2026 prayer & fasting schedule

“This is the fast that i have chosen…”

Daniel 10:12-13 In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.

Twenty-One Days: Start: January 5 / Break: January 25

Fasting is not for the strong. Fasting is for the weak.

Fasting is for the ordinary people who realize that they desperately need God in their life; that’s who fasting is for. We encourage you to begin this journey.

If you’ve never fasted before, or if you are a veteran faster, and you’ve fasted many times, we are believing God will do great things on this journey if you step up and say, “God, I want You, and I’m coming after You in prayer and fasting.”

The greatest time of the year to fast is at the beginning of the year. God will add blessings to your life over the coming months all year long. What you do right now affects the rest of the year. In 2026, we will be fasting for 21 days, to start the year the right way.

The following is a list to use as a guide. Use this list in conjunction with the leading of the Holy Spirit. For instance, if you feel led to fast from more than what is listed here, or if you feel led to fast from less, that is between you and the Holy Spirit.

We will break the fast on Sunday, January 25 together after our 2:30 pm service with communion and a luncheon.

Fasting SCHEDULE & DETAILS

Monday, January 5 - Sunday, January 25

We believe the new year is an opportunity to reflect and seek God's voice. As a church, we collectively engage in prayer + fasting and believe this sets the tone of the new year for our church family. There is so much strength when we bind all together! Please take a look at the following fasting pathways:

Fasting Option 1: Full Immersion Fast, also known as a “Daniel Fast”
Fast all items, for all 21 days

Fasting Option 2: Scheduled Immersion Fast
January 5-11: No entertainment, social media, sugar, sweeteners, sodas
January 11-13: All the above, plus no beef, pork or lamb
January 14-16: All the above, plus no chocolate
January 17-19: All the above, plus no poultry or seafood
January 20-22: All the above, plus no dairy
January 23-25: All the above, plus no yeast and no refiend grains

Fasting Option 3: Partial Fast, also known as a “Jewish Fast”
This type of fast involves abstaining from eating any types of food in the morning or afternoon. This can correlate to either specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 6:00 pm, or from sun-up to sun down. This fast has 3 components, 1) total fast for a significant portion of you day, 2) only eating in time period before sun-up and after sunset, or in your choice of time, and 3) only drink water during fasting period.

Fasting Option 4: Soul Fast
This type of fast is great for people who have never fasted before, or who do not regularly fast. Essentially, you will follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and fast for 21 days at your own pace, from whatever you feel led to fast from. It could be as much or as little as you feel led to do. The point of this fast is simply to deny your flesh, nourish your soul, and start the year off with noticeable spiritual discipline.

IMMERSED / DANIEL FAST - DETAILS

What to eat:
• Whole grains
• Beans and legumes
• Nuts and seeds
• Vegetables and fruit
• Plant-based products (such as soy, tofu)
• Unprocessed, unsweetened, natural foods, oils and spices
• Unleavened natural bread (whole grain bread made without yeast, sugar, or preservatives)

What to fast from:

Four general guidelines to follow for the duration of your fast:

1. Fast from all animal products:
• All meat (beef, pork, poultry, etc)
• All seafood (fish, shrimp, etc)
• All dairy (milk, eggs, butter, cheese, etc)
• Any other products derived from animals
2. Fast from all processed & modified foods, preservatives and chemicals
3. Fast from all sugars and sweets
4. Fast from all worldly entertainments

Specifically, fast from the following:

MEATS
1. Beef
2. Poultry
3. Pork
4. Lamb
5. Fish
6. Shellfish

DAIRY
7. Cheese
8. Butters
9. Creams
10. Eggs
11. Milk
12. Yogurt

OTHER
13. Sugar
14. Low Calorie Sweeteners
15. Soda
16. Chocolate
17. Yeast
18. Refined Grains (white flour, white rice)
19. Deep fried foods

ENTERTAINMENT
20. Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, etc)
21. Television (including streaming)
22. Movies (including streaming)
23. Sports
24. Gaming (video games)

FAQ’s

What about honey? Honey is a gray area since a honeybee is not a mammal or a bird. Still, most people will tend to fast from honey on this fast. However, many people take honey as a supplement for health purposes or other reasons, so this should be prayerfully considered and the decision is between you and the Lord.

What about maple syrup? Plant-based syrups (maple, date, etc) are another gray area, along with monk fruit and cacao. The point of the fast is to deny your flesh, so this should be considered prayerfully and decided individually.

What about alternative meats? Many meat substitutes, even the so-called “plant-based” options are highly modified and engineered in food labs, and most contain a large quantity of chemically-produced ingredients. Most store-bought alternative meats generally are not considered “Daniel-fast-friendly”. Instead, opt for completely natural meat substitutes such as jack fruit, portabello, eggplant, etc.

What about coffee, tea, etc? There is nothing in the Daniel Fast that excludes naturally derived coffees and teas (including matcha and chai)! Coffee is simply a roasted fruit seed, and tea is simply dried leaves and herbs. When on this fast, you should avoid chain coffee like Starbucks and Coffee Bean as they chemically modify their coffee for longer shelf life, and instead opt for locally roasted coffee, and of course avoid the sweet milky coffees in favor of unsweetened plant milks such as almond or oat.

When will we break the fast:? Vision Sunday, January 25. During our 2:30 pm service. We will have a time of communion, commissioning, and a luncheon to break the fast together.

Prayer Schedule & Details

This 21-day journey is designed to lead Acts Church from Consecration to Commissioning through personal consecration, corporate alignment, and apostolic vision, culminating on Vision Sunday (January 25) where we break the fast together through Communion. Each day includes: PRAYER FOCUS of what we are intentionally praying into, SCRIPTURE READING for meditation and declaration, and PRAYER DIRECTION with suggested emphasis.

PHASE ONE: CONSECRATION & REALIGNMENT (Days 1–7)

Laying the foundation: repentance, hunger, holiness, and renewed devotion

Day 1 – A Call to Consecration

Prayer Focus: Setting ourselves apart to God
Scripture: Joel 2:12–17; Romans 12:1–2
Prayer Direction: Lord, we respond to Your call. We present our bodies, our schedules, our appetites, and our desires to You. Let this fast mark us.

Day 2 – Repentance & Clean Hands

Prayer Focus: Heart examination and repentance
Scripture: Psalm 51; 1 John 1:7–9
Prayer Direction: Search us, O God. Cleanse motives, thoughts, words, and actions. Restore joy and purity.

Day 3 – Restoring First Love

Prayer Focus: Rekindling passion for Jesus
Scripture: Revelation 2:1–7; Psalm 27:4
Prayer Direction: Jesus, we choose You again. Remove spiritual distraction and renew our affection for Your presence.

Day 4 – Hunger for the Word

Prayer Focus: Desire for Scripture and truth
Scripture: Psalm 119:97–105; Matthew 4:4
Prayer Direction: Create hunger for Your Word. Let Scripture shape our thinking, doctrine, and direction.

Day 5 – Holiness & Obedience

Prayer Focus: Living set-apart lives
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:13–16; Hebrews 12:14
Prayer Direction: Teach us obedience that flows from love, not obligation. Let holiness mark our homes and church.

Day 6 – Renewed Prayer Life

Prayer Focus: Personal prayer discipline
Scripture: Luke 11:1–13; Colossians 4:2
Prayer Direction: Teach us to pray with faith, persistence, and expectancy.

Day 7 – Sabbath Reflection

Prayer Focus: Gratitude and reflection
Scripture: Psalm 103; Lamentations 3:22–23
Prayer Direction: Thank You for sustaining us. Seal what You’ve begun this week.

PHASE TWO: ALIGNMENT & CORPORATE BURDEN (Days 8–14)

Moving from personal renewal to corporate unity and apostolic burden

Day 8 – Unity of the Body

Prayer Focus: Oneness in the church
Scripture: John 17:20–23; Ephesians 4:1–6
Prayer Direction: Make us one. Heal division. Align hearts, leadership, and vision.

Day 9 – Spiritual Authority & Leadership

Prayer Focus: Pastoral covering and leadership
Scripture: Hebrews 13:17; Exodus 17:8–13
Prayer Direction:Strengthen leadership with wisdom, humility, and discernment.

Day 10 – Families & Homes

Prayer Focus: Godly households
Scripture: Joshua 24:15; Psalm 127
Prayer Direction: Establish prayer-filled homes. Protect marriages, children, and generations.

Day 11 – Healing & Restoration

Prayer Focus: Emotional, physical, and spiritual healing
Scripture: Isaiah 53:4–5; James 5:14–16
Prayer Direction:Release healing virtue among us. Restore what has been broken.

Day 12 – Deliverance & Freedom

Prayer Focus: Freedom from bondage
Scripture: Luke 4:18; 2 Corinthians 3:17
Prayer Direction: Break chains of fear, addiction, and spiritual oppression.

Day 13 – Burden for the Lost

Prayer Focus: Evangelistic passion
Scripture: Romans 10:1–15; Luke 19:10
Prayer Direction: Let us feel what You feel for the lost. Open doors for witness.

Day 14 – Apostolic Identity

Prayer Focus: Identity as an Acts church
Scripture: Acts 1:8; Acts 2:42–47
Prayer Direction: Restore New Testament Christianity among us—in power, doctrine, and mission.

PHASE THREE: VISION, COMMISSIONING & EXPECTANCY (Days 15–21)

Preparing for Vision Sunday and what God is about to do

Day 15 – Hearing God Clearly

Prayer Focus: Spiritual clarity
Scripture: Habakkuk 2:1–3; John 10:27
Prayer Direction: Sharpen our spiritual ears. Let vision be clear and compelling.

Day 16 – Faith for the Future

Prayer Focus: Trusting God for what’s ahead
Scripture: Hebrews 11:1–6; Proverbs 3:5–6
Prayer Direction: Stretch our faith beyond comfort. Help us believe You for more.

Day 17 – Provision & Stewardship

Prayer Focus: God’s provision for the vision
Scripture: Philippians 4:19; 2 Corinthians 9:6–8
Prayer Direction: Align our resources with Your kingdom purposes.

Day 18 – Spiritual Gifts & Power

Prayer Focus: Operation of the Spirit
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 12; Acts 4:29–31
Prayer Direction: Release boldness, gifts, and demonstrations of power.

Day 19 – Revival & Awakening

Prayer Focus: Outpouring of the Spirit
Scripture: Acts 2:1–4; Isaiah 64:1–4
Prayer Direction: Do it again, Lord. Pour out Your Spirit upon all flesh.

Day 20 – Commitment to the Vision

Prayer Focus: Personal and corporate commitment
Scripture: Nehemiah 2:17–18; Isaiah 6:8
Prayer Direction: Here we are. Send us. Let us say yes to the vision.

Day 21 – Communion, Covenant & Commissioning (Vision Sunday – Jan 25)

Prayer Focus: Covenant renewal and sending
Scripture: Luke 22:19–20; 1 Corinthians 11:23–26; Acts 20:24
Prayer Direction: As we break this fast at Your table, seal this season. Commission us for the work ahead.

Closing Declaration: “Lord, we have fasted, prayed, aligned, and listened. Now we go filled, focused, and sent in Jesus’ Name.”