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Message DAYSwww.southsidelife.netFast & Pray

Thank you for joining us in our 2025 ConsecrationFast! The leadership of Southside is excited for whatwe will see God do in our church as we deny ourdesires to make God’s desires our priority. This year we are preparing ourselves for theunexpected from God. Our pastor at the close of2023 taught a series about how to prepare for theunexpected and fasting was apart of what God usedin the Bible. (Judges 20:26-27; Esther 4:16)As we grow God expects more from us and this yearwe will be adding a unified time of prayer. We areasking every person fasting to pray twice a day. for 40 DaysWe ask that you review the information contained inthis booklet and prayerfully listen to God for apersonal fast. Please talk to your doctor beforeattempting any fast because they can advise youhow to participate safely with your current level ofhealth and fitness. Thank you again for joining Southside as we seekGod. We are sure that God has a blessing for youbecause of your sacrifice and sincerity to hear fromHim. Thank you for joining us in our 2025 ConsecrationFast! The leadership of Southside is excited for whatwe will see God do in our church as we deny ourdesires to make God’s desires our priority. This year we are preparing ourselves for theunexpected from God. Our pastor at the close of2023 taught a series about how to prepare for theunexpected and fasting was apart of what God usedin the Bible. (Judges 20:26-27; Esther 4:16)As we grow God expects more from us and this yearwe will be adding a unified time of prayer. We areasking every person fasting to pray twice a day. 6:00am & 6:00pmWe ask that you review the information contained inthis booklet and prayerfully listen to God for apersonal fast. Please talk to your doctor beforeattempting any fast because they can advise youhow to participate safely with your current level ofhealth and fitness. Thank you again for joining Southside as we seekGod. We are sure that God has a blessing for youbecause of your sacrifice and sincerity to hear fromHim.

What is fasting?Fasting in the Bible was always associated with noteating food, abstaining from sexual relationships, andfocused prayer. Fasting is not just a biblical orspiritual practice. There have been studies to showthe health benefits more than weight loss that dohappen during times of regular fasting from food.Why fast?Fasting is more than abstaining from food; it’s aspiritual discipline that enhances our relationship withGod. It’s about surrendering ourselves and dedicatingour focus to spiritual growth.Benefits of fasting:Intimacy with God.1.Physical Health.2.A clear, sober mind.3.Spiritual Discipline.4.Increased spiritual capacity.5.Pure heart and mind.6.How do I fast?We suggest you fast based upon what you areseeking God to do in your life. Later we will give youan outline of 9 types of fasts. Please CONSULT YOURDOCTOR if you are on medication and adjust yourfast accordingly. When do I start and stop fasting?Southside is fasting 40days, from March 9th throughApril 18th at 7pm.

What am I supposed to do during my fast?Fasting is about spiritually growing closer to God notabout giving up food or fun. During this time makesure to feed your soul by reading God’s word duringtimes you would normally eat. Read and journal thefocus scriptures for each day. Be still and quiet tohear God’s voice and guidance. Why is Southside fasting?We are fasting to prepare our hearts, minds, andsouls to hear from God. We also are asking God to grow us personally inour understanding of His plan for us, our church,and how to reach our community. We are consecrating or preparing ourselves to beused by God for the rest of 2025 starting withEaster Weekend to reach those around us with themessage of Jesus’ love and resurrection.What should I pray during this fast?Pray for God to speak to you in a way you canunderstand and do what He says after you readthe Bible. Ask God to show you who around you He wantsyou to connect with to share your story and faithin God. Pray for those who God is sending to Southsidethat we will be loving and ready to receive themno matter what they look like or their past. Pray for a personal issue or challenge you wantGod to address.Pray for God to make a way for you to share yourfaith in Jesus with your family members.

GUIDELINES OF FASTINGRemember that the purpose of fasting is to choose atime to consecrate or devote ourselves to the serviceof God through the direction of the Holy Spirit, whichwill give us a larger spiritual capacity to follow theleading of the Holy Spirit.Fasting is giving up our regular meals (solid food) fora period of time. This allows us to gain control ofphysical appetites and brings our wants under thecontrol of God’s spiritual plan.COMMIT YOURSELF TO God or consecrate yourselfand pray.1.Drink up to 8 glasses of water at roomtemperature per day.2.Drink water, herbal tea, apple, cranberry, orvegetable juice at room temperature or slightlycool.3.Drink warm or hot herbal teas before going tosleep and when you get moving in the morning.4.

9 FASTS IN THE BIBLE (check with your doctor 1st) The Disciple’s FastPurpose: To gain freedom from addictions & sinKey Verse: Matthew 17:21Only water for 3 days The Ezra FastPurpose: To solve problemsKey Verse: Ezra 8:3No breads, meats, sugar or carbonated drinks The Samuel FastPurpose: For revival and soul winningKey Verse: 1 Samual 7:6Vegetables, teas, and juices onlyThe Elijah FastPurpose: To gain freedom from addictions to sinKey Verse: Matthew 17:21Vegetables & Juices only for 40 days (1 Kings 19:2-18)The Widow’s FastPurpose: To meet the physical needs of othersKey Verse: 1 Kings 17:16Sunrise to Sunset only water, eat after sunset

9 FASTS con’t (Check w/your doctor 1st)The Paul FastPurpose: For clarity in making decisions Key Verse: Matthew 17:21No Food, only water 21 days (Acts 9:9-19)The Daniel FastPurpose: To gain a healthier life Key Verse: Daniel 1:8Vegetables & water only for 40 days (Daniel 1:1-16)The John the Baptist FastPurpose: For an effective testimony about JesusKey Verse: Luke 1:15Vegetables, herbal teas w/honey (Matt. 3:4)The Esther Fast (CAUTION!!! only do this for 24hours max)Purpose: For protection from the evil one Key Verse: 1 Kings 19:4,8No Food or drink-Including water (Esther 4:1-17)

Fasting Modifications or Additions:Fasting from activities that bring joy likeT.V./movies, puzzles, gamesFasting from particular foods that we enjoy.Coffee, Sweets & Deserts, starchesFasting from Sunrise to SunsetFasting from eating out restaurants, fast food,frozen yogurtFasting Obstacles and Opposition: Matthew 4:1-11Physical oppositionHunger Matthew 4:2Temptation from others to eat Matthew 4:3Fatigue or tirednessSpiritual attacks Matthew 4:5-6,8-9Delayed revelation and understanding Daniel10:12-13Emotional storms Matthew 6:17AngerFrustrationIrritabilitySadnessDepressionAnxietyFearWorry

Focus and Bible verses for each week:Week 1: Spiritual Protection of the ChurchDay 1: (3/10) Psalm 91:1-2 – “Whoever dwells inthe shelter of the Most High will rest in theshadow of the Almighty.”Devotional Thought: We begin this fast byasking for God’s protection over SouthsideCommunity Church, trusting in His mightypower to shield us from all harm and spiritualattack.Day 2: (3/11) Ephesians 6:10-11 – “Put on the fullarmor of God, so that you can take your standagainst the devil’s schemes.”Devotional Thought: As we stand firm in God’sprotection, let us also pray for His miraculouspower to manifest, protecting us insupernatural ways.Day 3: (3/12) Isaiah 54:17 – “No weapon formedagainst you will prevail.”Devotional Thought: As we claim spiritualprotection, let’s believe God for miraculousdeliverance from all forms of spiritualopposition.Day 4: (3/13) Matthew 17:20 – “If you have faithas small as a mustard seed, you can say to thismountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it willmove.”Devotional Thought: Today, we focus on faithfor miracles. Let’s trust God to demonstrate Hispower to move mountains in our lives and inour church.

Focus and Bible verses for each week:Week 1: Spiritual Protection of the ChurchDay 5: (3/14) Mark 16:17-18 – “And these signswill accompany those who believe: In my namethey will drive out demons; they will speak innew tongues; they will pick up snakes with theirhands; and when they drink deadly poison, itwill not hurt them at all.”Devotional Thought: We ask for signs andwonders to follow the believers in our church.Pray for God to show His power throughmiraculous acts of healing, protection, anddeliverance.Day 6: (3/15) John 14:12 – “Very truly I tell you,whoever believes in me will do the works I havebeen doing, and they will do even greater thingsthan these.”Devotional Thought: We believe that God canuse us to perform miracles through His power.Let us ask for the boldness to experience andtestify to His supernatural works.Day 7: (3/16) Exodus 14:21-22 – “Then Mosesstretched out his hand over the sea, and all thatnight the Lord drove the sea back with a strongeast wind and turned it into dry land.”Devotional Thought: We pray for God’smiraculous intervention in seeminglyimpossible situations, as He made a waywhere there seemed to be no way.

Focus and Bible verses for each week:Week 2: Physical Healing for MembersDay 8: (3/17) Jeremiah 30:17 – “But I will restoreyou to health and heal your wounds,’ declaresthe Lord.”Devotional Thought: Today, let’s believe Godfor miraculous healing. We declare that by Hisstripes, we are healed—mentally, physically,and spiritually.Day 9: (3/18) James 5:15-16 – “The prayeroffered in faith will make the sick person well;the Lord will raise them up.”Devotional Thought: Let’s ask God to bringabout miraculous healing in those who aresick, trusting that nothing is impossible for Him.Day 10: (3/19) Isaiah 53:5 – “But he was piercedfor our transgressions, he was crushed for ouriniquities; the punishment that brought uspeace was on him, and by his wounds, we arehealed.”Devotional Thought: Let us focus on themiraculous power of Jesus’ sacrifice, whichbrings healing not only spiritually but physicallyas well.

Focus and Bible verses for each week:Week 2: Physical Healing for MembersDay 11: (3/20) Mark 2:5-12 – Jesus heals theparalyzed man: “When Jesus saw their faith, hesaid to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins areforgiven… Get up, take your mat and go home.’”Devotional Thought: Just as Jesus healed theparalyzed man, let us pray for miraculoushealing for those in our congregation. Webelieve that by faith, they will rise and berestored.Day 12: (3/21) Matthew 9:35 – “Jesus wentthrough all the towns and villages, teaching intheir synagogues, proclaiming the good news ofthe kingdom and healing every disease andsickness.”Devotional Thought: Jesus is still healing everydisease and sickness today. Let us trust Godfor miracles of physical healing in our churchfamily.Day 13: (3/22) Luke 6:19 – “And the people alltried to touch him, because power was comingfrom him and healing them all.”Devotional Thought: We pray that God’shealing power would flow through our church,healing all who are in need of His touch. Day 14: (3/23) John 9:6-7 Devotional Thought: Let us believe God formiraculous healings that demonstrate Hispower, like the healing of the blind man in thisscripture.

Focus and Bible verses for each week cont’:Week 3: Revival in Our CommunityDay 15: (3/24) 2 Chronicles 7:14 – “If my people,who are called by my name, will humblethemselves and pray and seek my face andturn from their wicked ways, then I will hear fromheaven, and I will forgive their sin and will healtheir land.”Devotional Thought: We pray for revival in ourcommunity. Let’s believe for a supernaturalmove of God that brings restoration andhealing to our land.Day 16: (3/25) Acts 3:19-20 – “Repent, then, andturn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out,that times of refreshing may come from theLord.”Devotional Thought: Revival brings refreshing.Let us pray that God would pour out His Spiriton our community and bring revival thattransforms hearts.Day 17: (3/26) John 4:48 – “Unless you peoplesee signs and wonders, Jesus told him, you willnever believe.”Devotional Thought: We pray for signs andwonders to accompany the preaching of thegospel, bringing revival and awakening in ourcommunity.Day 18: (3/27) Mark 9:23 – “‘If you can’?” saidJesus. “Everything is possible for one whobelieves.”Devotional Thought: Let’s believe God for theimpossible. We pray for miracles to take placein our community as God moves powerfully.

Focus and Bible verses for each week cont’:Week 3: Revival in Our CommunityDay 19: (3/28) Acts 2:17 – “In the last days, Godsays, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Yoursons and daughters will prophesy, your youngmen will see visions, your old men will dreamdreams.”Devotional Thought: We pray for a freshoutpouring of the Holy Spirit, believing thatsigns, wonders, and prophetic visions will beseen in our community.Day 20: (3/29) Matthew 21:21-22 – “Jesusreplied, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and donot doubt, not only can you do what was doneto the fig tree, but also you can say to thismountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and itwill be done. If you believe, you will receivewhatever you ask for in prayer.’”Devotional Thought: Let’s ask for God’s powerto move mountains in our community. We trustHim for miracles as we pray for revival.Day 21: (3/30) Luke 7:16 – “They were all filledwith awe and praised God. ‘A great prophet hasappeared among us,’ they said. ‘God has cometo help his people.’”Devotional Thought: We pray that the peoplein our community would be filled with awe andwonder at God’s power and His revival work intheir lives.

Focus and Bible verses for each week cont’:Week 4: Continuing the Prayer for Protection,Healing, and RevivalDay 22: (3/31) 1 John 5:14-15 – “This is theconfidence we have in approaching God: that ifwe ask anything according to his will, he hearsus. And if we know that he hears us—whateverwe ask—we know that we have what we askedof him.”Devotional Thought: We can pray withconfidence, knowing that God hears us andanswers according to His will. Let us continueto lift up these prayer points for our church.Day 23: (4/1) Mark 11:24 – “Therefore I tell you,whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that youhave received it, and it will be yours.”Devotional Thought: We are believing God forspiritual protection, healing, and revival. Let uscontinue praying with faith and expectation.Day 24: (4/2) Isaiah 40:29 – “He gives strengthto the weary and increases the power of theweak.”Devotional Thought: We pray for strength forthose weary from trials. God is our source ofpower, and He will sustain us through this timeof fasting and prayer.Day 25: (4/3) Luke 18:1 – “Then Jesus told hisdisciples a parable to show them that theyshould always pray and not give up.”Devotional Thought: We must persist in prayer.Let us continue to pray fervently for theprotection, healing, and revival of our churchand community.

Focus and Bible verses for each week cont’:Week 4: Continuing the Prayer for Protection,Healing, and RevivalDay 26: (4/4) Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will begiven to you; seek and you will find; knock andthe door will be opened to you.”Devotional Thought: Let us keep asking,seeking, and knocking, knowing that God isfaithful to respond.Day 27: (4/5) Romans 8:37-39 – “No, in all thesethings we are more than conquerors throughhim who loved us. For I am convinced thatneither death nor life, neither angels nordemons, neither the present nor the future, norany powers, neither height nor depth, noranything else in all creation, will be able toseparate us from the love of God that is in ChristJesus our Lord.”Devotional Thought: We are more thanconquerors through Christ. Let us pray withconfidence, knowing that nothing canseparate us from His love.Day 28: (4/6) 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoicealways, pray continually, give thanks in allcircumstances; for this is God’s will for you inChrist Jesus.”Devotional Thought: As we continue in thisfast, let us rejoice, pray, and give thanks for theprotection, healing, and revival God is bringing.

Focus and Bible verses for each week cont’:Week 5: Concluding in Strength and UnityDay 29: (4/7) 2 Corinthians 4:16 – “Therefore wedo not lose heart. Though outwardly we arewasting away, yet inwardly we are beingrenewed day by day.”Devotional Thought: Even as we fast, Godrenews us inwardly. Let us continue to trust inHis strength for our church and our lives.Day 30: (4/8) Romans 12:2 – “Do not conform tothe pattern of this world, but be transformed bythe renewing of your mind.”Devotional Thought: Revival begins in themind. As we fast, let us allow God to transformour thinking and our hearts.Day 31: (4/9) Hebrews 10:24-25 – “And let usconsider how we may spur one another ontoward love and good deeds, not giving upmeeting together, as some are in the habit ofdoing, but encouraging one another—and allthe more as you see the Day approaching.”Devotional Thought: As we continue in thisfast, let us encourage one another and remainunited in prayer for the revival of ourcommunity.

Focus and Bible verses for each week cont’:Week 5: Concluding in Strength and UnityDay 32: (4/10) Isaiah 60:1 – “Arise, shine, foryour light has come, and the glory of the Lordrises upon you.”Devotional Thought: Let the light of God’s gloryshine through us. We pray for the light of Christto be evident in our church and community.Day 33: (4/11) John 14:13 – “And I will dowhatever you ask in my name, so that theFather may be glorified in the Son.”Devotional Thought: We ask in Jesus’ name,believing that He will act to glorify the Father inall that we pray for during this fast.Day 34: (4/12) Galatians 6:9 – “Let us notbecome weary in doing good, for at the propertime we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”Devotional Thought: Let us not grow weary inpraying and fasting, for God promises aharvest as we press on.Day 35: (4/13) Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not beanxious about anything, but in every situation,by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving,present your requests to God.”Devotional Thought: Let us continue to bringour requests to God in prayer, trusting that Hewill provide peace that transcends allunderstanding.

Focus and Bible verses for each week cont’:Week 6: Final Prayer & DeclarationDay 36: (4/14) Matthew 17:20 – “He replied,‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, ifyou have faith as small as a mustard seed, youcan say to this mountain, ‘Move from here tothere,’ and it will move. Nothing will beimpossible for you.’”Devotional Thought: We declare that by faith,mountains will move in our church, ourcommunity, and in our lives.Day 37: (4/15) 1 John 3:22 – “And receive fromhim anything we ask, because we keep hiscommands and do what pleases him.”Devotional Thought: Let us align our heartswith God’s will, knowing He will answer ourprayers.Day 38: (4/16) Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope,patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”Devotional Thought: Let us be joyful in hope,even as we continue to fast and pray for God’smove in our church and community.Day 39: (4/17) Revelation 3:20 – Devotional Thought: Let us invite Jesus intoevery area of our lives and our church. Wepray for hearts to be open to Him.Day 40: (4/18) Joel 2:28 – Devotional Thought: God is pouring out HisSpirit. Let us celebrate the spiritual awakeningwe are experiencing and declare His revival.

Here is a soup recipe that might try during the Fast.Ingredients:1 cup carrots (diced)1 small red onion (diced)1 cup cauliflower1 small yellow onion1 cup broccoli1 stalk celery w/leaves, chopped2 cups cabbage (sliced fine)3 garlic cloves (crushed)4 TBS olive oil4 cups chicken broth3 ripe tomatoes (diced)4 cups water4 bay leaves1 cup bell pepper (diced)(red/green/yellow) Mrs. Dash seasoning to taste1 cup spinach (optional)1 cut winter squash (optional)Directions:Heat olive oil in a large soup pan (medium heat).Add onions and garlic (simmer 3 minutes).Add tomatoes and celery (simmer 2 minutes).Add chicken broth and water (bring to boil).Add vegetables and bay leaves.Add Mrs. Dash to taste, cover and cook for 30minutes.Other Considerations While Fasting:Consider reallocating resources normally spent onfood and entertainment towards your ministry givingor other charitable causes.

My Fasting JournalFollow your dreams and don’t give up!date:

My Fasting JournalFollow your dreams and don’t give up!date:

My Fasting JournalFollow your dreams and don’t give up!date:

www.southsidelife.net8890 Gerber Rd | Sacramento, CA | 958282025 Fasting Guide”When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocritesdo, for they disfigure their faces to show others theyare fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received theirreward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your headand wash your face, so that it will not be obvious toothers that you are fasting, but only to your Father,who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what isdone in secret, will reward you.“ Matthew 6 : 16 - 18 NIV