Welcome to the the journey of 21 days of fasting and prayer. Over these next three weeks, you will be conditioning your mind, body and soul with two very simple practices: praying regularly and abstaining from food from sunrise to sunset (6am to 6pm). While you are not used to either of these disciplines, it will not be an easy journey, so expect to challenge yourself, to want to give up, to experience discomfort, reservations and doubts along the way, but to also grow if you stay the course.

As you awake, allow the spirit of God to guide you. Begin your morning by approaching God in the solitude of the dawn. A good cue as to when to start your morning prayer is if you are jarred out of your sleep for no reason, or perhaps to use the restroom. Sometimes this is God’s nudge to alert us to talk with him. So use this opportunity to start your morning with prayer, it is essential as it sets the tone for the day and provides the guidance essential for this 21 day journey.

Prayer doesn’t have to be long but make it intentional and earnest. Listen to your spirit and speak what it tells you to say. Speak, pause, listen, reflect, then speak again. Sometimes we don’t know what to say but this is the beauty of sincere prayer; the spirit will often give us the words to speak. Remember prayer is a two way conversation. Just try not to fall asleep while listening. Be intentional.

Begin day one with a simple request: ask God to help you clear your mind. Let this be your prayer for today: Lord, please declutter my mind and give me a clear canvas so that I can focus without distractions, encumbrances and unnecessary thoughts. Help me to remove everything that is stored in my mind, thing’s that may be taking up space and perhaps causing a virus to my spirit: past hurts, worries, fears, useless memories, painful thoughts that I have harbored, guilt from things I’ve done, unhealed trauma, unresolved issues, lusts, unfulfilled promises I’ve made or resentments I’ve held against others for their promises not kept, hatred, lies I’ve told or told against me which I can’t forget, and other pointless inventory that has weighed on my mind clogging up spaces which I need freed up. Renew my mind Lord; and not just my mind but my spirit. Create in me a clean heart oh Lord and renew a right spirit within me. Let this be your prayer. And as you pray, it is important to listen.

In fasting, refrain from eating during this period. Drink only water to hydrate and flush your physical system of all the toxins that will surface from your fast. The first few hours will be excruciating, and the first few days as well if you are not used to fasting, however, like everything else, with practice, it does get easier as the days progress.

Remember fasting is not just about abstaining from food, it also requires you to discipline yourself completely by withdrawing from other pleasures like social media, television binging, handheld devices, video games, physical relations with your partner, vices (smoking, drinking) etc. Fasting and prayer is not merely a physical or psychological wellness exercise as some would have it, it is time spent with God, it is time intentionally set apart to develop your spirit to bring you in tune with your creator.

So congratulations on your journey, it will be a difficult one but a very fruitful process nonetheless. Remember you are not alone, your church colleagues are on the same path and so are countless other believers around the world who are undertaking this spiritual journey. Most importantly, the Lord is with thee, so be strong and of good courage,

Finally, it is a good idea to attend prayer services at LFCC or your local church during this 21 day fast. Group intercession help to strengthen, encourage and boost you so that you don’t feel alone. We are in essence, we are stronger together than apart. You got this!

God bless