The fastest way for the good news of Jesus to spread is not through institutions, it’s through individuals. That might sound odd considering the Church is an institution but hear me out. The primary goal of the Church isn’t to proclaim the Gospel. The chief aim of the Church is to equip followers of Jesus to proclaim the Gospel! You can fact check us at Ephesians 4:11-12. 


When the Church moves from being the sole voice bearing all the weight for extending the grace of Christ to a training ground equipping the saints to go and reach people for Christ, the Gospel’s reach is multiplied and amplified. That’s how the church can truly make disciples who make disciples. But this takes intentionality.


On Sunday, January 16th our church is stepping into a 21-day season of fasting. Please don’t let the word fast intimidate you. Fasting is simply letting go of something good for a set time to help you take hold of something better.


Our staff will be praying for each of you by name as we join you on this journey. If you are ready to commit to the 21-Day Fast, please fill out the form below.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We want to make sure you are prepared before you commit to fasting. Here are a few frequently asked questions around fasting. If you have any additional questions, please email us at questions@connecttothevine.org.

  • Fasting is voluntarily going without food, or any other regularly enjoyed gift from God, for the sake of growing closer to Christ.

  • Christ followers fast from what we can taste and see, because we have tasted and seen the goodness of the invisible and infinite God and are desperately hungry for more.

  • Absolutely. Fasting was an expected discipline in both the Old and New Testaments. For example, In Exodus 34:28 Moses fasted for forty day on Mount Sinai. Jesus also fasted 40 days as recorded in Matthew 4:1-11. Jesus specifically taught about fasting in the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 6:16-18) and had the expectation that his followers would fast as evidenced by his use of the language of “when you fast,” not if you fast.

  • Yes, but not necessarily from food. It’s important for anyone with any ongoing medical issues or any past struggles with eating disorders to be extremely cautious with fasting from food and to only do so with medical permission from their doctor. They are encouraged to consider other types of fasts.

  • Juice Fast – In this type of fast you set aside a specific amount of time to not eat any food and only drink liquids. For an extended fast it is recommended that in addition to drinking at least 8 cups of water that you also drink 100% fruit and vegetable juices. 


    Daniel Fast – In two instances (Daniel 1 and Daniel 10), the prophet Daniel restricted his diet for a period of time (10 days and 21 days). In chapter 1 we learn that Daniel ate only fruits and vegetables and drank only water. That means he ate no processed or artificial foods. In chapter 10 we see that he ate no animal products, sweets, alcohol, or bread. Therefore, the Daniel Fast is a set amount of time in which people eat only plant-based foods (fruits, vegetables, lentils, and beans) and drink only water. 


    Partial Fast – There are many ways to practice partial fasting. A partial fast can include restricting when you eat (ex. not eating from sunup to sundown). It can also include when a person chooses to give up a type of food (ex. meat or sweets). It can also mean fasting for a specific meal (ex. not eating lunch for a set amount of time) or fasting for a specific day (ex. not eating on Thursdays for a set amount of time).


    Media or Social Media Fast – The purpose of fasting is growing closer to Christ. Therefore, if you are not in a position to fast food then you can fast from TV, YouTube, social media, or any other digital content that you typically engage in. This is not saying that those things are bad. It’s saying that you are letting them go for a specific season so that you can spend more time pursuing Jesus.

  • Fasting isn’t just about letting go of things. It’s also about taking things up. Therefore, if you are fasting from food, spend the time you would typically be cooking or eating in Bible Study, personal worship, or prayer. If you are fasting from media or social media, spend the time you would normally watch shows or scrolling, serving other people. The key is to spend more time focusing on growing closer to Christ.

  • The key is to remember that it’s less about what you are doing and more about why you are doing it. It’s not about what you are not eating or not watching, it’s about what you are focusing on instead of doing those things. Therefore, keep these things in mind:


    Start small -Trying to go from never fasting to attempting a 21-day juice fast would be tough. Instead, start by fasting one meal and then work your way up to a daylong fast. If you plan on fasting for several days, you will find it helpful to begin by eating smaller meals before you abstain altogether. Resist the urge to have that “last big feast” before the fast. Cutting down on your meals a few days before you begin the fast will signal your mind, stomach, and appetite that less food is acceptable.


    Plan what you’ll do instead of eating - Before diving headlong into a fast, craft a simple plan. Connect it to your purpose for the fast. Each fast should have a specific spiritual purpose. Identify what that is and design a focus to replace the time you would have spent eating, watching, or scrolling.


    Prepare for how you will feel - Fasting doesn’t give you a license to be unloving (no matter how hungry or screen-deprived you may feel). It would be sad to lack concern and care for others around us because of this expression of heightened focus on God. Love for God and for your neighbor go together. If anything, others should even feel more loved and cared for when you’re fasting so pay attention to your emotions throughout your fast and have someone you can talk to about how you feel.

  • Throughout a fast from food, you may feel somewhat weaker than normal. During the first few days, you may feel tired and irritable. Lightening your workload and cutting down on strenuous exercise is important. You may also experience hunger pangs in the first few days because your body adjusts from using the food in your digestive tract to consuming stored fats. During a fast, your body detoxifies, eliminating toxins from your system. This can cause mild discomfort such as headaches and body aches.

  • Don't overeat when the time comes to end your fast. Begin eating solid food gradually and try to stick to foods that are not processed. Smaller portions will ease your digestive tract back into eating.