Join Us As We Seek God Through Prayer & Fasting

SEEK services will be held, in addition to Sunday morning services, at the Worship Campus. Biblical fasting is giving up particular foods and drinks for a specified number of days. The type and length of the fast you choose is between you and God, and should not be determined by what anyone else is doing. At the beginning of each new year, Radiant Church participates in a 21-day fast as a practice of giving God our first and our best.

“YOU WILL SEEK ME AND FIND ME WHEN YOU SEEK ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART.”
JEREMIAH 29:13 NIV

About

21 Days of Fasting & Prayer

January 3rd – 24th, 2024

Seek Services

Noon Prayer Services

Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays 12:00pm at the Worship Campus

What Is Fasting?

Fasting, prayer, and reading God’s Word go hand in hand, but without prayer, fasting becomes merely a diet. When you fast, pray for God’s purpose and plan for your life to be revealed. Many choose to fast and pray about every major decision in life. Simply put, fasting is a way to conquer the physical, and open the door to God’s provision and direction in your life. When you deny your body, you feed your spirit and grow closer to the Lord.

“…when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:6 ESV

How Do I Fast?

Types of Fasting

Before beginning this year’s fast, write down a plan and make a verbal commitment to the Lord. When you approach it with determination you’ll be less likely to waiver in weak moments. The type of fast that you ultimately choose should be what you feel the Lord is leading you to commit to for these 21 days. Here are some of the types of fasts you could choose to participate in.

Juice
Social Media
Water
Partial Fast (sun up - sun down)
Daniel (fruits and vegetables)
Comfort Fast (Netflix, fast food, caffeine, sugar)

Juice Fast

In this fast, abstain from food and only drink water and 100% juice for a period of time. Drink mildly acidic or non-acidic fruit juices such as apple, grape, peach or pineapple juice, which are excellent sources of natural and necessary sugar to stabilize blood sugar and keep energy levels up. Raw vegetable juices such as carrot, celery, beet or green vegetable juice combinations are excellent as well. (100% VEGETABLE JUICES ONLY, without added sugars, salt or preservatives such as V8 Juice). You can do normal daily activities on a juice fast.

Water Fast

This type of fast is abstaining from food and only drinking water for a period of time. Drink plenty of water, at least half your body weight in ounces of water per day (example: 150lbs = 75 oz./day). Distilled water is most beneficial, but filtered and purified water also works well. A water-only fast is, by far, the most difficult fast due to the detoxification process that the body goes through and the lack of energy that is experienced as a result of not eating.

Many people who are experienced in fasting have fasted this way for 40 days or more. Long-term water fasts are possible, but definitely not comfortable. You may choose to do a short-term water fast sometime during the 21 days.

Daniel Fast

This is a partial fast that provides many attributes to the idea of denying self and seeking God, but with less discomfort than a juice or water fast. Here are some guidelines for a good Daniel Fast:

Foods to eat: Fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, seeds, legumes, 100% juice, natural oils, and water.

Foods to avoid: Meat, dairy, all natural and artificial sweeteners, all leavened breads, refined and processed foods, fried foods, solid fats, coffee, tea, alcohol, and carbonated beverages.

For more detailed information on Daniel fasting, visit this website. https://www.daniel-fast.com/

Comfort Fast

Fasting from comfort items is a great option if fasting is a new experience for you or if you have any health limitations regarding food-based fasts. If you feel led to participate in this way, here are some ideas of things you can fast from:

• Electronic Entertainment

• TV Shows, Movies, Netflix, Hulu, Video Games, etc.

• Social Networking Apps or Sites: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Blogs, etc.

• Any major thing you find comfort in.

Keep in mind the goal of comfort fasting is to allow space for your hunger to drive you to God, and to not

satisfy ourselves with other things. Be intentional about your fast and push yourself out of your comfort zone.

When Should You Fast?

If you want to make fasting a way of life beyond these 21 days, work out a plan for the entire year to include days or meals to fast that works into your lifestyle. You may decide to fast one day a month, one meal a week, or fast specific foods or comfort items for a period of time.

There may be other unexpected times that you feel a need to fast—during family struggles, financial problems, or times you are in need of breakthrough in your life.

Where Can I Find Fasting In Scripture?

Blessings of Fasting:

Prayer & Scripture with Fasting:

Isaiah 58:8-9, Luke 2:37, Nehemiah 1:4, Daniel 9:3

Corporate Fasting:

Joel 2:12, Acts 13:2, 1 Samuel 7:5-6

Preparing to Fast:

2 Chronicles 20:3-4 Ezra 8:21-23, Mark 11:25, Luke 11:4, Romans 12:1-2, Nehemiah 9:1-3 Jonah 3:5-10 Esther 4:16

Samuel 7:3

Daniel Fast:

When to Fast:

Daniel 10:2-3, Matthew 9:14-15

Fasting Do’s:

Why to Fast:

Matthew 6:16-18, Romans 12:1, Matthew 6:33, Mark 9:29,

Fasting Don’ts:

Isaiah 58:6, Luke 4:1-13, Matthew 6:16-18, Luke 18:9-14

Time

While most opt to participate in their fasts around the clock, others who are new to fasting–or that have other limitations may decide to have a different schedule that works best for them. Some options for fasting times follow.

• Half-Day Fast – From sunrise to 3PM

• Full-Day Fast – From sunrise to sunset

• Total Fast – Around the clock