Every year at Journey, we begin the year with 21 Days of intentionally seeking God through prayer and fasting. Make it a goal for the next 21 days pick a fast and set aside at least 15 minutes each day to pray.
21 Days of Prayer & Fasting
January 5-25, 2026
Pick
a Fast
Fasting is withholding from something we want so we can set our minds and attention on God.
Prayer Resources
P.R.A.Y.
This is a prayer acronym for daily life. The prayer acronym P.R.A.Y is a helpful structure for prayer and also forces some deeper dives into God’s Word and his will for your life.
Pray First App
While there is no art to prayer, there are some ways that can help us better connect. Pray First walks you through guided prayer plans.
P.R.A.Y.
Seeking God in prayer.
Praise
Start by praising God. Praise God by speaking to His character (i.e. His greatness, faithfulness, goodness, etc.) and by sharing with Him the things in your life you are thankful for (i.e. your health, provisions, relationships, etc.). This will get your heart in the right posture as you begin connecting with God in prayer.
Repent
Next, move into a short time of repentance. Repentance is the authentic activity of saying, “I’m sorry” to God and allowing Him to forgive you. It is giving the space for God to reveal any sinful thoughts or actions in your life, admitting that you were in the wrong, and then committing to change for the better.
Ask
We all have things on our minds and heart that we would like to ask God for. Use this time to share with God any specific prayer requests that you have. Write them down for future reference to see how God answered your prayers.
Yield
The final step is to spend some time yielding to God. This simply means to stop and quiet your heart to hear from God. It is trusting your specific prayer requests to God, allowing Him to answer it in His timing and in His way. This is probably the most difficult step in prayer, but it’s worth the effort to make it a habit.
Fasting Resources
Fasting is setting aside something so that you can be more focused on God. It’s saying NO to one thing so you can say YES to something bigger and better. It’s saying to God — “I’m more hungry for You than I am for ________.”
BUT … It’s not just about what I’m fasting FROM — it’s what I am fasting FOR.
Read through the various fasts and decide which is best for you. If you don’t feel comfortable fasting from food, or would like to fast from something else including food, consider the soul fast as an option.
Personal Guide
7 Basic Steps
Complete Food Fast
In this fast, you drink only liquids. Drink a lot of water, and then add in juice and shakes as needed.
Partial Food Fast
Abstaining from eating any type of food for a certain period of time each day. For example, you can choose to skip a certain meal or abstain from eating until sunset.
Selective Food 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.
Soul Fast
A soul fast is choosing something other than food to abstain from. 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.
Prayer Book for Kids
The prayer book for kids is a great way for children to participate in 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting! You will find each page has a verse from the Bible and a craft or activity for your kids to do.
We hope your family enjoys seeking God together this January!
Download Daily Guide