Join us on January 8-28, 2024, for our next 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
Online: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays*, and Fridays, 7-7:30 PM, at the link below.
*In person: Only the last Thursday of the fast, January 25.
We will also share short daily devotionals during the fast. Text the keyword VIVE21 to 786-321-VIVE (8483) to receive these devotionals and look forward to how God will show up!
Fasting Schedule & Prayer Themes
Day 1 – Pray for the Lord’s Guidance (Psalm 32:8, Proverbs 3:5-6, James 1:5, John 16:13, Jeremiah 29:11)
Day 2 – Pray for Peace of Mind (John 14:27, Philippians 4:7, Isaiah 26:3, Romans 15:13, Colossians 3:15)
Day 3 – Pray for Wisdom (James 1:5, Proverbs 2:6, Colossians 2:3, Proverbs 16:16, Ephesians 1:17)
Day 4 – Pray for an Attitude of Honor (Romans 12:10, Proverbs 3:9, Philippians 2:3, Hebrews 13:18)
Day 5 – Pray for Healing (Exodus 15:26, Jeremiah 30:17, Psalm 107:20, Isaiah 53:5, James 5:15)
Day 6 – Pray for Unity in Our Families and Church (Ephesians 4:11-13, Ephesians 4:17-32, Colossians 3:13-14, 1 Corinthians 1:10)
Day 7 – Transformation Is Our Expectation (Philippians 1:6, Ephesians 4:22-24, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Romans 12:2)
Day 8 – Pray for Joyful Hearts (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 16:11, John 15:1, Romans 15:13, Galatians 5:22)
Day 9 – Pray for Patience to Persevere Through Life (Galatians 5:22, Colossians 1:11, James 5:7, Proverbs 14:29, Romans 12:12)
Day 10 – Pray for a Heart of Gratitude & Acknowledging God’s Goodness (1 Thessalonians 5:18, Psalm 100:4, Ephesians 5:20, Colossians 3:15-17, Psalm 136:1)
Day 11 – Pray for a Spirit of Excellence (Colossians 3:23-24, Proverbs 16:3, 1 Corinthians 10:31, 2 Timothy 2:15)
Day 12 – Pray for a Spirit of Forgiveness (Matthew 6:14-15, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13, Mark 11:25, 1 John 1:9)
Day 13 – Pray for God’s Protection (Psalm 91:1-16, Isaiah 41:10, 2 Thessalonians 3:3, Proverbs 18:10, Psalm 34:7)
Day 14 – Pray for a Greater Passion (Romans 12:11, Colossians 3:17, Colossians 3:23, Galatians 5:24)
Day 15 – Pray for the Spirit of Humility (Philippians 2:3-4, Proverbs 22:4, Proverbs 11:2, James 4:6,10; Micah 6:8, 1 Peter 5:6)
Day 16 – Pray for Purity of Heart and Mind (Psalm 51:10, Matthew 5:8, 1 John 3:3, 2 Timothy 2:22, Philippians 4:8)
Day 17 – Pray for Discipleship and Personal Influence (Matthew 4:18-25, Matthew 28:19-20, Luke 9:23-24, John 15:16-17)
Day 18 – Pray for Spiritual Revival in Our Hearts, Homes and Churches (Psalm 85:6, Habakkuk 3:2, 2 Chronicles 7:14, Isaiah 57:15, Acts 3:19)
Day 19 – Pray for a Heart of Generosity and a Willingness to Give Freely (2 Corinthians 9:7, Proverbs 11:25, Acts 20:35, Luke 6:38, 1 Timothy 6:18)
Day 20 – Talk and Pray about Your Family’s Vision (Joshua 24:15, Proverbs 11:29, Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:4-15)
Day 21 – Pray for the Church to Have a Greater Love for the Lost (Luke 15:7, Romans 10:1, Matthew 28:19-20, 2 Peter 3:9)
About the Daniel Fast
Pastor Jonathan shares some insight on fasting and, specifically, the Daniel Fast.
About Prayer
From the beginning of Vive City Chapel, we have made it a priority to seek God first in prayer.
Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something we do every now and then, but when it’s a lifestyle we cultivate. To understand how to have a lifestyle of prayer, we can look at the example Jesus gave during His life on earth.
Creating a Lifestyle of Prayer
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where He prayed. - Mark 1:35
Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. Make a daily appointment with God — whether it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the evening — and faithfully keep it.
Jesus had a specific place He went to pray. Having a designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and frees us to worship and pray out loud.
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave them a prayer outline. We call it “The Lord’s Prayer.” This outline, along with several other tools, is available in this guide. As we pray every day, our plans for our prayer time can vary, maybe include worship music, Bible reading, and quiet time to listen to God. It doesn’t always have to look the same; it just helps when we have a plan for connecting regularly with God.
Praying Scripture
The Word of God is one of the most valuable tools we have to build a dynamic daily prayer life. It brings power, truth, and encouragement to our prayer time. Let’s begin with King David’s Psalm 23. Take a moment to read it, and then use the prayer below as a way to use the psalm to have a conversation with God.
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. – Psalm 23 NIV
“God, You are my Provider, and I know You will take care of me. Thank You for guiding me to places of rest. You are my source of energy and passion. You keep me going and lead me toward a life of purpose and freedom. I know that even when I experience my darkest seasons of difficulty and challenge, I have nothing to be afraid of because You are with me. Your presence and power are a constant comfort to me. I know that You are preparing the way for me and that my enemies cannot touch me because You are taking care of me. I know that You have blessed me, and I thank You for choosing me and anointing me with purpose. Your blessings are so much more than I could ask for. I know that You are good, God, and that You are with me all the days of my life. You have chosen me, and I have chosen You, and that means I will be with You, in Your presence, forever.”
About Fasting
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.
Types of Fasts
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.
In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.
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.
This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” or “Sundown 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.
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.
Timing of Fasts
At Vive City Chapel, we encourage fasting for 21 days each year in the month of January and August. This is part of a season of focused prayer 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.
16When 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. 17But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18so 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.
14Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?” 15Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom mourn while he is with them? The time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; then they will fasts.”
9To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
33Just before dawn Paul urged them all to eat. “For the last fourteen days,” he said, “you have been in constant suspense and have gone without food—you haven’t eaten anything. 34Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35After he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat. 36They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37Altogether there were 276 of us on board.
1On the twenty-fourth day of the same month, the Israelites gathered together, fasting and wearing sackcloth and putting dust on their heads. 2Those of Israelite descent had separated themselves from all foreigners. They stood in their places and confessed their sins and the sins of their ancestors. 3They stood where they were and read from the Book of the Law of the Lord their God for a quarter of the day, and spent another quarter in confession and in worshiping the Lord their God.
Share Your Story
Has God answered a prayer of yours? Do you have a praise report to share? We would love to hear about it! Stories like yours are fuel to our fire and become an encouragement to our church.