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A Guide To 21 Days Of
Prayer And Fasting In 2023

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        Two thousand and twenty-three, the year of “Spiritual Resilience…How You Bounce Back” is more than just a catchy slogan, it’s the beginning of a lifestyle shift for the people of God. This year as we begin our annual fast and prayer, we want to focus our mind and attention on the goal of bouncing back and moving forward as intentional believers. God is speaking directly to the hearts and minds of those who WANT change and progress in their lives.

       This is a family oriented but yet a personal journey. During each week of fasting, begin to build your spiritual muscle through prayer and devotion. If you have not, download the Bible App from Life.Church and subscribe to a daily bible plan. To start your day off, use the section titled “Daily Prayer Focus” to lead your prayers to God and to help you continue walking with Harvest as the “Resilient Church” and you as a “Resilient Person.”

 

Why Should I Fast? 

       Fasting and Prayer combined can bring about a transformational revival - in you, the nation, the world... It can be a very powerful tool in seeking God. The ultimate purpose of the fast is not you and what you seek, but God. Fasting is a true way to sacrifice for God and humble oneself to Him (Psalm 35:13; Ezra 8:21). Fasting is an act of worship and honoring. Fasting is a choice, but it is also obedience. 

       In Matthew 6, Jesus talks about three duties of every Christian: Giving, Praying and Fasting. And He doesn’t use the word if, He uses the word when.

       You could choose not to fast this year, but why would you? Why would you choose to stay where you are when God has so much more for you?

 
What is a fast? 
       A fast is a period of abstaining from something; denying self from a desire. There are multiple types of fasts, which we will address. Fasting was designed by God, not to change Him, but rather to change us! Fasting doesn’t show God that you are good or deserving. Only Jesus Christ does that for us. However, fasting does bring us into an experience where our hearts are more open to what the Lord wants to show us for our individual lives.
 
       While you will pay more attention to the foods you eat during the fast, only focusing on the food element of fasting keeps you from experiencing the richness that’s available to you. Focusing on the food element keeps you attending to your flesh rather than to your spirit that connects with the Spirit of God. You can still enjoy your meals; however, this is a time to be simple and more basic so that food and feeding the flesh is in balance with your spiritual experience of fasting. 

                              The Fast For Harvest United Ministries 
       This year, we will be using the Daniel fast as our method of fasting together as a church. Our days of fasting will begin on Sunday, January 22nd and will continue until Sunday, February 12th. We will incorporate days of virtual and in person prayer. Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays during the 21 days will be our virtual Zoom corporate prayer time beginning at 6:00am on those days. Wednesday and Friday nights beginning at 7:30pm we will have prayer live and in person at Harvest United.

       The Daniel Fast (Daniel 1:5-21; 10:3), as found in scripture has a special focus on health, and to seek God’s favor, purpose and vision for life. Church congregations, study groups, and individuals often use the Daniel Fast as their method of fasting to begin the New Year, during Lent, or other times.
 
       This method of fasting opens this powerful discipline to many people who find it difficult to fast for multiple days on a water-only or liquid-only method of fasting (called a normal fast). The blessing is that you can continue to meet your home and work responsibilities while fasting and receiving from the Lord. This fast will allow you to gain spiritual resilience and bounce back to the best version of you that God has created!


For the complete fasting guide for you and/or your family to print or view please click the links below:

Fasting Guide 2023                          Children & Teen Fasting Guide 2023

                        Suggested Daniel Fast Cookbook w/ Recipes

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