Prayer & Fasting

Awaken Houston
Prayer Guide

Looking for how to pray this Lenten season? Join a city-wide praying, fasting, and preaching movement calling the church across Houston to walk with Jesus.

Practicing Prayer

  • Early Christians were instructed to pray the Lord’s prayer three times a day. If you are new to faith, that is a great way to start! As you do so, begin to slow down, take it phrase by phrase, and add to it as the Spirit leads. Here are some examples:

    “Our Father, who is in the heavens…”
    Recognize your relationship with Him. Recall His Father-heart for you and for those for whom you pray (I John. 3:1). Celebrate that the One you call Father reigns above all that you see, know, and experience.

    “Hallowed be Your name...”
    Recall the covenant names of God and their meaning and application for today (He is our banner, our righteousness, our provider, our healer, our peace, our sanctifier, our shepherd). Meditate on these. Although He draws near, recognize that He is Holy and distinct from us.

    “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven…”
    Spend time submitting your plans to God and ask for His Kingdom to come and His will to be done in your life. Also pray that our nation’s leadership would walk in His will, pray for your family, etc. Get scriptures for the areas of concern.

    “Give us this day our daily bread...”
    Appropriate His provision in areas of material concern.

    “And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors...”
    Ask the Holy Spirit to search you and point out areas where repentance is needed. Forgive those against whom you are holding grudges (Proverbs 4:23; Matthew 5:44).

    “And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil…”
    Know the Truth of the Word of God and use it against the devil (I Timothy 6:12; Ephesians 6).

    “For Thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.”
    End with praise (Revelation 5:13).

    Adapted from page 16 of the Alone with God Packet

  • KEEP IT SIMPLE
    Prayer is the most natural thing in the world, and it should never become complicated, weird, or intense.
    Matthew 6:7-8

    KEEP IT REAL
    Prayer isn’t where you pretend you’re fine when life hurts, nor is it something you should hide from when you make a mess or things. Messes and hurts belong in prayer.
    Luke 18:9-14

    KEEP IT UP
    Prayer is an integral part of our journey of faith. Life is tough, the battle is fierce, and God is not an algorithm. When we experience answers to prayer, it’s not that we found the right formula, but that we simply chose not to give up.
    Luke 18:1

    Adapted from How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete Greig

Finding God through Fasting

    1. Clarify what you are praying for as you fast.

    2. If this is your first time to fast, start slowly (fasting from one meal, fasting for one day, etc.) and move up to longer fasts over a period of time.

    3. Set a definite beginning and ending time. If it is an extended fast, be accountable to someone.

    4. Begin the fast with the faith resolve that it is going to be effective.

    5. Plan ahead - look at your schedule and make it a part of your planning for the week (set specific prayer times, etc.).

    6. You may experience some physical discomforts (headache, etc.). Decide ahead of time that you will let these times lead you to desperation for God. Walk by faith and not be feelings. Focus on the fact that you are obeying God.

    7. Always drink lots of water and/or 100% juice (if including juice in your fast).

    8. On longer fasts, you may need to rest more than normal.

    9. Break the fast with healthy food — soup, broth, bread, fruit, etc.

    10. If you have a medical situation (hypoglycemia, pregnancy, etc.) or are taking medication, please consult your physician if you have any questions about fasting. In this case you may consider a different kind of fast (ie. a Daniel fast).

    • Morning

      • Begin the day with worship and praise, if possible, on your knees.

      • Open your hands and surrender your day and your life to God.

      • Clarify and write down what you will believe for as you fast today.

      • Drink water until you start to feel full, then drink some juice (if you’re drinking juice).

    • Other Meal Times

      • Set aside specific times for the Word and prayer. Don’t just starve.

      • Sample prayer time (30 minutes):

        • LOOK UP: worship and thanksgiving (5-10min.)

        • LOOK IN: Word of God, confession, prayer, listening (15 min.)

        • LOOK OUT: intercession for others (5-10 min.)

      • Keep a journal of what you hear God saying throughout the fast.

      • Pray with someone for at least one prayer time.

      • Drink 8-16 oz. of 100% juice or vegetable drink.

    • Throughout the Day

      • Play worship music throughout the day to “feed” your spirit.

      • Abstain from any media unless absolutely necessary.

      • Drink lots of water throughout the day.

      • Develop a prayer declaration to say when your stomach growls, like “I do not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God".

      • Pray in the Spirit to yourself often.

    • Breaking the Fast

      • Give thanks to God before you eat for what He has done.

      • Take it slow! Don’t gorge or eat fatty foods.

      • Break your fast with raw fruit, salad, or other vegetables.

      • Continue to drink lots of water and 100% juice.

Prayer & Fasting Resources

Guides for Prayer & Fasting

Prayer doesn’t have to take place in a room. If you are praying for a specific event or location such as work, school, or your neighborhood, give prayer walking a try!

Here is a detailed breakdown of fasting to help you dive into it with confidence and freedom. There’s event tips for how to do ease into this Christian practice and how to do so with your family.

Sermons on Prayer & Fasting

Dive into our 8-part series that breaks down numerous forms of prayer that can fuel our time alone with God.

Discover how fasting is an invitation to seek God while we actively wait for His kingdom.

A Deeper Dive on Prayer & Fasting

The Antioch Movement has developed a simple Spirit-led prayer approach called Thanksgiving, Worship, and Intercession, or TWI. This is a reproducible way to seek God in prayer. You can learn how to experience this time for yourself and facilitate it with others using this TWI Guide (from Antioch Waco).

Check out Practicing the Way. You will find free resources to help your community be with Jesus, become like him, and do as he did. This includes the four-part Prayer Practice and Fasting Practice.