ALL IN: A 21 DAY PRAYER & FASTING JOURNEY

January 8th-28th, 2024

At the start of every year, we embark on a 21 day prayer & fasting journey as a community. It is our hope that as we go ALL IN this year, we might individually and collectively begin the new year by centering and aligning our whole selves — mind, body and spirit — with the very Spirit of God.

So wherever you find yourself in this season, we invite you to join us on the journey. Whether you are new to faith, old to the faith, rediscovering faith, or even questioning faith; whether you are praying and fasting for the very first time or the twentieth time— we are confident that God will meet you right where you are.

The following is a guide to help you get started.

“There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work. Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good… Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

— 1 Corinthians 12:4-7; 27

How to participate.

Throughout our 21-Day Prayer & Fasting journey, we invite you to join us in the following ways:

 

Worship with us.

 

Join us in-person or online for our weekly Sunday worship gatherings at 10am on January 7, 14, and 21 at Bellevue Youth Theatre.

We’ll also be hosting two intimate nights of worship & prayer at 7:30pm on Tuesday, January 16 & Tuesday, January 23 at community members homes in Bellevue and Mercer Island. RSVP here to receive specific location & home address.

 

Pray with us.

 

We believe that prayer should be our first response, not a last resort. We invite you to commit to praying daily and consecutively for 21 days, even if it's only 5 minutes a day. Below you'll find our Daily Prayer Guide that will help unify us in prayer as we seek God's heart together on a variety of topics starting on Monday, January 8th.

Additionally, our pastors will be hosting virtual midweek guided prayer gatherings each Wednesday from 6am - 6:30am on Zoom (Zoom link here; ID: 828 0259 3541 / PW: 21days) and on Fridays from 12pm - 12:30pm on Instagram Live.

 

Fast with us.

 

The goal of fasting is to draw nearer to God. Starting on Monday, January 8th, we invite you to fast with us as a spiritual next step that can bring clarity and revelation into your life as you pray and wait upon the Lord in this season. There are a variety of ways to fast. Below, we've provided a few different resources and recommendations for you that will help you discern what type of fast might make most sense for you.

 

Commune with us.

 

Join us on Sunday, January 28th at 10am in-person at Bellevue Youth Theatre or via Zoom (no livestream; Meeting ID: 870 8486 4268 / PW: 21days) for our special Community “Break-Fast” Sunday and Family Matters gathering where we will break our fast together by sharing in a light continental breakfast, reflect around our 21 days journey, and discussing important updates impacting our church and how we're envisioning being “ALL IN” in 2024. RSVP here to let us know if you plan to attend in-person or virtually.

Daily Prayer Guide.

Our daily prayer topics, which will be updated weekly, are meant to unite us in prayer during our 21-Day journey. We have created a Daily Prayer Guide on our CG app to provide daily inspiration and help guide you in your prayer times. Make sure to download our CG App to access the Daily Prayer Guide for your daily inspiration or click on the topics below as they are added here.

Additionally, our pastors will be hosting virtual midweek guided prayer gatherings each Wednesday from 6am - 6:30am on Zoom (Zoom link here; ID: 828 0259 3541 / PW: 21days) and on Fridays from 12pm - 12:30pm on Instagram Live.

 
 
 
 
 

How to pray.

Does the thought of praying to God sound intimidating? Prayer in its simplest form can be defined as a conversation with God. So if you’ve ever held a conversation with someone, then the good news is that you can also have a conversation with God!

But prayer is also much more than that. In scripture, prayer is silence, stillness, centering, meditating, contemplating, listening, singing, wailing, giving thanks, intercession and confession.

In other words, prayer can be a lot of things and the truth is, there isn’t really a right way to pray.

If prayer is new for you, below a few different tips to help get you started with praying over the next 21 days. As with anything, the more you practice, the more natural it becomes! 

1. If in doubt, copy the expert.

Jesus’ closest friends faced the same problem we do. So they asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. The result was the best-known prayer in human history — what we call “the Lord’s Prayer” (recorded in Matthew 6:9-15).

Reading Jesus’ prayer slowly, considering each idea, is a great way to listen to God and to model our prayer life.

The book of Psalms is full of prayers that read like conversations.

A psalmist, frequently King David, pours out his heart to God, and then speaks back to himself a truth he believes God is reminding him of. The Psalms offer a helpful blueprint for connecting with God during times of pain or difficulty.

2. Praying with a pen still counts.

The Beginner's Guide to Bible Journaling

“Thoughts disentangle themselves when they pass through lips and fingertips.”

Dawson Trotman’s words beautifully capture why journaling is a vital part of so many people’s spiritual journey.

Some of us are verbal processors and praying out loud enables us to clearly communicate with God. Others of us need to take the time to write out our prayers, so our thoughts become clearer.

You could begin with a Bible verse that stands out to you, even if you don’t know why it stands out to you.

Try writing out your feelings, thoughts or questions. Then pause to allow God to speak to you however God chooses. It might be clarifying the meaning of the verse, or God might bring a memory to mind that offers you fresh insight.

The key is believing God wants to speak and God’s not limited by how good a listener you are.

Show God that you’re willing to listen and God will show you that God’s able to speak.

3. God is a walker and a talker.

How Do I Spend a Whole Day with God?

Jesus’ closest relationships on earth were built upon by walking together day after day. So why not schedule some time in your schedule to connect with God the way you would with anyone else you really valued? Or make it a practice to talk with and listen to God’s voice throughout your day, no matter what you may be doing at the moment.

How to fast.

Fasting is an ancient spiritual practice that allows us to commit ourselves into deep introspection, spiritual growth, and surrender to God's will. During these cherished days, we intentionally set aside worldly distractions and immerse ourselves in prayer, seeking divine guidance, enlightenment, and renewal. It is in this dedicated time of fasting and communing with the Creator that we find solace, draw closer to our faith, build resilience, and experience profound blessings. Through our collective prayers and fasting, we not only transform ourselves but also impact the world around us with the light of God's love and grace.

Whether you decide to give up a certain type of food or take a break from social media, this form of self-denial, when used to focus on prayer, will align your heart with the heart of God. It is a time where we quiet ourselves from the distractions around us, so that we can hear from God more clearly. Fasting isn’t about losing weight, it’s about gaining vision.

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. Please remember that every person is different and you should only choose what is a healthy and safe choice for you.

 
 

Below we have provided a few suggestions of possible fasts:

+ 21 Day Liquid Fast — Give up solid foods, drinking only liquids

+ 21 Day Daniel Fast — Fruits and vegetables only

+ 21 Day Selective Fast — Remove certain elements from your diet

+ 21 Day Media Fast — Give up social media & television

+ 7 Day Fast — Fast with us for 7 days

+ Lunch Fast — Fast with us over lunch each day

+ Once A Week Fast — Fast one day of the week (ie: Wednesday)

+ Create Your Own Fast — Ask God what you can give up