Join us on Wednesday, March 5, as we enter the season of Lent with two special gatherings in the sanctuary. Our Ash Wednesday service will take place at noon, offering a time of reflection, prayer, and the imposition of ashes as we set our hearts toward Christ. Then, return in the evening for a Prayer Night from 6:30–8 p.m., a time of worship and intentional prayer as we seek God together. Whether you come to one or both, we invite you to step into this sacred season with us.
Join the Reading Plan
Join Us for 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting
As we seek to grow deeper in our faith and draw closer to God, we invite you to join us in this 40-day journey of prayer and fasting. This powerful reading plan will guide you through daily Scripture and reflection, helping you align your heart with God’s will and prepare for what He wants to do in and through you.
Ready to take this next step of faith? Start the plan here.
As we seek to grow deeper in our faith and draw closer to God, we invite you to join us in this 40-day journey of prayer and fasting. This powerful reading plan will guide you through daily Scripture and reflection, helping you align your heart with God’s will and prepare for what He wants to do in and through you.
Ready to take this next step of faith? Start the plan here.
Types of Fasting
To consecrate ourselves, we must prepare both spiritually and physically. In the Bible, fasting is often referred to as abstaining from food or excess in order that we can turn our attention to God. Fasting and prayer together is a powerful discipline that can transform lives!
Never fasted before? That’s quite ok! Here are some resources that you may find helpful as you begin your journey.
Never fasted before? That’s quite ok! Here are some resources that you may find helpful as you begin your journey.
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.
Scripture References About Fasting
Matthew 6:16-18
16 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. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 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.
Matthew 9:14-15
14 Then John’s disciples came and asked him, “How is it that we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples do not fast?”
15 Jesus 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 fast.”
15 Jesus 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 fast.”
Luke 18:9-14
9 To 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. 11 The 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. 12 I 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.”
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.”
Acts 27:33-37
33 Just 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. 34 Now I urge you to take some food. You need it to survive. Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head.” 35 After 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. 36 They were all encouraged and ate some food themselves. 37 Altogether there were 276 of us on board.