Ministry

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting

Contact

prayer@cotc.com

As a church family, we will begin 2025 with our annual rhythm of intentional prayer and fasting. We have found this to be a much-needed practice as many of us are desperate for breakthrough. This is something that the practice of fasting often brings forth. We are asking, “What is God waiting to pour out on our church, our city, or our lives if we would seek Him through prayer & fasting?”

Fasting prepares you for the works God has ordained for you to do.

Join us throughout these 21 Days for intentional gatherings of prayer and worship. We will have opportunities at each COTC campus to engage corporately.

Downtown

601 4th Ave. S. (Rocketown)
Nashville, TN 37210

Morning Prayer at 7am
Tuesday, January 7, 14 & 21

Prayer Night at 7pm
Tuesday, January 7

Evening Neighborhood Prayer Walks
Tuesday, January 14

Prayer & Worship Night at 7pm
Tuesday, January 21

Spring Hill

4910 Main Street
Spring Hill, TN 37174

Noonday Prayer:
Wednesday, January 8 & 15
January 5, 12 & 19 | 5:00pm - 6:30pm

Men's Prayer Gatherings:
Mondays at 7am

Open Prayer Group:
Tuesdays at 7am

Franklin

828 Murfreesboro Road
Franklin, TN 37064

Noonday Prayer:
Wednesday, January 8 & 15

Prayer & Worship Night
Tuesday, January 21

Fasting prepares you for the works God has ordained for you to do.

Wesley Duewel, a twentieth-century writer, said, “You and I have no more right to omit fasting because we feel no special emotional prompting than we have a right to omit prayer, Bible reading, or assembling with God’s children for lack of some special emotional prompting. Fasting is just as biblical and normal a part of a spiritual walk of obedience with God as are these others.”
Some of the most encouraging words that we can read as we prepare to enter into this season are found in Acts 13:2, which reads, “While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said…” We are encouraged and invigorated to know that our time of dedicating ourselves to the Lord in this way will result in us actually hearing from Him!

Upcoming Meetings

Why should I fast?

People fast for several reasons. Following are seven circumstances in the Bible in which believers sought God through this discipline.

1. To prepare for ministry

Jesus spent forty days and nights in the wilderness fasting and praying before He began God’s work on this earth. He needed time alone to prepare for what His Father had called Him to do (Matthew 4:1-17; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-14).

2. To seek God’s wisdom.

Paul and Barnabas prayed and fasted for the elders of the churches before committing them to the Lord for His service (Acts 14:23).

3. To show grief.

Nehemiah mourned, fasted, and prayed when he learned Jerusalem’s walls had been broken down, leaving the Israelites vulnerable and disgraced (Nehemiah 1:1-4).

4. To seek deliverance or protection.

Ezra declared a corporate fast and prayed for a safe journey for the Israelites as they made the nine-hundred-mile trek to Jerusalem from Babylon (Ezra 8:21-23).

5. To repent.

After Jonah pronounced judgment against the city of Nineveh, the king covered himself with sackcloth and sat in the dust. He then ordered the people to fast and pray. Jonah 3:10 says, “When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, He relented and did not bring on them the destruction He had threatened.”

6. To gain victory.

After losing forty thousand men in battle in two days, the Israelites cried out to God for help. Judges 20:26 says all the people went up to Bethel and “sat weeping before the Lord.” They also “fasted that day until evening.” The next day the Lord gave them victory over the Benjamites.

7. To worship God.

Luke 2 tells the story of an eighty-four-year-old prophetess named Anna. Verse 37 says, “She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.” Anna was devoted to God, and fasting was one expression of her love for Him.

©2023 Kristen Feola | Faith Gateway

Frequently Asked Questions

We understand that there are different factors that lead to your decision to say yes to participation in this church-wide commitment. We want to do the best that we can to help provide 3 different ways to engage with this fast. We do not presume to be authoritative or comprehensive in the correct ways to fast, but we have chosen these pathways after thoughtful consideration about ways to include everyone in the journey we feel called to in this season. As a church, we have purposed that our fast will be directly connected to food, as we see multiple examples of this throughout the Scripture.

Option 1 (All Meals)

This will be a commitment toward fasting from all food except for water, juice and other broths for the duration of the 21 days of the fast.

Option 2 (Varied Weeks)

Week One: A commitment toward fasting from all food except water, juice, and other broths for the first 7 days.

Week Two: A commitment toward fasting from all meals, except the incorporation of one meal into the schedule during days 8-14. (ex: fasting all day until 6PM)

Week Three: A commitment towards fasting for one meal out of the day, with an intentional time of focused prayer during the time period normally spent eating during days 15-21.

Option 3 (Some Meals/Altered Diet)

This will be a commitment toward fasting for a significant portion of your day, incorporating only 1-2 meals into your schedule. (ex. fasting all day until 6:00 PM) Or, due to medical and other considerations, it may be necessary to participate by altering your diet for the duration of the fast. (This may be with vegetables only, or something known as the Daniel Fast)

*While we do believe biblical fasting is focused primarily on food, we acknowledge with great care that because of past struggles, a fast from food may not be beneficial for some of you. A fast of this type could be detrimental if you’ve experienced a difficult season of disordered eating in the past and we understand the hesitancy around participating in any fast that requires abstaining from food. In that case, we encourage you to consider abstaining from something else not connected to food during these 21 days. A helpful and beneficial fast will be to abstain from anything you tend to depend on for comfort or coping with difficult emotions. Examples would be television/media, alcohol, retail spending, or other entertainment and creature comforts. Rather than participating in that thing, a fast encourages spending the time you’d normally allot to that thing going to God in prayer instead. Use that new time to be seeking Him for comfort and for help navigating difficult emotions or asking for wisdom regarding next steps in your life. We believe there’s abundant provision and blessing from God to be found when we’re intentional with these days and we hope you’ll join us.

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What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:9

Prepare Your Fast (See “How Can I Participate?” FAQ question)

Option 1 (Varied Weeks)
Option 2 (All Meals)
Option 3 (Some Meals/Altered Diet)

Prepare Your Prayer

Consider the ways that we are praying together for our church. We want to see unity amongst the body of Christ. We are hoping for the fulfilment of vision and purpose for our COTC family. We are praying that we see many come to know Christ as their redeemer in 2022.
Pick up our download our Formation Journal so that you can follow along with our daily devotionals.
Identify some friends and partners to be praying with through this time.

Prepare Your Mind

Take some time to consider the real implications of how the fast will affect your regular life rhythms. For example, think about how your daily schedule may be altered and have some forethought on how to adjust properly.
Ask the Lord to prepare your mind for the challenge in the days ahead.
Meditate on scripture and stories that are a reminder of God’s faithfulness and ability to sustain us: ex. Psalm 100, Matthew 4:1-4, Matthew 6:25-26

Prepare Your Heart

Take some time to ask God to identify potential areas of difficulty during the 21 days. Do you see the potential for emotions like anger, anxiety, and fear to rise up during this fast? Are there areas of sin that you are aware of and have not addressed in your life?
Spend some time in confession and repentance concerning these areas to which the Spirit leads you. As it says in 1 John 1:9, “if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Asking yourself difficult and direct questions and answering them in honesty may help you to enter the fast with a posture ready to receive. (ex. Am I honest in all my acts and words or do I exaggerate? Do I confidentially pass on what has been said to me in confidence?)
Ask the Lord to show you any areas of discord or disunity in your life relationally and seek to address them.

Prepare Your Body

Drink plenty of water, maintaining proper hydration and water intake leading up to the beginning of the fast.
Eat healthier foods (fruits and veggies) directly before the start of the fast in order to make for an easier transition. Avoid overindulging, as well. When the fast is complete, be mindful of easing back into your regular diet, as to not shock your system.
If you have potential medical concerns, you should visit your doctor to make sure that you are physically able to participate as you intend. A chronic or severe medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease, may prevent you from fasting in the manner you’d like. You should also consult your doctor if you are pregnant or nursing in order to enter into the fast in the most informed way.

Prepare Your Schedule

Take time to pre-plan what types of juices, liquids, and supplies you will need while engaged in the fast. If you are planning to drink juices for part or all of the fast then you may prepare for this by purchasing a portable cooler to take with you to work, ball games, etc. This practice will keep you from being at the mercy of snack and sports drink machines.
Think about when you will set aside time to pray and when you will partake in liquids throughout the day.
Discuss with family and those in your household about what the upcoming days will look like together.

Prepare Your Response

“And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. Truly, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you. – Matthew 6:16–18

In hopes to avoid pride and self-appreciation, we don’t want to broadcast our decision to fast publicly. But, when addressed about it directly, we should prepare a thoughtful response, rather than feeling the need to be dishonest or making a bigger issue of it.
When someone asks why you aren’t eating, consider simple ways to communicate that you are dedicating yourself toward a time of prayer and listening to God. Seek to respond in a simple and straightforward way without belaboring the point.
Consider beforehand how to graciously communicate with those that may invite you to a meal or gathering when it may conflict with the fast. (ex. As you are preparing for the gathering, please note that my family and I are praying and fasting together in this season, so we may not fully take part in the meal portion of the evening. Thanks for understanding.)

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Additional Resources

Formation Journal

Each day during our fast, we will have Scripture reading that will be available in our formation journals. Our hope is for this content to encourage you as you navigate this fast, connecting you with others in our family who are journeying alongside you. The formation journal is designed to be an easily accessible addition to the experience, and is available for pick up in person or online.

Formation Journal

21 Day Audio Prayer Guide

In place of COTC Dailies, we are providing a 21 Day Audio Prayer Guide via text each day. We hope you'll join in this experience as we seek first the kingdom of heaven. Text "21Days" to 855-615-6150 to receive

Prayer & Worship Gatherings

Join us during Seek First: 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting, as we will have opportunities at each COTC campus for corporate prayer and worship. Click the campus name for additional information.

Prayer & Worship Gatherings

Franklin

Downtown

Spring Hill

Our Pursuits

As a church, these are the four ways that we intend to live out our mission.

Presence
‍of God

We pursue the presence of God through individual and communal spiritual practices.

Formation
‍of People

We pursue deep change through transformational discipleship focusing on growth and healing.

Unity
‍of the Church

We pursue the unity of the church family across racial, political, generational, and economic divides.

Flourishing
‍of the City

We pursue the spiritual, social, and cultural flourishing of our city.