do in secret. As I go into this last week of the fast, I pray that you would help me finish strong, not for me to brag, but for you to be praised by that which I sacrifice to you. I love you, and I will lean on you as I finish this final week of the fast. Help me, God. I need you. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

How is the fast going? How will you finish strong? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 16

JANUARY 25

Focus: The next generation

Scripture:

We will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generation the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might, and the wonders that he has done.

Psalm 78:4-6

Prayer:

“God, today I pray for the next generation, whether it be my children, my future children, or the youth of our church. I pray that they would know you and that they would fulfill the purposes you have for them. I pray that you would help us as a church to pour into them and teach them your Word and your will. Equip us to equip them, and build them to be a generation that furthers your mission. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Who are a few young people you will commit to pray for this week? _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

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DAY 17

JANUARY 26

Focus: Reading the Bible

Scripture:

But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither…

Psalm 1:2-3

Prayer:

“God, this year I will commit to reading your Word as consistently as I can. I will delight in the Scriptures, and as a result, I pray that you would help me to remain strong through challenging seasons. May your Word make me like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, and help me to yield fruit in every season. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Look up some Bible reading plans and write down some options below.

______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 18

JANUARY 27

Focus: Our country

Scripture:

Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14 Prayer:

“God, I lift up our nation and I ask that you would heal our land. I pray for unity

amongst your people. I ask that you would help guide our nation's leaders and that you would help them when making challenging decisions. Our nation needs you, our

leaders need you, and I need you. Have your way in our nation. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What is God speaking to you through this scripture? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 19

JANUARY 28

Focus: Agreement…Alignment…Assignment Scripture:

For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Ephesians 2:10

Prayer

“God, today I commit to standing in agreement with the calling you have placed on my life. Help me to live in alignment with your word so that I may fulfill the complete assignment you have purposed me for on this earth. I am your handiwork, created to do good works. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What do you feel God has called you to? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 20

JANUARY 29

Focus: Healing for the sick

Scripture:

Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved, for you are my praise.

Jeremiah 17:14 Prayer:

“God I pray for all those throughout our church who are sick in body. I ask that you heal them. I pray that you would renew their strength, for I believe you are the God of miracles. I ask that you would empower us as your people to lay hands on the sick and to see them be healed. I believe in your word, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

Write a prayer for someone you know who is sick in body. Take time to pray this over them.

______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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DAY 21

JANUARY 30

Focus: Vision for the year

Scripture:

Where there is no vision, the people perish…

Proverbs 29:18 And the Lord answered me: “Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.”

Habakkuk 2:2

Prayer:

“God, as I finish this fast, I pray that you would give me vision for the rest of the year. Help me to live in purpose, passion, and devotion to that which you have for me. Fill this year with hope. Guide me this year and lead me in your will. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

What is the vision God is giving you for 2021? ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

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