Prayer and fasting have a long biblical and historical significance in the church. These are spiritual disciplines that bring greater effectiveness in our connection with God and each other. At significant times in scripture the people of God are called to fast and pray, as modeled by Jesus himself in preparation for the launch of his ministry (Matthew 4:1-2). For these reasons, every year we begin our calendar year by fasting and praying as a congregation. During this time we seek the wisdom of God’s will and the power of His presence to guide us for another year, as well as seeking to hear from God about His specific direction and emphasis for our congregation.
In light of the impact of this practice, we invite everyone to join us in this endeavor. We desire everyone to commit to praying DAILY for that day’s focus AND to commit to at least ONE day (if not multiple) of prayer and fasting. We fast and pray in obedience to God’s word and in recognition of our deep need for Him. It is a time for us to demonstrate our desire to honor Him, intercede for those in need, and ask for His continued blessing.
This year we have broken our 40 days into 6 weekly themes, starting Sunday, January 4th, with a related prayer focus for each day. This prayer focus will be texted to you daily to encourage and aid you in this endeavor. Below you can find a printable booklet and a mobile friendly guide for saving and viewing on your phone.
The highlight and culmination of this 40-day period is our annual Hear from God meeting which will take place Sunday, February 15th at 11:30am. As we pray over these 40 days, we invite you to seek God for what he is speaking to our church as a whole. As God speaks to you, please record and come to the meeting prepared to share. This is your opportunity, in partnership with the Holy Spirit, to help shape the course NLV will take in 2026 and beyond.
May the Lord bless you in this season of dedication and consecration.
Text FORTY to 833-264-8717 to receive daily text reminders with that day’s prayer focus and scripture.
To print: On most printers select standard “Letter size”, “Print on both sides”, and “Flip on short edge”, then simply fold and place in Bible!