FAST UNTIL 5
AUGUST 21-27

Pray during the noon hour.
Fast from after dinner until dinner the next day. 

Entering a new ministry year, we hope to see God do great things in us and through us. We want to see our own lives transformed by Jesus and we want to be used by God to bring the Good News of Jesus to our neighbors and others around the world. It is impossible to do this apart from our active and intentional abiding in Him. We are only made fruitful by our connection to Jesus. We invite you to dive into what it means to abide in Him. As a church community, please join us for seven days of prayer and fasting. Together, let’s ask Him to cause us to bear much fruit for His glory as we Love God, Love People and Make Disciples of Jesus Christ.

How to PRAY

Praying is spiritual breathing, essential for our life in God. As we meditate on God’s Word, we breathe in the promises and purposes of God. In prayer, we also breathe out, responding to God’s Word to us. Each day in this guide, there will be one verse from John 15 and a few prayer responses for you to guide your praying. Throughout the Seven days, you will be praying for specific areas in your life, our church, and our mission. Together, let’s put our faith into action, trusting in the promises of God for us and our church. Below are some helpful tips on how to make the most of this guide.


  • Prayer during the noon hour. If you can't, commit to a specific time each day to devote to prayer. Find a place where you can be free of distractions and be alone with God.
  • Use the prayer points and Scripture in this guide to focus and fuel your praying. Write the Scripture and prayer point on a card and carry it with you, post it on your social media, make it the screensaver on your phone—whatever you can think of to keep these prompts in front of you. Use them throughout the day and invite others to join you in praying.
  • You can take it a step further by journaling your prayers each day, simply writing out your prayers to God. It’s a great opportunity to hide God’s Word in your heart, working to memorize the verses as you meditate and pray.
  • In addition, you may consider ways to pray with others during this season. Set up a Zoom call with friends, or members of your small group. Pray together as a family.

How to FAST

Why do we fast? Simply put, the goal of fasting is to turn ourselves from worldly things and set our minds and hearts fully on God. It is not a way to manipulate God or coerce him to hear and answer our prayers; rather, it acknowledges our complete dependence on him. Fasting awakens us to the reality that we are so often driven by our fleshly desires and appetites. It humbles us and awakens us to our great need for and reliance on God. As you consider fasting, we want to encourage you to listen to the Holy Spirit. Ask God to lead you in this time of seeking his face. Whether you choose to fast for one day, several days, or the entire seven days, the point is to humble yourself in a new way and draw near to God. Here are some ideas of what you could choose:

  • Fast from after dinner until dinner the next day. If you can't, you might choose a selective fast, eliminating certain things from your diet. Eating only fruits and vegetables, what some might call a “Daniel fast,” is an example of this type of fasting. 
  • Another option is a partial fast, which is refraining from eating for a set period of time each day. You could choose to fast from a single meal or from sunup to sundown.
  • Some of you may feel led to engage in a complete fast, refraining from eating and only drinking liquids for particular days or even an extended period of time. 
  • If fasting from food is not possible, you may feel led by the Lord to fast from something else, such as social media, television, or certain times or activities on your cell phone.
  • If you would like more information and help on fasting, read these articles: Seven Basic Steps to Successful Fasting and Prayer and Six Ingredients That Will Help You Fast From Technology, or a video teaching ,John Mark Comer's Fasting resource.

SCRIPTUREs to Reflect ON Before the fast

  • Exodus 34:28 Moses was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights without eating bread or drinking water. And he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant—the Ten Commandments.
  • Ezra 8:21 I proclaimed a fast, so that we might humble ourselves before our God and ask him for a safe journey for us and our children, with all our possessions.
  • Nehemiah 1:4 When I heard these things, I sat down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven.
  • Daniel 9:3-5 So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.
  • Jonah 3:5-9 The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.
  • Matthew 6:16-18 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. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so 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.
  • Acts 13:2,3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.
  • Acts 14:23 Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust. So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.

DAYS OF PRAYER and fasting

Each day, take some time to pray for the items listed below.
Take this opportunity to connect with the Lord.

  • MONDAY, AUGUST 21

    “Remain in me, as I also remain in you.” - John 15:4a

    Jesus has come to dwell in us and has promised to never leave or forsake us. His life-giving presence is our life and our hope. Colossians 1:27 reminds us of this truth when it says, “…Christ in you, the hope of glory.”


    Prayers for Today:

    • Thank God that Jesus has come to dwell in you, and that his life-giving presence is always available to you.
    • Ask God to help you remain faithful, connected, and drawing life from the vine.
    • Pray that God would show you ways to be more diligent and disciplined in pursuing your own relationship with Jesus.
    • Ask him to speak to you in clear ways as you spend time in the Word and in prayer.
    • Pray that God would use you to encourage your family and friends to actively pursue abiding in him.

  • Tuesday, AUGUST 22

    “As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” - John 15:4b (ESV)

    It is essential that we remain in Christ. And yet, we cannot do the work of abiding in our own strength. Ephesians 3:16–17a says, “I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith” (NIV). It requires the Holy Spirit’s strength for us to maintain a heart that is tender and open to Jesus.

    Prayers for Today:

    • Pray that God would reveal any sin and rebellion in your own heart. Ask God to uncover places and ways that you are trying to draw life from other things.
    • Confess where you have not done the work of abiding in and drawing life from Jesus.
    • Ask God to show you how to repent of these things and commit yourself to obeying his instruction.
    • Ask God to bring conviction and give faith to those who hear the message. 
    • Ask God to lead you to someone today who needs to hear the gospel.

  • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 23

    “If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5b

    Only when we are connected to Jesus can we live the godly, fruit-bearing lives that he desires. 2 Peter 1:3 says, “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.”

    Prayers for Today:

    • Ask God today to help you rely on him, knowing that he has every resource you need to live a fruitful, godly life.
    • Pray that God would increase your holiness for his own glory. Are there areas in your life where you need to pray for more holiness?
    • Pray that God would increase his fruitfulness in and through you. Are there areas you need to specifically pray for more fruitfulness?
    • Pray that God would show you where and how to be stewards—how to invest your time, treasure, and talents for his kingdom and his purposes in the world.
    • Ask him to bless and enrich others by the work he does in and through you.

  • THURSDAY, AUGUST 24

    “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” - John 15:7

    God wants us to walk in holiness, to live godly lives that prove we are his disciples. He wants to produce fruit in you and he wants you to ask for it.

    Prayers for Today:

    • Pray that he would help you abide in his Word and that your times in the Word would be rich and meaningful. If you don’t have a consistent time in the Word with God, ask him to help you start.
    • Ask him to fill your mind and heart with confidence as you meditate on his Word.
    • Pray that God would show you what he wants to do, so that your asking is in accordance with his will.
    • Galatians 5:22–23a says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” As you consider the kind of fruit God wants to produce in your life, ask him to cause specific fruit of the Spirit to abound in you.
    • Pray that we would be a church that faithfully testifies as witnesses to what we have experienced in Jesus Christ.

  • FRIDAY, AUGUST 25

    “If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” - John 15:10

    Obedience is not optional. It is one of the indicators that we are being transformed by the love of God. 1 John 5:3–4 says, “In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.”

    Prayers for Today:

    • Pray that, as a church family, we would be marked by our unwavering obedience to the Word of God.
    • Ask God to keep our staff and pastors from sin, and remaining in his love.
    • Pray that we would advocate for and lead each other to pursue personal holiness.
    • Ask God to show you any places where you are not walking in obedience to him. Confess and repent.
    • Pray that we would be faithful in calling others to follow us as we follow Christ.

  • SATURDAY, AUGUST 26

    “I am the vine; you are the branches.” - John 5:5a

    Branches, plural. You are not a lone branch; you are one of many. At the Immanuel, we call ourselves members of God’s family. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

    Prayers for Today:

    • Thank God for the host of others who have believed the gospel and are now connected to Jesus, the source of life in our church.
    • Praise God for The Immanuel Church and all who are a part of this family of believers.
    • Pray that God would cause us to find joy in the things he has said to us, delighting in his Word.
    • Pray for your brothers and sisters, that they would remain steadfast, drawing life and nourishment from Jesus and his Word.
    • Ask God to lead you today in actively encouraging others in their walk with Jesus.

  • SUNDAY, AUGUST 27

    “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” -John 15:11

    Jesus had a joy that seems almost impossible to us. Even as he faced the certainty of his crucifixion, he knew there was joy in his sacrifice. He wants us to know that kind of joy. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 calls us to “rejoice always,” and Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”

    Prayers for Today:

    • Ask God to make us a joyful people, who are always rejoicing in him regardless of our circumstances.
    • Pray that our worship today would be marked by joy and delight.
    • Ask God to help you, and your brothers and sisters at Immanuel, to set your hope on things above and not look for joy in earthly things.
    • Pray for God to provide the leadership and staff that our church needs to fulfil his purposes for the church.
    • Ask God to continue to lead and empower us as we seek to make disciples who make disciples.

What’s Next After Prayer and Fasting?

Now that you’ve completed these days of prayer and fasting, what’s next? What we know for sure is that our need for God to reveal himself and speak to us has not decreased. We cannot go on without his keeping us, providing for us, and working on our behalf. We want to press in and seek his face with greater resolve.


What about prayer? If you established a new habit or pattern, we want to encourage you to continue making those prayer habits a part of your daily life. And if you found these seven days to be difficult, don’t give up now. Press in and work hard to discipline yourself to seek God in prayer.


A few resources to help you on your journey of enjoying and knowing God through prayer:

Two sermons, one by Pastor Tim Keller ("The Primacy of Prayer") and the other by J.D. Greear ("Prayer to God, Your Sovereign Father"), give some great vision for what prayer can look like in our lives 365 days a year. 


What about fasting? You can continue to pursue God by turning away from distractions and temporary pleasures to find satisfaction in him. We’ll continue to call you to fast, establishing regular days of fasting and prayer. It’s an important part of the spiritual disciplines that drive us to rely on God. 


A few resources to encourage you in your journey of enjoying and knowing God through fasting:

Steps to a Lifestyle of Fasting and Fasting From Technology

We’re confident that God did something in you as you sought him in prayer over the duration of seven days. We are often looking for a new word, a fresh revelation—but don’t despise yesterday’s word. Hang on to it; write down what you saw and heard from God. Share it with others. God’s grace to you should be shared.


This prayer and fasting guide was modified with permission from the Summit Church in North Carolina.