40 Days of Prayer and Fasting Toolkit

So you want to pray and fast, but where do you start? And how necessary is that fasting part, really? 

If praying and fasting are new to you, you’re not alone. The resources below are designed to help you understand why we pray and fast and give you the tools you need to get started. 

Join your no ordinary family in 40 Days of Prayer and Fasting from July 12 to Aug. 21, and let’s see how God moves in our homes, our church, our state, and our world. 

Sermons and Videos

Renew Your Mind by Fasting
NewSpring staff member Jason Wilson explains how abstaining from food can actually renew our minds.

Fast to Feast
In this message, Teaching Pastor Dan Lian breaks down what fasting is, what fasting isn’t, and offers some tips to begin using this tool to find spiritual breakthrough.  

Fasting and Prayer
Discipleship Director Fin Sheridan teaches students about the spiritual discipline of fasting and prayer. 

Articles

What is fasting and why do Christians do it?
Fasting is about what we gain from the process: focus on God. Learn why we fast and find practical tips for getting started. 

Everything you need to know about prayer
Prayer gives us direct access to God. No matter where we are or what we’re doing, we can always communicate with God.

Why Christians pray together, not just in private
When Christians pray together as a church, it is called corporate prayer. Learn why praying together is important. 

Do you pray to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit?
Just like we sometimes choose which friend we confide in based on the nature of our problem, it is perfectly OK to speak directly to each person of the Trinity when it feels more natural to do so. 

Does posture matter when you pray?
Posture conveys emotions our words cannot. This is true in our conversations with each other and our conversations with God. 

Books

“Teach Us To Pray: A Guide to Encountering God in Prayer” (free PDF download)
This book explores three kinds of prayer: upward prayer, inward prayer, and outward prayer. Learn how each one can guide us into meaningful and rich prayer times.

“Fervent” by Priscilla Shirer
This book will guide you in crafting prayer strategies that hit the enemy where it hurts, letting him know you’re on to him and that you won’t back down

“Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God” by Tim Keller
Receive instruction and guidance on how to make prayer genuinely meaningful as Pastor Timothy Keller delves into the many facets of this everyday act.

“God’s Chosen Fast” by Arthur Wallis
This timeless reference explains the purpose of fasting, details accounts of fasting in the Bible, and includes a comprehensive biblical index.

Music

NewSpring Worship put together the perfect playlist for your prayer time. Listen on Spotify or Apple Music.