Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.”
In a world that’s constantly pulling for our attention, the prayer life of Jesus stands as a beautiful invitation to slow down and reconnect with the heart of God. Jesus—God incarnate—spent much of His time in prayer, seeking the Father for intimacy, direction, and alignment with His will. His disciples observed this and were moved to ask, “Lord, teach us to pray” (Luke 11:1). This simple request captures the longing of every follower of Jesus—to live a life of prayer, one that is purposeful, passionate, and deep.
This season of fasting and prayer is about reclaiming that sacred rhythm. It’s a call to set aside the noise that fills our days and create space for God to speak. Just as Jesus withdrew to be with the Father, we’re invited to do the same. Through fasting, we remove distractions—food, entertainment, and digital noise—and, in the silence, we create room for His presence.
Our heart for this year’s 21-day fast is simple: to clear space in our lives for God by replacing distraction with devotion.
We believe that God wants to meet us in a powerful and transformative way and we are eagerly anticipating the countless testimonies of healing, transformation, and divine encounter that will emerge from this season of corporate prayer and fasting! Through January, these are the key commitments we’re making together:
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In previous seasons, we’ve engaged in various forms of fasting, but this year, we’re focusing on fasting meals from sun up to sundown. This physical act mirrors our spiritual hunger for God, creating space for deeper communion with Him. If this type of fast isn’t feasible for you right now, we encourage you to seek the Lord and ask Him how you can participate in a way that aligns with your season of life, trusting He will honor your devotion.
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We live in a world full of distractions that constantly pull us away from God. As part of this fast, we invite you to remove distractions like social media and digital entertainment. This time away from the noise helps us recalibrate our hearts and focus more on God, giving space to hear from Him.
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Fasting isn’t just about what we remove; it’s about what we replace it with. In the space created by fasting, we invite you to commit to 10-15 minutes of daily prayer. If you already have a consistent prayer rhythm, consider extending that time to deepen your connection and conversation with God.
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Prayer is a personal practice, but it is also a communal and corporate one. We invite you to gather regularly for prayer, worship, and fellowship. Take this opportunity to break bread regularly with friends and family at sundown, just as the early church in Acts did (Acts 2:42-48). Also, join us for the following prayer events at the new property (3177 Virginia Beach Boulevard):
Thursday Morning Prayer (Every week at 8 AM)
Thursday Noon Prayer (Every week at noon)
Friday Night Prayer (Every Friday at 7pm)
The 24 Hour Burn ( 7pm - 7pm Jan 24th- 25th)
21 Days of Fasting + Prayer
We are consecrating 21 days aside to pray and fast from sunup to sundown to center our hearts on the Lord at the start of our year. Pleas join us and come to our weekly prayer gatherings to cultivate an atmosphere of consecration.
Sunday Night Service
On Sunday, January 19th we will NOT be at the Zeider Theater as usual, but rather we are having a combined 4pm service at New Life Deep Creek in Chesapeake! This night will be full of worship, creative arts, and be set aside a time to simply respond to God’s presence.
24 Hour BURN
On January 24-25 from 7pm-7pm, we are hosting 24 hours of unceasing prayer and worship! Bring your sound of worship and intercession as we exalt the Lord in our region. Burn will be held at the BH Offices on the 2nd floor at 3177 Virginia Beach Blvd.
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Fasting is setting aside food (or something else) to draw nearer to God. It’s not about deprivation but devotion—a physical act that mirrors a spiritual hunger for Him. Through fasting, we humble ourselves, seek His face, and align our hearts with His purposes. It’s an invitation to let God fill the space that we often fill with other things. At its heart fasting is not about earning God’s favor but reorienting your heart toward Him. It’s an intentional act of humility, a way of saying, “God, I depend on You more than anything else.” It’s less about giving something up and more about opening yourself to what He wants to do in and through you.
Fasting in the Bible is a powerful tool for drawing closer to God, whether seeking His guidance, expressing repentance, or pursuing spiritual breakthroughs. Ezra fasted for God’s direction (Ezra 8:21), Jonah’s people fasted in repentance (Jonah 3:5), Esther called for fasting to cry out for deliverance (Esther 4:16), and Jesus fasted to prepare for His ministry (Matthew 4:2). Fasting also amplifies prayer in times of need, like when King Jehoshaphat sought God’s intervention (2 Chronicles 20:3), and it brings spiritual breakthroughs, as seen in Isaiah’s call for a fast that releases chains (Isaiah 58:6).Like most things, fasting is most beautifully realized as an expression of love, with the goal of deepening our communion with God and seeing His character and kingdom made manifest in our lives and on the earth.
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Sometimes it helps to really discover what fasting and prayer is biblically, and also how it can be applied today in our personal and corporate lives.
For resources on prayer, check out these books:
Prayer, by Richard Foster
Praying Like Monks, Living Like Fools, by Tyler Staton
Prayer: Experiencing Awe and Intimacy with God, Timothy Keller
The Happy Intercessor, by Bill and Beni Johnson