January 5 - January 31, 2026

2026 is the “Year of Discipleship” at 31st Street Baptist Church where we will intentionally seek to look like, love like, and live like Jesus. To this end, we will begin our year mirroring Jesus’ intentional rhythm of making time for the spiritual disciplines of prayer and fasting! In fact, Jesus fasted for 40 days and 40 nights following his baptism by John the Baptist and prior to beginning his ministry (Matthew 3-4). As Jesus fasted in the wilderness, he was tempted by the devil and became weak in his flesh- but ultimately demonstrated strength to withstand temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit and his reliance on the Word of God. In doing so, Jesus exhibited the power of denying our flesh to seek a greater connection to God. As we endeavor to live like Jesus, let’s approach this period of intentional fasting and prayer with our hearts and mind centered on pursuing God and His will and way for our lives.

2026 Fasting Guidelines

This year’s fasting guidelines are below but congregants may also participate via our “Flex Fast”option- giving each person the flexibility to build a fast that best reflects sacrificial choices for them. To do this, we will follow a simple model: 1) Identify three food items or food groups to abstain from during our 27 day fast (i.e.- pork, red meat, cheese, fried foods, fast foods, alcohol etc.). Remember, these choices should be sacrificial (i.e.- don’t choose to abstain from alcohol if you already do not drink). 2) Identify three spiritual practices to add into your routine during the fast (i.e.- attending Sunday School or Wednesday Bible Study, 15 minutes of scripture reading per day, watching a message each morning before work, 15 minutes of prayer at the beginning of the day). 3) Choose three prayer foci to lift each day during the fast that are most pressing on your heart! To aid in this process, Pastor Mitchell will be providing a time of prayer and devotion on weekdays during the fast at 6am via his Youtube channel at: youtube.com/@JoshuaMitchellTV.

Foods To Enjoy:

• Lean Meats: Chicken, Fish, Turkey, Beef, Lamb, Soy, Tofu (Baked, Broiled, Grilled, Roasted, Air Fried, Or Sauteed)
• Veggies, Fruit, Nuts/Seeds, Beans & Lentils
• Oils: Olive oil, Coconut oil, Avocado oil, or Grapeseed oil
• Drink: Water

Foods To Avoid:

• Processed and Fried Foods
• Added Sugar, Artificial Sweeteners, Candy and Sweets
• Bread (excluding Ezekiel Bread)
• Dairy Products
• Drinks: Soda, Coffee, Tea, Juice, Energy Drinks, Alcohol