A 21 day fast Bible reading plan for January 2027, with one question a day
A free 21 day fast Bible reading plan for January 2027: daily passages on prayer and fasting, one question a day, and ways to fast wisely with your church.
In this article
A 21 day fast Bible reading plan gives you one passage a day on prayer and fasting while you set something aside to seek God. The plan below runs Monday, January 4, to Sunday, January 24, 2027, reads 21 short passages from Daniel 10 to Acts 14, and asks one question each day. Any start date works, so match it to your church.
Plenty of evangelical churches open the year this way. Baptist Press has reported several Southern Baptist examples, and the dates vary from church to church. So do the details of what people give up, which is why this guide stays on what to read and how to pray.
This isn't medical advice. If food is part of your fast, read the section on wisdom below before you decide anything.
Where does the 21 day fast come from?
It comes from one chapter. Daniel writes that he was mourning for three weeks and kept away from certain food and drink.
In those days I Daniel was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant bread, neither came flesh nor wine in my mouth, neither did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.
Notice what the text says and what it doesn't. Daniel ate "no pleasant bread", no meat and no wine, so this reads as a partial fast. It's also a description of what he did, not an instruction for anyone else. The heavenly messenger who comes to him then says that Daniel's words were heard "from the first day" (Daniel 10:12), and that he had been opposed for "one and twenty days" (Daniel 10:13).
That's a good thing to carry into January. Twenty-one days isn't a price you pay to get God's attention. Daniel was heard on day one.
The January custom is something churches chose, and a helpful one. Starting the year together gives a congregation shared time to pray, and you'll see the idea in published guides too: YouVersion's 21 Day Fast plan opens with Daniel 10 for the same reason. You can read more about the man himself on our Daniel character page or in this summary of the book of Daniel.
If you'd like the reading tracked for you, the app handles the daily part.
The 21 day plan, January 4 to 24, 2027
Each passage is short enough for a quiet time before work or class. Read it slowly, answer the question in a sentence or two, then pray about your answer. The dates assume a Monday, January 4 start. If your church starts on another day, just follow the day numbers.
Week 1: why fast at all?
| Day | Date | Read | Question for the day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mon, Jan 4 | Daniel 10 | What do I want to understand from God in these 21 days? |
| 2 | Tue, Jan 5 | Matthew 6:1-18 | Who am I hoping will notice my fast? |
| 3 | Wed, Jan 6 | Isaiah 58 | Whose burden could I lighten this week? |
| 4 | Thu, Jan 7 | Joel 2:12-32 | What would turning to God "with all your heart" mean for me today? |
| 5 | Fri, Jan 8 | Luke 18:9-14 | Am I sounding more like the Pharisee or the publican? |
| 6 | Sat, Jan 9 | Zechariah 7 | Is this fast for God, or for how it makes me feel? |
| 7 | Sun, Jan 10 | Psalm 63 | What am I thirsty for that only God can answer? |
Week 2: fasting when you need God to act
| Day | Date | Read | Question for the day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | Mon, Jan 11 | Ezra 8:21-36 | What road ahead do I need God's guidance on? |
| 9 | Tue, Jan 12 | Nehemiah 1 | What broken thing has God put on my heart? |
| 10 | Wed, Jan 13 | Esther 4 | Who could I ask to pray with me? |
| 11 | Thu, Jan 14 | 2 Chronicles 20:1-30 | Where do I need to say "our eyes are upon thee"? |
| 12 | Fri, Jan 15 | Daniel 9:1-23 | What do I need to confess, plainly and specifically? |
| 13 | Sat, Jan 16 | Jonah 3 | What have I been hearing from God and not acting on? |
| 14 | Sun, Jan 17 | Psalm 42 | Where do I feel far from God right now, and can I tell him so? |
Week 3: Jesus and the early church
| Day | Date | Read | Question for the day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Mon, Jan 18 | Matthew 4:1-11 | What temptation shows up when I'm tired or hungry? |
| 16 | Tue, Jan 19 | John 6:26-40 | What have I been asking Jesus for, instead of asking for Jesus? |
| 17 | Wed, Jan 20 | Mark 2:18-22 | How does knowing Jesus change why I fast? |
| 18 | Thu, Jan 21 | Acts 9:1-19 | Who might God be sending me toward, as he sent Ananias to Saul? |
| 19 | Fri, Jan 22 | Acts 13:1-5 | What decision should I bring to my church and pray over with others? |
| 20 | Sat, Jan 23 | Acts 14:19-28 | Who in my church could I pray for by name today? |
| 21 | Sun, Jan 24 | Psalm 139 | What did God show me, and what's the one thing I'll keep doing? |
Week 1 goes first on purpose. The Bible's sharpest words about fasting are aimed at people doing it for the wrong reasons, so it helps to settle your motives before anything else.
What the Bible says about fasting
Fasting in Scripture is usually tied to a reason. People fast when they're grieving, repenting, facing danger, or asking God for direction. Here are the passages in the plan, grouped by why people fasted.
| Why they fasted | Who | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Grief and prayer over bad news | Nehemiah | Nehemiah 1:4 |
| Asking for protection on a dangerous road | Ezra and the returning exiles | Ezra 8:21-23 |
| Facing a threat | Esther and the Jews of Shushan | Esther 4:16 |
| A nation under attack | Jehoshaphat and Judah | 2 Chronicles 20:3-4 |
| Repentance | The people of Nineveh | Jonah 3:5 |
| Confession for a whole people | Daniel | Daniel 9:3 |
| Preparing for temptation and ministry | Jesus | Matthew 4:1-2 |
| Sending out missionaries | The church in Antioch | Acts 13:2-3 |
| Appointing elders | Paul and Barnabas | Acts 14:23 |
Two things stand out. Fasting often goes with prayer, and it's often done together. That's a good reason to do this with your church or small group rather than alone.
What Jesus said about it
Jesus assumed his followers would fast. He said "when ye fast", then told them to do it quietly.
Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly.
So this month's rule of thumb is simple: don't post your fast for attention. If your whole church is fasting, people will know, and that's fine. Jesus is warning against performing for an audience, not against fasting with others. The Pharisee in Luke 18:12 fasted twice a week and still went home with the wrong heart.
What God said through Isaiah
Isaiah 58 is the chapter to read twice. The people complain that God isn't noticing their fast, and God answers by pointing to how they treat their workers and neighbors.
Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke? Is it not to deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?
A practical way to apply it: if you give something up this month, consider giving what you save to someone who needs it. Pick something concrete, like covering a coworker's lunch or giving to your church's benevolence fund.
Quick quiz: Daniel
What Babylonian name did the chief of the eunuchs give Daniel?
“Unto Daniel the name of Belteshazzar; and to Hananiah, of Shadrach…” Not to be confused with Belshazzar, the king of chapter 5. Daniel 1:7
What did Daniel and his companions ask to eat during the ten-day test?
“Prove thy servants, I beseech thee, ten days; and let them give us vegetables to eat, and water to drink.” Daniel 1:12
How many men did Nebuchadnezzar see walking in the furnace?
“Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Daniel 3:24–25
There are many more questions like these in Bible Academy, each with its explanation and verse. Start free, no card needed.
How to choose your fast wisely
Churches describe different kinds of fasts. Christ's Church, for example, listed several options for its 2026 fast, including a Daniel-style fast, a partial fast limited to certain hours of the day, and a technology fast. It also tells anyone with a known or suspected medical condition to consult their doctor first, and advises beginners to start slow.
Here are the non-food options that work well for young adults with jobs, classes and full calendars:
- Social media. Delete the apps for 21 days, and use that time for the day's reading.
- Streaming and gaming. Trade your evening show for prayer and a chapter.
- Your commute audio. Drive in silence and pray.
- A regular purchase. Skip your coffee run and give the money away, as in Isaiah 58:7.
Choose one thing you'd truly miss. If giving it up costs you nothing, it won't make room for much.
When food isn't the right thing to give up
If you're thinking about a food fast, talk with your doctor first, especially if you're pregnant or nursing, have diabetes, take regular medication, or have any other health condition. If you've ever struggled with disordered eating, please don't make food your fast. Choose something else, and let a pastor or a trusted friend know. Your church won't think less of you, and Romans 14:17 reminds us that "the kingdom of God is not meat and drink".
This plan works the same with or without a food fast. God isn't grading your hunger. Daniel's fast mattered because he had set his heart "to understand" (Daniel 10:12), and that part is open to everyone.
How to use each day
Twenty minutes is enough. Here's a simple routine:
- Pray first (2 minutes). Psalm 139:23 makes a good opening: "Search me, O God, and know my heart."
- Read the passage (5 to 10 minutes). Don't rush past names and places. Our guide on questions to ask when reading the Bible helps if a passage feels flat.
- Answer the day's question (3 minutes). Write it down so you have something to look back on at day 21.
- Pray your answer (5 minutes). Add one person and one need that aren't about you.
To go further, use the SOAP method on the verse that hits you hardest: Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer. The app has a journal for this if you'd rather keep it all in one place.
If you miss a day
You will probably miss one. Pick up at today's date and don't try to read three passages to catch up. Our guide on staying consistent with Bible reading has more on restarting after a miss. If you broke your fast, you haven't failed either. Go back to what you were doing and keep praying.
What to do after day 21
The real test comes on January 25. Choose one habit from these three weeks and keep it, like the morning reading or the phone-free commute. Then give your year some structure. Our New Year Bible reading challenge offers four levels, and the 2027 Bible reading plan takes you through the whole Bible, month by month.
Want to test what stuck? Try a short Daniel quiz, or read how Nehemiah and Esther carried on after they prayed. Both of them got up from prayer and did something costly.
Frequently asked questions
What should I read during a 21 day fast?
Read passages about prayer and fasting, along with some that draw you close to God. A good starting list is Daniel 10, Matthew 6:1-18, Isaiah 58, Nehemiah 1, Esther 4, Matthew 4:1-11 and Acts 13:1-5. The 21-day plan on this page puts those in order and adds one question for each day.
Is a 21 day fast biblical?
Daniel 10:2-3 describes Daniel mourning for "three full weeks" and avoiding pleasant food, meat and wine. That's the biblical basis for the number. But no verse commands a 21-day fast for Christians. Jesus did expect his followers to fast (Matthew 6:16), and the length is left open. A January fast is a good church practice rather than a biblical requirement.
What is a Daniel fast?
A Daniel fast is a partial fast named after Daniel, who ate "no pleasant bread", meat or wine for three weeks in Daniel 10:3. Churches today set their own guidelines for it, and those details go beyond what the verse says. If you're considering one, ask your church what it recommends and check with your doctor if you have any health concerns.
Can I do a 21 day fast without giving up food?
Yes. Some churches list options like a technology fast, and you can give up social media, streaming, games or a regular purchase. The goal is to clear space for prayer and Scripture, so anyone can take part. If you have a health condition or a history of disordered eating, a non-food fast is the wiser choice.
When do churches do the 21 days of prayer and fasting?
Many churches that hold one do it in January, though dates differ. Baptist Press described churches fasting January 1 to 21 and January 12 to February 2 in 2024, and Stoney Creek's 2026 fast ran January 4 to 24. Ask your own church for its 2027 dates, then line up this plan by day number.
How should I pray during a fast?
Start with the Lord's Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13, then pray about what the day's passage raised. Bring one specific request, one thing to confess and one person to lift up by name. Keep it simple and honest. Psalm 42 and Psalm 63 are good models when you feel distant from God.