12 Days of Prayer & Fasting

January 4–15, 2027

We’re beginning the year by devoting ourselves to 12 days of prayer and fasting as a church family, starting Monday, January 4, and continuing through Friday, January 15. This is a time for us to seek God together and pray for peace over our cities, intercede for our nation, and partner with what God’s doing in and through Gateway Church.

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We encourage each of you to lean into what God is speaking to you this season—whether it’s about your city, nation, community, or family, ask Him what role He wants you to take!

As we begin this time of prayer and fasting, ask the Lord what you should fast and follow His leading on what He’s asking you to set aside to focus on Him. As a church, we recognize that Scripture refers to fasting as abstaining from food. However, we understand health needs can impact what individuals are able to fast. We encourage you to take some time to pray and ask God what He wants you to fast from and be willing to consider a food fast in a healthy and safe manner!

What Fasting Could Look Like

Some ideas of what fasting could look like are:

Food & Drink Examples

Fast meals (one meal a day, all meals one day a week, sunup to sundown, etc.), sweets/sugar, meat, snacks between meals, soda, alcohol, or coffee. You could also try a “Daniel Fast” (from Daniel Chapters 1 & 10: eating fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and water) or only drinking water.

Other Examples

If you are unable to fast from food, prayerfully consider areas in your life that might be consuming your attention or stealing your focus. You could fast from phone time, watching television, reading, or playing video games. You could also try getting up earlier in the day to pray and spend time in the Word in addition to what you’re fasting.

Why Fast?

The heart behind fasting is choosing to give up something important or costly to us in order to dedicate our hearts, time, and attention more fully to the Lord. It often allows us to better tune in and hear what God is speaking to us. Fasting creates an intentional shift in our hearts and minds to pursue God and His perfect will.

Resources

If you’d like to do additional research into biblical fasting or need some encouragement, check out the helpful resources below!

Fasting: Clearing Space for What Matters Most Additional Resources