21 Days of Prayer

DAY 2

A People Formed by the Beatitudes

Matthew 5:3–10

Invite the Holy Spirit to transform your inner life toward humility, mercy, purity, and peacemaking. Ask Him to form these qualities in you and throughout Southall Church so that our city can see the life of Jesus embodied in us.

Why it matters: Vision without character is fragile and dangerous. When God shapes us into Beatitude people—poor in spirit, meek, merciful, pure in heart—He creates a church that can carry His presence well. We’re asking Him to do a deep work in us so what He does through us rests on a holy foundation.

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let that time remind you how much you need the Holy Spirit to form Christlike character in you. You cannot manufacture these qualities on your own. 

DAY 3

Salt & Light 

Matthew 5:13–16

Ask God to help you carry His presence into every space you enter today. Pray that Southall would be a community whose everyday lives shine His light with clarity, kindness, and courage in every space we touch.  

 
Why it matters: Our city doesn’t just need more Christian activity; it needs the presence of Jesus shining through His people. When we live as salt and light, God uses ordinary moments as holy appointments. We’re praying that our church would become a visible, tangible expression of His goodness wherever we go.

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let this time remind you of your spiritual need to be filled with God’s presence so that you can be “salt and light” in every environment you step into. 

DAY 4

A Heart Free of Distraction

Matthew 5:27–30; Psalm 51:10 

Ask God to reveal the distractions that pull your attention away from Him—anxiety, comparison, hidden sin, or busyness. Pray for a pure heart that sees God clearly and for a church unified in devotion as we prepare for what God is calling us into. 

Why it matters: Distraction slowly dulls our hunger for God and our awareness of His presence. As we ask Him to purify and focus our hearts, we’re making room for His voice to be louder than all the noise. This prepares us, as a church, to follow Him with clarity instead of confusion. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let every tug toward comfort or distraction remind you how much you need God to cleanse and focus your heart so you can see Him clearly. 

DAY 5

Reconciliation & Unity 

Matthew 5:23–24; John 17:21

Pray for the Holy Spirit to soften your heart toward anyone you may need to forgive or reconcile with. Pray for Southall Church to be marked by unity, humility, and restored relationships so that nothing hinders the work God wants to do through us. 

Why it matters: Division drains spiritual power and undermines credibility as Christ followers. When we walk in reconciliation and unity, we become a living testimony of the gospel we proclaim. We’re praying this because Jesus says it’s through our unity that the world will know that the Son was sent into the world. A unified, grace-filled church is one of the primary ways the world will be drawn to the Son of God.  

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let your sense of need remind you that you rely on God’s grace just as much as anyone else, and allow that awareness to soften your heart toward others. 

DAY 6

Freedom from Fear 

Matthew 6:25–34

Lay your worries before God today—name them honestly. Pray for yourself and our church family to trust God with our future. Ask Him to replace fear with faith, scarcity with abundance, and anxiety with His peace.

Why it matters: Anxiety shrinks our willingness to follow God into the unknown. When we learn to trust Him with our needs, we become free to say “yes” to big, risky obedience. We’re asking God to form a church that rests in His care so we can courageously step into whatever He calls us to next. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let your sense of need remind you that, more than food or security, you need God’s presence and provision—and that He cares for you more than you can imagine. 

DAY 7

Build on the Rock

Matthew 7:24–27 

Pray for God to deepen your obedience. Ask Him to root every ministry and future initiative of Southall Church in wholehearted surrender to Jesus. Pray for a church founded on the Rock, not shifting sand.  

Why it matters: What we build in the next season will only stand if it rests on obedience to Jesus. A church rooted in His Word and ways is not easily shaken by pressure, change, or opposition. We’re praying this so whatever God entrusts to Southall will be strong, stable, and long-lasting. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let your need remind you that you cannot sustain your life—or your obedience—on willpower alone; you need the firm foundation of Jesus and His Word. 

DAY 8

A Burden From God 

Nehemiah 1:3–4 

Ask God to let you see what He sees—brokenness, need, hidden pain, and untapped potential in our city and church. Pray for compassion that leads to action and for Southall Church to receive a burden for the people around us that reflects how Jesus sees people.

Why it matters: A God-given burden is often the starting point of a move of God. Without His compassion, we drift toward comfort and self-preservation. We’re asking Him to stir our hearts so deeply that we cannot ignore the people and places He’s calling us to serve. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let your sense of need remind you of your need for God to awaken your heart—not just to your own needs, but to the needs of others He loves. 

DAY 9

Confession & Dependence

Nehemiah 1:5–11; 2 Chronicles 7:14

Come before God with honesty and humility. Confess the places where you need forgiveness and renewal. Pray for our church to walk in dependence on the Holy Spirit, with nothing blocking the flow of His presence.

Why it matters: Confession keeps our hearts soft and our reliance on God strong. When we humble ourselves, He heals, restores, and moves with power. We’re praying this because a repentant, dependent church is ready to experience real renewal and not just cosmetic change that doesn’t last. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let it remind you how deeply you need God’s mercy, cleansing, and strength. 

DAY 10

Favor for the Vision

Nehemiah 2:4–8

Ask boldly for God’s favor over Southall as we step into 2026—favor with people, partners, finances, relationships, and open doors we could never create ourselves. Pray for faith big enough to match God’s calling. 

Why it matters: God-sized vision cannot be accomplished with human-sized resources. We need His favor—on conversations, opportunities, and partnerships—to walk into everything He’s prepared. We’re praying this because we want to live in a story where only God can get the credit. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, be reminded of your greater need for God’s favor and guidance—He can do more in a moment than we can in a lifetime of effort. 

DAY 11

Courage to Begin 

Nehemiah 2:17–18 

Pray for courage to act when God speaks. Ask Him to remove hesitation, fear, and self-doubt. Pray that our church becomes a community ready to take bold steps in obedience, just as Nehemiah rallied the people to build. 

Why it matters: So often, the barrier isn’t a lack of opportunity but a lack of courage. We’re asking God to make us a people who respond quickly and boldly when He calls. A courageous church is one that doesn’t just dream about God’s will but actually walks it out. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let every moment remind you of your need for God’s courage; you cannot step into His calling in your own strength or confidence. 

DAY 12

Strength for the Work

Nehemiah 4:10; Isaiah 40:29–31 

Pray for supernatural strength—physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual—for everyone serving, leading, and pouring out at Southall Church. Pray for joy in the work, not weariness, and for endurance that comes from the Holy Spirit. 

Why it matters: The work of ministry and mission can be exhausting without God’s renewing power. We’re praying this because we don’t just want to start strong—we want to finish well. A church fueled by God’s strength can endure long enough to see His promises fulfilled.

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let it remind you that you desperately need God’s strength to keep going in the work He’s given you. 

DAY 13

Protection From Opposition

Nehemiah 4:7–9

Pray for God to shield our church from spiritual attack, division, distraction, discouragement, and confusion. Pray for unity among leaders, purity in relationships, and clarity in vision.

Why it matters: Every advance of God’s kingdom is met with resistance. We’re praying this because we recognize we are in a spiritual battle, not just a strategic one. A protected, prayed-for church can keep building even when opposition rises.

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let every moment of need remind you how dependent we are on God’s protection; we cannot guard ourselves against every scheme of the enemy without Him.

DAY 14

Celebrate What God Has Done

Nehemiah 6:15–16; Psalm 126:3

Practice gratitude today. Name every evidence of God’s goodness you can think of—answered prayers, salvations, baptisms, provision, unity, transformation. Thank Him for the story He is already writing in your life and our church. 

Why it matters: Gratitude tunes our hearts to recognize the hand of God. When we remember what He has already done, our faith grows for what He has yet to do. We’re praying this because a thankful church is a hopeful church, ready to trust God for more.

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let it remind you of how empty life would be without God’s goodness, and let gratitude rise up to fill that space. 

DAY 15

Worship in the Midnight Hour

Acts 16:25

Ask God to return your heart to your first love, making you a worshiper who praises Him in darkness, uncertainty, and waiting. Pray that Southall becomes a church whose worship flows from deep love for Jesus, not from circumstances. 

Why it matters: Worship in the dark reveals whether our first love is still burning. A church that can sing in every season becomes a powerful witness to a watching world. We want to be people whose faith—and worship—endure even when life shakes. 

Fasting Focus: Let hunger today draw you back to Jesus—the only One who truly satisfies. In your “midnight moments,” let fasting become a reminder that His presence is your strength. 

DAY 16

Worship That Sets People Free

Acts 16:25–26

Pray for God’s Spirit to bring freedom into every corner of our church—freedom from addiction, shame, bitterness, fear, cynicism, and spiritual oppression. Pray that our worship would shake loose what needs to fall. 

Why it matters: We cannot free ourselves, but God can. When His people worship, spiritual strongholds begin to crumble. We’re praying this because we want Southall to be a place where people don’t just attend a service—they encounter the freedom of Jesus.

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let every moment remind you how deeply you and those around you need God’s power to break chains that you cannot break on your own. 

DAY 17

Worship as Witness

Psalm 46:1 - “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

Pray that the authenticity of our worship would draw those far from God into an encounter with Him. Pray for softened hearts, awakened hunger, and supernatural openness as our church worships.  

Why it matters: The jailer didn’t respond to a sermon; he responded to the way Paul and Silas worshiped. Our worship can become a living invitation to those who are watching. We’re praying this because we want every gathering to be a place where people encounter the living God. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let it remind you of the spiritual hunger in people who don’t yet know Jesus—and how much they need to see real worship, not just hear about God.

DAY 18

The Courage to Stay

Acts 16:27–28 

Ask God for the strength to remain faithful when it would be easier to escape, ignore, or withdraw. Pray that Southall becomes a church that stays put in hard places so that others can encounter Jesus through our faithfulness. 

Why it matters: Paul and Silas stayed when they could have run—and that choice led to a miracle of salvation. Faithfulness in hard places often becomes the doorway to someone else’s breakthrough. We’re praying this because a steadfast church can be trusted with people in crisis. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let your urge to quit or give in remind you of your need for God’s courage to stay where He has called you, even when it’s uncomfortable. 

DAY 19

Households Transformed

Acts 16:31–34 

Pray that Jesus would bring whole families to faith—parents, kids, siblings, spouses, and extended relatives. Pray that the ripple effect of transformed lives at Southall Church will spread into homes across Middle Tennessee, and that together, we would accomplish our mission to build strong families through Christ. 

Why it matters: God’s heart is not just for individuals, but for households and generations. When a home is transformed by Jesus, neighborhoods and communities begin to change. We’re praying this because we believe God wants to write new stories in families through the life of our church. 

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let your longing for what you’re missing now remind you of how deeply you long—and need God—to transform the hearts and homes of the people you love. 

DAY 20

Joy in the Presence of God

Acts 16:34; Psalm 16:11

Pray for God to restore joy where you feel weary, defeated, or numb. Ask Him to make Southall a joy-filled church—delighting in His presence, grateful for His work, and confident in His promises. 

Why it matters: Joy is not a spiritual luxury; it’s a source of strength. A joyful church stands out in a weary world and points people to the goodness of God. We’re praying this because we want our lives to be marked by genuine, resilient joy that comes from Him.

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let it remind you that true joy is not found in temporary comforts, but in God’s presence and nearness.

DAY 21

A Worshiping, Witnessing Church

Romans 12:1; Acts 16:40 

Pray that these 21 days would mark our church for years ahead. Ask God to deepen devotion, expand our worship, strengthen unity, and ignite mission. Pray that we would carry the life of Jesus into every space He sends us as we step into a big season of vision. 

Why it matters: Seasons of focused prayer are meant to change us, not just fill a calendar. We’re asking God to use these days to shape Southall into a church that lives a lifestyle of worship and witness—not just in special seasons, but every day. This is about becoming the kind of people who can faithfully carry the vision He’s entrusting to us.  

Fasting Focus: As you fast today, let your sense of need remind you that your whole life depends on God and offer yourself to Him again as a living sacrifice, fully His. 

WORSHIP NIGHT
To close these 21 days, we’ll gather for a special Night of Worship on January 21 from 6:30–8:00pm.
Come ready to lift Jesus high, celebrate what He’s done, and seek fresh fire for the season ahead. Let’s end this fast the way we want to live—as a worshiping, witnessing church.