40 Day Prayer and Fast
Join us for the 40 days as we unite our hearts through prayer and fasting in preparation for our Legacy Campaign. God has been so faithful to our church over the past 50 years, and we step into this next season with gratitude, faith, and great expectation for what He will do in and through us. This fast is intentionally focused on asking God to shape lives, families, and our church for generations to come, and as a congregation we humbly offer this season to the Lord.
We invite you to prayerfully choose a fasting option that fits your season and health, whether that means:
- removing a specific food, drink, or alternative comfort if food fasting isn’t possible, for 40 days
- fasting one meal a day each week for 40 days
- fasting one full day each week for 40 days
We invite you to join us as we seek God together, trusting Him to shape what comes next for each of us, our families, and our church!
What is fasting?
Fasting is abstaining from food for spiritual purposes
Fasting is not:
Fasting is not a way to atone for your sins
Fasting is not a way to manipulate God
Fasting is not a time management tool
Fasting is not only for “super-Christians”
Fasting is not a weight loss tool
Fasting is not dangerous or bad for your health (Fasting & medical safety)
Fasting is not for everyone right now
What ways can I fast?
Complete Fast
In this type of fast, you drink only liquids, typically water with light juices as an option. If you have never fasted before, consider fasting for 24-36 hours at some point over the 21 days of fasting. If you have fasted before, consider trying a 48-72 hours fast at some point over the 21 days of fasting.
Daniel Fast
On the Daniel Fast, you eat plant-based meals while setting aside other foods as an act of worship and sacrifice to the Lord.
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. Others might choose to skip lunch every day for 21 days.
Selective Fast
In this type of fast you remove certain foods or drinks from your diet that have become addictive to you. Examples of selective fasting may mean going 21 days without alcohol, caffeine or animal products.
Soul Fast
While we are urging everyone to consider fasting from food, we understand that some people have health issues that mean you cannot or should not fast from food. If this is you, we want you to participate with us and invite you to consider fasting from certain digital inputs. 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.
How do I get started?
Four next steps toward fasting
1. Choose a reason
2. Choose a fast
3. Schedule a time
4. Establish a pattern
40 Day Devotionals
Week One: Legacy Begins With a Burden.
(Taken from Nehemiah 1:1–11)
Day 1: February 15
Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.
Psalm 51:17 – “My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.”
Day 2: February 16
God, give me eyes to truly see the needs around me – to not turn away.
Matthew 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Day 3: February 17
Teach me to sit with grief long enough to let it shape my prayers.
Romans 12:15 – “Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.”
Day 4: February 18
Search my heart, Lord, and lead me in repentance and humility.
Psalm 139:23–24 – “23Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Day 5: February 19
Help me trust Your promises when the burden feels heavy.
2 Corinthians 1:20 – “For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God.”
Day 6: February 20
Give me courage to move from prayer into faithful obedience.
James 1:22 – “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
Day 7: February 21
Use my burden, God, as part of Your redemptive work.
Romans 8:28 – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
Week Two: Legacy is Driven by Prayer-fueled Courage.
(Taken from Nehemiah 2:1–10)
Day 8: February 22
Lord, give me courage to bring my burden before You and others.
Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Day 9: February 23
God, help me trust You when obedience feels risky.
Proverbs 3:5–6 – 5“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
Day 10: February 24
Prepare my heart before You open the door.
Psalm 37:5 – “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:”
Day 11: February 25
Give me wisdom to speak with humility and clarity.
Colossians 4:6 – “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Day 12: February 26
Strengthen me when fear and opposition rise.
Isaiah 41:10 – “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Day 13: February 27
Help me take faithful steps even when the outcome is uncertain.
Hebrews 11:8 – “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
Day 14: February 28
Remind me that obedience invites Your favor and provision.
2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Week Three: Legacy is Rooted in Completing God’s Assignment
(Taken from Nehemiah 2:11–3:32)
Day 15: March 1
Lord, help me see the work You’ve assigned to me clearly.
Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
Day 16: March 2
Give me discernment to assess before I act.
James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
Day 17: March 3
Teach me faithfulness in the portion You’ve entrusted to me.
Luke 16:10 – “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”
Day 18: March 4
Unite us, Lord, to work together with humility and purpose.
Ecclesiastes 4:9 – “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:”
Day 19: March 5
Help me value obedience over recognition.
Colossians 3:23-24 – “23 Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, 24 since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
Day 20: March 6
Strengthen me to keep building when the work feels ordinary or unseen.
Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Day 21: March 7
Remind me that You are the one who brings completion and fruit.
1 Corinthians 3:6–7 – “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”
Week Four: Legacy Will Invite Opposition
(Taken from Nehemiah 4:1)
Day 22: March 8
Lord, help me recognize opposition without being discouraged by it.
John 15:18 – “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.”
Day 23: March 9
Teach me to bring opposition to You first, not react in my own strength.
Psalm 55:22 – “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Day 24: March 10
Give me discernment to know when to pray and when to stand firm.
Ephesians 6:13 – “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.”
Day 25: March 11
Strengthen my hands for the work while I stay watchful in prayer.
Colossians 4:2 – “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.”
Day 26: March 12
Guard my heart from fear, distraction, and discouragement.
2 Timothy 1:7 – “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
Day 27: March 13
Help me build with one hand and trust You with the other.
Psalm 127:1 – “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.”
Day 28: March 14
Remind me that You fight for us as we remain faithful.
Exodus 14:14 – “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
Week Five: Legacy Will Always Demand Sacrifice.
(Taken from Nehemiah 5:1–19)
Day 29: March 15
Lord, make me aware of injustice and soften my heart to respond.
Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”
Day 30: March 16
Search my heart and reveal where I may be benefiting at the expense of others.
Psalm 139:23-24 – “23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”
Day 31: March 17
Give me courage to choose integrity, even when it costs me.
Proverbs 11:3 – “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.”
Day 32: March 18
Teach me to lead with humility rather than entitlement.
Mark 10:44-45 – “44 and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Day 33: March 19
Free me from fear of losing comfort, status, or security.
Luke 12:15 – “Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Day 34: March 20
Shape my generosity to reflect Your heart, not obligation.
2 Corinthians 9:7 – “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Day 35: March 21
Help me remember that obedience is an act of worship.
Romans 12:1 – “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God – this is your true and proper worship.”
Week Six: Legacy Requires Focus
(Taken from Nehemiah 6:1–16)
Day 36: March 22
Lord, help me stay focused on the work You’ve called me to finish.
Philippians 1:6 – “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Day 37: March 23
Remind me that the work You do through me points others to You.
Matthew 5:16 – “In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
Day 38: March 24
Strengthen me to say no to fear-driven compromise.
Galatians 1:10 – “Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.”
Day 39: March 25
May my obedience leave a legacy of faith beyond my lifetime.
Hebrews 12:1-2 – “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.”
Day 40: March 26
Teach me to finish well, not just start strong.
2 Timothy 4:7 – “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
