There’s something to be said for hitting a reset to different parts of our lives. We do so in hopes of refocusing our efforts on what matters. Opportunities like New Year's resolutions to spring cleaning help us start fresh. And at VOUS Church, it’s no different where we take some time to turn down the outward noise and prepare our hearts to hear God’s direction in upcoming seasons of our lives, our nation’s, and the global Church.At the beginning of the year, we commit to Pray First, setting aside 21 days for corporate prayer and fasting. Because we know that prayer isn't our last resort, it's our first response. Our fast simply gives us a chance to eliminate daily distractions for a time to fully experience the spiritual renewing of the soul, mind, and heart.

We encourage you to join us in a deeper relationship with God through fasting. Try to set aside specific times throughout the day to spend in prayer, praise, and worship and in the word of God. Remember there's an opportunity to pray with us on Instagram Live every day at 12PM and to gather in person over the next two Wednesdays.

While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Acts 13: 2

Prayer & Reflection

As our 21-day journey begins, take time to reflect on your experiences with God. You can write down petitions of your heart. You can include specific scriptures that speak to your heart, promises from God for your personal life, your loved ones, and the church. Lift up prayers for the salvation of family and friends. And definitely keep a heart of expectation to see the move of God in your life.

Whether this is your first time joining us in Pray First or you've been with us from the beginning, consider what’s best for you and your health with the following types of fasts:

Complete Fast

Calls for drinking only liquids, water or light juices.

Daniel Fast

Inspired by Daniel in his time at King Nebuchadnezzar's court, this fast involves removing certain elements from your meals such as meat, sweets, and bread and focusing more on eating fruits and vegetables and drinking water and juice.

I ate no choice foods; no meat or wine touched my lips Daniel 10:3

Partial Fast

Setting aside a specific time of the day to abstain from eating any type of food makes up a partial fast. For example from no eating from sunup to sundown or not having a certain meal of the day.

Custom Fast

Then there are fasts which you customize to your specific needs - want to put social media aside for a while? or avoid eating out? fast for a specific day of the week? No matter how you fast, the key to remember is that as you remove something, you replace it with an increased focus on God.

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For more fast options and resources, visit vouschurch.com/prayfirst. And remember to stay connected with us during Pray First on Instagram @vouschurch.