JOIN US FOR 21 DAYS OF PRAYER & FASTING!
January 7-27, 2024
Welcome to Pray First! We are excited about what God is going to do in your life during the next 21 days. We say this often, but at City First, we believe that “prayer moves the hand of God.”
Prayer brings Heaven’s influence into earthly situations.
More than ever, we are in desperate need of the move of God in our world, our nation, our community, and our families. Prayer is a key ingredient in navigating this journey with the hope and assurance of Jesus.
We know the God who holds the future in His hands, and we have complete access to Him through prayer!
Many times, we act first and then want God to help our situation; however…
Prayer should be our first response, not our last resort.
As we go on this journey over the next 21 days, you will see that every day there is one topic, a corresponding verse, and a prayer for that day. The Word of God is one of the most valuable tools we have to build a dynamic daily prayer life. It brings power, truth, and encouragement to our prayer time, and it has the ability to dissolve fear, worry and anxiety as we place our trust in His promises.
Our intent is to have this guide help you find a new level of purpose, effectiveness, and enjoyment in your prayer life.
While prayer does take commitment and can require discipline to develop into a daily habit, we also want to remember that it’s a “get to” not a “got to.” It’s a privilege to be able to come to God in prayer!
When you discover the beauty of daily conversation with God, you’ll experience His life-changing presence! You’ll be reminded…
Before the day begins
Before you go to bed
Before you go to work or school
Before you send that text
Before you eat, drive or travel
Before you worry….in every situation…. PRAY FIRST!
Prayer changes everything!
We love you, church!
Jeremy & Jen
21 Days Of Prayer Booklet
A few tips as you prioritize prayer over these next 21 days…
Prayer is most effective when it isn’t something we do every now and then, but when it’s a lifestyle we cultivate. To understand how to have a lifestyle of prayer, we can look at the example Jesus gave during His life on earth.
Have A Certain Time
Jesus got up early in the morning to spend time with His Heavenly Father. Make a daily appointment with God — whether it’s first thing in the morning, at lunch, or in the evening — and faithfully keep it.
Have A Certain Place
Jesus had a specific place He went to pray. Having a designated place to pray helps us remove distractions and frees us to worship and pray out loud.
Have A Certain Plan
When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He gave them
a prayer outline. We call it “The Lord’s Prayer.” Our desire is for this resource to be a guide for your time with God. As we pray every day, consider incorporating some worship music, or additional time to read the Bible or journal. Not everyone’s approach will look the same, but it does help to have a plan for connecting regularly with God!
“Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.” – Jeremiah 29:12 (NIV)
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E-Book
Download a PDF version to read.
Right here!
Scroll down to get the Daily Prayer Focus.
Daily Prayer Focus
About Prayer
We don’t have to follow a specific formula to talk with God, but practicing different ways to pray can help us find deeper purpose and connection to Him through our prayer time.
This prayer guide is designed to help you get comfortable with different biblical models of prayer and for your prayer life to become more natural, effective, and enjoyable.
The heart of this guide is to help you find a new level of purpose, effectiveness, and enjoyment in your prayer life. While prayer does take commitment and can require discipline to develop into a daily habit, we also want to remember that it’s a “get to” not a “got to.” It’s a privilege to be able to come to God in prayer.
The most important step is committing to regularly entering God’s presence through prayer.
Prayer Guide
Prayer Models
To get started, choose which model you want to use today in prayer. As you pray, focus on the process the model reveals, giving yourself time to pray intentionally. If your mind wanders, use the model to restore your focus.
About Fasting
In addition to prioritizing prayer during these 21 days, some of you may choose to participate in some type of fast.
There are many different fasts to choose from. Some may include omitting a particular food, giving up a habit, or perhaps you may choose to do a soul fast. Your personal fast should present a level of challenge, but it is very important to know your body, your options, and, most importantly, to seek God in prayer and follow what the Holy Spirit leads you to do.
*Please consult with a medical professional before taking part in a fast if you have any health concerns or are under the care of a physician.
Learn More About Fasting
Types Of Fasts
Complete Fast
In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option.
Selective Fast
This type of fast involves removing certain elements from your diet. One example of a selective fast is the Daniel Fast, during which you remove meat, sweets, and bread from your diet and consume water and juice for fluids and fruits and vegetables for food.
Partial Fast
This fast is sometimes called the “Jewish Fast” and involves abstaining from eating any type of food in the morning and afternoon. This can either correlate to specific times of the day, such as 6:00 am to 3:00 pm, or from sunup to sundown.
Soul Fast
This fast is a great option if you do not have much experience fasting food, have health issues that prevent you from fasting food, or if you wish to refocus certain areas of your life that are out of balance. For example, you might choose to stop using social media or watching television for the duration of the fast and then carefully bring that element back into your life in healthy doses at the conclusion of the fast.