"For the kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God's power."
1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT

Welcome to Bellevue Neighborhood's 14-Days of Prayer + Fasting! From Thursday, January 2nd, to Wednesday, January 15th, we want to collectively enter a rhythm of longing for God. We desire for God to grow our intimacy with Him, strengthen us for the mission, restore those who are hurting, and reach the lost in our city. We’re excited for you to join us!

As a church that seeks to live on mission, we want everything we do to begin and end with prayer. It is one of the primary ways we commune with God and declare our sense of dependence on Him. We strongly believe the Church’s mission is fueled by the prayer of His people and the power of the Holy Spirit.

FASTING

What is fasting? Fasting is essentially the practice of giving up food (or another habit) for a period of time in order to better focus your thoughts and attention on God. We will fast as an act of communion with God, and as part of a declaration. It’s in no way an attempt to manipulate God to answer our prayers. It is us saying, “What we’re praying for is so important that we’re willing to set aside our everyday life to focus on praying for it!”

While fasting is never commanded in the Bible, we see it modeled throughout Scripture (Exodus 34:28, Nehemiah 1:4, Ezra 8:23, Matthew 4:2, Acts 14:23). We don’t want this to seem legalistic or intimidating. We all have different experiences with fasting, whether plenty or never before. That’s ok! This is simply an opportunity to create a rhythm of longing for God.

New to fasting? Great! Start small. Don’t try to swing for the fence! Begin with what you can do. Trust that God will honor that, as you seek to honor Him. If a meal is too much, consider a particular sweet or activities that you could fast from that may take a chunk of time during the week – social media or tv. 

DISCLAIMER: There may be a number of reasons why fasting from food may not be safe or wise for some. If there are medical concerns, we encourage anyone to first consult their physician and choose something else to fast from. See the FAQs section for more information!

TYPES OF FASTS

Total Fast (Water Only)

This is the most common model of fasting in the Bible and throughout church history. It involves only consuming water for the period of the fast. Although it can seem ominous, it is powerful. Some people choose to supplement the water with electrolytes and/or vitamins. People with certain health conditions and prescription medications should not attempt this beyond a day. Those total fasting for the first time may want to try start with a day or two and switch to a Daniel Fast or plan a total fast for one or two days a week. Many have found the second and third days the hardest and that their bodies adjust to a fast by shifting to living off of fat stores in the body. Plan on wearing warmer clothing and needing more sleep if you do a total fast.

Daniel Fast

The Prophet Daniel records in 10:30 of his book a time when "I ate no delicacies, no meat or wine entered my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, for the full three weeks." Daniel Fasts following this pattern have become a popular and more accessible way for Christians to fast. There is some variety in how this is interpreted. Some use a simple "No meats; no sweets." Others add grains to the list and limit themselves to vegetables and fruits. Here are some menus and food plans:

Non-Food Fast

Some choose to fast in other ways because of health conditions or a desire to eliminate distractions from their relationship with Jesus. Common fasts include social media, television, and other habits and distractions.

PRAYER HOUR

Every day, starting on January 2nd, Bellevue Neighborhood Church will be open for an hour of prayer.

When: 7:00AM, every morning
Where: Prayer Room

There’s something powerful about our church praying together at the same time. If you registered for the fast, you will receive daily prayer prompts from our BNC pastors & staff.

PRAYER & PRAISE NIGHT

SAVE THE DATE: Wednesday, January 8th // 7:00 - 8:30pm

During our 14 days of Prayer + Fasting, Bellevue Neighborhood Church will gather for a night of Prayer & Praise. This will be an opportunity for us to gather and set our hearts on Jesus corporately.

Childcare will be provided.

ENDING THE FAST

FAST & FAITH: A PRAYERFUL FEAST

Wednesday, January 15th // 6:00 - 8:30pm

A special gathering where we come together to break our 14-day fast in a spirit of unity and gratitude over a shared meal. This event combines the spiritual practice of fasting with the power of prayer, offering a moment to reflect and give thanks.

To help us determine how much food to prepare, please register by clicking the button below