As we begin Unshakeable, our six-week study through the first six chapters of Daniel, we invite our entire church family to participate in 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting from July 26 – August 15.
This is an important season for our church and our community. Together, we will intentionally seek the Lord as we pray for our own hearts, our church, our families, and our community. We will ask God to draw people back to Himself, bring spiritual renewal, and use Gateway to lead more people to become more like Jesus.
Whether you choose a Daniel-style food fast or another way to participate, the goal is not for all of us to give up exactly the same thing. The goal is for all of us to seek the same God.
Our 21-Day Devotional will be available here shortly before the series begins. In the meantime, explore the Frequently Asked Questions below to learn more about the fast and how you can participate.
This is an important season for our church and our community. Together, we will intentionally seek the Lord as we pray for our own hearts, our church, our families, and our community. We will ask God to draw people back to Himself, bring spiritual renewal, and use Gateway to lead more people to become more like Jesus.
Whether you choose a Daniel-style food fast or another way to participate, the goal is not for all of us to give up exactly the same thing. The goal is for all of us to seek the same God.
Our 21-Day Devotional will be available here shortly before the series begins. In the meantime, explore the Frequently Asked Questions below to learn more about the fast and how you can participate.
What is Fasting?
Throughout Scripture, God’s people have set aside food and other comforts for a period of time to seek Him with greater focus and dependence.
Fasting is not a way to earn God’s favor. It is not a diet or a test of spiritual strength. We do not fast to prove something to God or to others. We fast to intentionally quiet distractions and remind ourselves that we need God more than anything else.
Jesus spoke about fasting as a normal part of following Him. In Matthew 6:16–18, Jesus said, “When you fast,” and taught His followers to fast humbly and sincerely.
Fasting is a way of saying: God, I want You more than I want what I am giving up.
For these 21 days, we are inviting our church family to seek God together. We will pray for our own hearts, our families, our church, our schools, and our community. We are asking God to draw people back to Himself and prepare us to be used by Him.
Fasting is not a way to earn God’s favor. It is not a diet or a test of spiritual strength. We do not fast to prove something to God or to others. We fast to intentionally quiet distractions and remind ourselves that we need God more than anything else.
Jesus spoke about fasting as a normal part of following Him. In Matthew 6:16–18, Jesus said, “When you fast,” and taught His followers to fast humbly and sincerely.
Fasting is a way of saying: God, I want You more than I want what I am giving up.
For these 21 days, we are inviting our church family to seek God together. We will pray for our own hearts, our families, our church, our schools, and our community. We are asking God to draw people back to Himself and prepare us to be used by Him.
Why a Daniel-Style Fast?
Our 21-day journey is inspired by Daniel’s example of setting himself apart and faithfully seeking God.
In Daniel 1, Daniel made a decision not to defile himself with the food and wine from the king’s table. Instead, he asked for vegetables and water.
Later, Daniel describes a three-week period of mourning and seeking God:
“I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips.” Daniel 10:3 (NIV)
The Bible does not command Christians to follow a specific Daniel Fast menu. The modern Daniel Fast is a partial fast inspired by these passages. It allows us to continue eating simple foods while intentionally setting aside richer foods and normal comforts for a season of focused prayer.
The purpose is not the menu. The purpose is seeking God.
In Daniel 1, Daniel made a decision not to defile himself with the food and wine from the king’s table. Instead, he asked for vegetables and water.
Later, Daniel describes a three-week period of mourning and seeking God:
“I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips.” Daniel 10:3 (NIV)
The Bible does not command Christians to follow a specific Daniel Fast menu. The modern Daniel Fast is a partial fast inspired by these passages. It allows us to continue eating simple foods while intentionally setting aside richer foods and normal comforts for a season of focused prayer.
The purpose is not the menu. The purpose is seeking God.
What Does a Daniel-Style Fast Look Like?
Those choosing the Daniel-style food fast will generally eat simple, plant-based foods, including fruits, vegetables, beans, legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds, with water as the primary beverage.
Participants generally set aside meat, dairy products, sweets, added sugars, sweetened drinks, highly processed foods, rich or indulgent foods, and alcohol.
We encourage you to keep the food portion simple. It can be easy to spend so much time finding substitutes and special recipes that we miss the spiritual purpose of the fast.
When you feel the absence of something you normally enjoy, allow that moment to remind you to pray.
Fasting creates space. Prayer determines what fills it.
Participants generally set aside meat, dairy products, sweets, added sugars, sweetened drinks, highly processed foods, rich or indulgent foods, and alcohol.
We encourage you to keep the food portion simple. It can be easy to spend so much time finding substitutes and special recipes that we miss the spiritual purpose of the fast.
When you feel the absence of something you normally enjoy, allow that moment to remind you to pray.
Fasting creates space. Prayer determines what fills it.
What If I Cannot Participate in the Food Fast?
Not everyone should participate in the same way. Health needs, medications, pregnancy, age, physical demands, eating disorder history, or other circumstances may make a food-based fast unwise. Children should participate only in age-appropriate ways under the guidance of their parents or guardians.
If a significant dietary change could affect your health, please consult your physician or qualified healthcare professional.
You can still fully participate in these 21 days. Some alternatives include:
The goal is not for everyone to fast in exactly the same way.
We can give up different things while seeking the same God together.
If a significant dietary change could affect your health, please consult your physician or qualified healthcare professional.
You can still fully participate in these 21 days. Some alternatives include:
- Fast one meal each day and use that time for prayer and Scripture.
- Fast certain foods such as sweets, soft drinks, fast food, or another regular part of your routine.
- Fast social media or entertainment and use some of that recovered time to seek God.
- Fast unnecessary spending and consider using what you save to bless someone else.
- Create an age-appropriate family fast and use the opportunity to pray together.
The goal is not for everyone to fast in exactly the same way.
We can give up different things while seeking the same God together.
How Should I Begin?
Before the fast begins, take time to pray. Ask God what has been distracting you from Him and where you may be looking for comfort instead of turning to Him.
Then decide how you will participate and prepare ahead of time.
During these 21 days, we encourage everyone to make four simple commitments:
Then decide how you will participate and prepare ahead of time.
During these 21 days, we encourage everyone to make four simple commitments:
- Pray every day. Set aside intentional time to seek God.
- Read Scripture every day. Follow the daily devotional guide and allow God’s Word to shape your prayers.
- Pray specifically. Write down the names of people and situations you are bringing before God.
- Stay connected. Encourage your family, group, or friends who are participating with you.
What Are We Praying For?
Over these 21 days, our prayers will move through three areas of focus:
Week One: Return to God
We will begin with our own hearts. Before asking God to change everyone around us, we will ask Him to search us, forgive us, lead us, and renew us.
Week Two: Awaken Your Church
We will pray for Gateway. We will pray for unity, discipleship, worship, our children and students, our leaders and volunteers, and for God to make us a church that faithfully leads everyone to be more like Jesus.
Week Three: Draw Our Community to You
As students and teachers return to school and families return to their routines, we will pray for our schools, neighborhoods, marriages, families, prodigals, and people who are far from God. We will ask God to draw people to Jesus and use us to reach them.
Let Us Seek Him Together
We are not trying to impress God. We are seeking Him. We are not trying to prove our spiritual strength. We are acknowledging our dependence on Him. And we are not fasting alone. We are seeking God together as a church family. For 21 days, let every hunger, every inconvenience, and every moment of giving something up become an invitation to pray:
Lord, begin with me.
Awaken Your church.
Draw our community to You.
Use us to lead everyone to be more like Jesus.
Let us seek Him together.
Week One: Return to God
We will begin with our own hearts. Before asking God to change everyone around us, we will ask Him to search us, forgive us, lead us, and renew us.
Week Two: Awaken Your Church
We will pray for Gateway. We will pray for unity, discipleship, worship, our children and students, our leaders and volunteers, and for God to make us a church that faithfully leads everyone to be more like Jesus.
Week Three: Draw Our Community to You
As students and teachers return to school and families return to their routines, we will pray for our schools, neighborhoods, marriages, families, prodigals, and people who are far from God. We will ask God to draw people to Jesus and use us to reach them.
Let Us Seek Him Together
We are not trying to impress God. We are seeking Him. We are not trying to prove our spiritual strength. We are acknowledging our dependence on Him. And we are not fasting alone. We are seeking God together as a church family. For 21 days, let every hunger, every inconvenience, and every moment of giving something up become an invitation to pray:
Lord, begin with me.
Awaken Your church.
Draw our community to You.
Use us to lead everyone to be more like Jesus.
Let us seek Him together.
