Soaking in and experiencing God’s presence and glory
Claiming the year for Jesus
Declaring His power and authority as we start 2026
Welcome to our first church-wide Prayer & Fasting for 2026!
This year we aim to be saturated in the Word of God. Each day includes several passages from scripture for you to meditate and reflect on. Focus on as many as you wish and see what God reveals to you as you go deeper into His word.
For the first two days of the fast, we will be focusing on God’s presence. We will aim to guide and direct you to encounter God’s amazing presence. We will look and read verses that focus on immersing and being transformed into God’s image. Make sure you spend time in reflection and gratitude. Make sure you are able to write down all that God will show you. We have so much more to discover and learn, so please come with an open heart to hear, learn and discover.
On days three and four, we will examine the scriptures about claiming God’s promises. There are many promises God speaks of in His Word. We will examine some of them and consider what it means for us here at Crossway.
On days five and six we will see what the Bible says about declaring God’s truth. So often, we believe in what others say or what we think. It’s another thing altogether to stand and declare God’s truth over us, over His Church and over the world.
On the last day of the fast we will look back and see what God has shown us and then step out to believe in what He will do in 2026. This is an exciting journey for us to go on.
Please look after yourself, but make sure you carve out the space in your day to listen and hear the voice of the Spirit.
God Bless you all.
Pastor Scott Mitchell
Day One — Monday 9 February
Experiencing God – In Awe of His Glory
As we begin our seven days of prayer and fasting, please be encouraged and come with an open heart towards what God might show and reveal to you. If this is your first time, here are some helpful hints to begin your journey.
We pray that you would be blessed as we pray and fast together.
Readings
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
Psalm 46:10
You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalm 16:11
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Psalm 19
He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
Hebrews 1:3
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
Reflection
Is there a certain passage that sticks out to you?
What might God be revealing to you as you read these verses?
Make sure you take your time as you reflect on these questions.
My action plan is going to be …
What is my next step?
Prayer
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what He is saying to you and what you are going to do about it.
Further Reflection
Day Two — Tuesday 10 February
Adoration and Worship
Today we consider some verses that directly speak into worshipping our God. May you ponder, reflect, and stand in awe of our amazing God. May you be moved by the majesty of our Lord and saviour Jesus. God Bless you as you rediscover God.
Readings
Worship the Lord in the splendour of his holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
Psalm 96:9
“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”
John 4:21-24
The Lord reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,
let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise your great and awesome name—
he is holy.
The King is mighty, he loves justice—
you have established equity;
in Jacob you have done
what is just and right.
Exalt the Lord our God
and worship at his footstool;
he is holy.
Psalm 99:1-5
Reflection
Spend time in reflection
Is there a certain passage that sticks out to you?
What might God be revealing to you as you read these verses?
Make sure you take your time as you reflect on these questions.
My action plan is going to be …
What is my next step?
Prayer
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what He is saying to you and what you are going to do about it.
Day Three — Wednesday 11 February
Claiming God’s Promises
There are countless promises within God’s Word. Today we meditate on a few of them.
Readings
While the whole assembly of Israel was standing there, the king turned around and blessed them. Then he said:
“Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, who with his own hand has fulfilled what he promised with his own mouth to my father David. For he said, ‘Since the day I brought my people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city in any tribe of Israel to have a temple built so that my Name might be there, but I have chosen David to rule my people Israel.’
“My father David had it in his heart to build a temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. But the Lord said to my father David, ‘You did well to have it in your heart to build a temple for my Name. Nevertheless, you are not the one to build the temple, but your son, your own flesh and blood—he is the one who will build the temple for my Name.’
“The Lord has kept the promise he made: I have succeeded David my father and now I sit on the throne of Israel, just as the Lord promised, and I have built the temple for the Name of the Lord, the God of Israel. I have provided a place there for the ark, in which is the covenant of the Lord that he made with our ancestors when he brought them out of Egypt.”
1 Kings 8:14-21
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.
Joshua 1:9
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
Reflection
Spend time in reflection
Is there a certain passage that sticks out to you?
What might God be revealing to you as you read these verses?
Make sure you take your time as you reflect on these questions.
My action plan is going to be …
What is my next step?
Prayer
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what He is saying to you and what you are going to do about it.
Further Reflection
Day Four — Thursday 12 February
More of God’s Amazing Promises Revealed
We are now half way through the seven days of the fast. Well done.
Below are even more verses that speak about God’s wonderful promises. Have you ever considered how much God desires to show us, reveal to us and empower us with? Be blessed as you take time to soak in these amazing verses.
Readings
Blessed is the one
who does not walk in step with the wicked
or stand in the way that sinners take
or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the Lord,
and who meditates on his law day and night.
That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither—
whatever they do prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2:12b
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9
He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.
Deuteronomy 32:4
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Reflection
Spend time in reflection
Is there a certain passage that sticks out to you?
What might God be revealing to you as you read these verses?
Make sure you take your time as you reflect on these questions.
My action plan is going to be …
What is my next step?
Prayer
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what He is saying to you and what you are going to do about it.
Further Reflection
Day Five — Friday 13 February
Declaring Who God Is
Today, we will be urged to declare the goodness of God. You may want to listen to the song “Goodness of God” by CeCe Winans.
In your own personal journey with God, start to declare His goodness, faithfulness and Lordship. As you do, may you discover again of His beauty and power.
Readings
Sing for joy to God our strength; shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Psalm 81:1
Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.
Psalm 95:1
My mouth is filled with your praise, declaring your splendour all day long.
Psalm 71:8
(both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!”
Acts 2:11
I will not die but live, and will proclaim what the Lord has done.
Psalm 118:17
So tell them, ‘As surely as I live, declares the Lord, I will do to you the very thing I heard you say:
Numbers 14:28
You have declared this day that the Lord is your God and that you will walk in obedience to him, that you will keep his decrees, commands and laws—that you will listen to him.
And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised, and that you are to keep all his commands.
Deuteronomy 26:17-18
Reflection
Spend time in reflection
Is there a certain passage that sticks out to you?
What might God be revealing to you as you read these verses?
Make sure you take your time as you reflect on these questions.
My action plan is going to be …
What is my next step?
Prayer
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what He is saying to you and what you are going to do about it.
Further Reflection
Day Six — Saturday 14 February
Declaring God's Truth with a Grateful and Joyful Heart
Let’s meditate, with grateful hearts, on who God is.
He is kind, loving, powerful, and so much more than we could even understand.
He loves us with a love that will never end.
He demonstrated to us who He is in Jesus.
There is so much to thank Him for.
As you reflect on the passages for today, may your heart leap with thanksgiving and joy.
Readings
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are his;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 100
Then Solomon stood before the altar of the Lord in front of the whole assembly of Israel, spread out his hands toward heaven and said:
“Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below—you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way. You have kept your promise to your servant David my father; with your mouth you have promised and with your hand you have fulfilled it—as it is today.
“Now Lord, the God of Israel, keep for your servant David my father the promises you made to him when you said, ‘You shall never fail to have a successor to sit before me on the throne of Israel, if only your descendants are careful in all they do to walk before me faithfully as you have done.’ And now, God of Israel, let your word that you promised your servant David my father come true.
“But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built! Yet give attention to your servant’s prayer and his plea for mercy, Lord my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is praying in your presence this day.
1 Kings 8:22-28
Reflection
Spend time in reflection
Is there a certain passage that sticks out to you?
What might God be revealing to you as you read these verses?
Make sure you take your time as you reflect on these questions.
My action plan is going to be …
What is my next step?
Prayer
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what He is saying to you and what you are going to do about it.
Further Reflection
Day Seven — Sunday 15 February
Believing
As we finish our seven day fast, please be encouraged to continue to seek the Lord with all your heart.
May the following words ring in your mind and ears: persevering, standing, deepening our relationship with our heavenly Father, declaring, praying, seeking, knocking and worshipping Jesus.
Thank you so much for joining in with us in this fast.
Readings
Persevere
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-29
Stand
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Ephesians 6:10-20
Deepen
Ephesians 1:15-23
Declare
1 Chronicles 16:24
Seek
Matthew 6:33
Knock
Matthew 7:7
Worship
John 4:22-24
Reflection
Spend time in reflection.
Now as we conclude, please write down anything that you feel we need to know and send it to us. Let us know what this time meant to you and all that God has shown you in the past seven days. God bless you abundantly.
Is there a certain passage that sticks out to you?
What might God be revealing to you as you read these verses?
Make sure you take your time as you reflect on these questions.
My action plan is going to be …
What is my next step?
Prayer
Spend time in prayer asking God to reveal what He is saying to you and what you are going to do about it.
Further Reflection
Further Reflection
Closing Thoughts
This year for 2025 we will be having three opportunities to pray and fast together. We have just gone through the first of these, focusing on the Lord’s Prayer, committing ourselves to God’s Lordship, and dedicating ourselves to deepen our work with Him and be obedient. We hope you have found it enriching and helpful.
Please feel free to let us know what God has been revealing to you. Contact one of the pastors or leaders that you are connected with, or contact scott.mitchell@crossway.org.au to let him know.
May God bless you richly as we begin 2025.