Psalm 85:10 (NLT)
Unfailing love and truth have met together.
Righteousness and peace have kissed!
21 Day Fasting
21 Day Fast
Day 1
Day 1 of 21 days of fasting...Scripture reading today is Daniel 10:1-11 and It speaks of Daniel at the end of his 21 Day Fast! He has a vision of God and learns that not only has his prayer been heard from the 1st Day, but that God has been working since then to answer his prayers! We also see that God considers him precious, strengthens and encourages Daniel.
We too can take heart to know that God hears our every prayer, no matter how elegant, short, sloppy or "messed up" we may think it is. God sees our heart and the heart of our request. He is answering and considers you precious in His sight! Be encouraged! Your prayers are not only being heard by God, but the answer is already on its way!!
Day 2
Day 2 of 21 Days of Fasting - Scripture reading: 1 Chronicles 21:18-27 - David has disobeyed the Lord and to make things right, he is to go to the threshing floor of Araunah, the Jebusite, and make a sacrifice. When he arrives, He tells Araunah what he needs and Araunah gives everything to him and more. David's reply and the key verse in this is vs. 24 "...I will not present burnt offerings that have cost me nothing!"
David was offering a sacrifice to 1. To Atone for his sins, 2. Getting himself and Israel back in tune with God 3. Unknowingly preparing the ground for the future Temple of the Lord!
As we continue our fast it will get harder before it gets easier. Remembering David's profession about offering a sacrifice only if it costs him should be in the forefront of our mind. If it's easy and no problem, then by definition, it's not a sacrifice! I'm willing to give up worldly things so that I may obtain the heavenly!
"More Love, More Power! More of YOU in my life!!!" Let that be our prayer!
Day 3
Day 3 of 21 days of Fasting – Daniel 1:6-21 – Daniel is taken captive by the King of Babylon and the King, in order to rule the conquered people of Israel, selects the cream of the crop; Daniel and the 3 Hebrew boys we all know as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. But this account is about their faithfulness to God. Vs. 8 states that “Daniel was determined not to defile himself…”
This should be our focus every single day. There is an old Hymn titled, “Nothing Between.” The 1st vs goes like this; “Nothing between my soul and the Savior, Naught of this world’s delusive dream; I have renounced all sinful pleasure; Jesus is mine, there’s nothing between.” And the verse is, “Nothing between my soul and the Savior, So that His blessed face may be seen; Nothing preventing the least of His favor, Keep the way clear! Let nothing between.”
May this be the cry of our hearts! “Lord, please don’t let anything ever come between us!”
Day 4
Day 4 of 21 Days of Fasting – Psalm 119:1-8 – The psalmist declares his faithfulness and desire to live out God’s decrees. Vs. 5 he states, “Oh, that my actions would consistently reflect your decrees!” I believe all of us wish to do the same. It is at the heart of every believer to be “pleasing in the eyes of the Lord!” Would you agree?
With that being said, we all know, just of ourselves (no need to look anywhere else), that we fall short of his glory and his righteousness. Romans 6:23 states that we have ALL fallen short of God’s glory. Not just ourselves and not just certain others, but ALL OF US. So if we cannot achieve it, why try?
Because that’s what love, and service is about. It’s about wanting to be all that we can for the one we love! The psalmist said in vs.8 “Please don’t give up on me!” Oh, the prayer of my heart! I know I will stumble, and I know I will fall short! But please God, don’t ever give up on me! I want to be better today than yesterday!
And the greatest most amazing part of all this? Not only will you experience the power and presence of God as you walk this way…but you will also know that you know that you know…HE WILL NEVER GIVE UP ON YOU!!
Day 5
Day 5 of 21 Days of Fasting (And It's Snowing!!)– Matthew 6:5-18 – Jesus, in the passage of scripture, is dealing with an overwhelming temptation that we all face…recognition! We all want to be recognized for what we are doing/accomplishing. Just ask any married woman if her husband doesn’t get all puffed up when he (finally) does what she has been begging him to do! He wants you to tell him thank you repeatedly (and hopefully your gratefulness will last!).
On a serious note, it is in us all, man or woman, husband or wife. We have an innate desire to be recognized for what we do. The problem exists when we allow this to show up in our Christian Walk. Of ourselves, we could do nothing to gain God’s favor, grace, love or anything. It’s only because he loves us that we can even love him. But some people, because of this innate desire, want people to look at their “achievements” and recognize their hard work. Jesus simply states, if that’s what you want, that’s all you will get. But if you will do it in such a way so that only your Father in heaven sees it…then he will reward you with his blessings!
Lord, let my desire be to please you and you alone! No matter if others can see it or not!
Day 6
Day 6 of 21 Days of Fasting – Isaiah 58:1-14 – The kind of fasting the Lord wants is what this chapter speaks of and it contrasts what fasting is not. So often we do religious things because we feel like that’s what we are supposed to do. But saying the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, kneeling or any of those things does not make you a Christian. They are tools to assist you in your walk with God, but on their own, they are just things.
When Israel says to God, ‘you see all we are doing, why do you not notice!’ God explains to them that when we do things, just to do them…they are useless and a waste of time. But when we do them for the right reasons, they will affect every other area of our life. Fasting was the example God used in Isaiah 58. Fasting to fast gets you nothing but hungry…But the kind of fasting God longs for is the kind that causes you to do good to others! (Vs. 6-7)
Vs. 9 – our focus… “Then when you call, the Lord will answer. ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply! “ Motive matters!
Day 7
Day 7 of 21 Days of Fasting- Mark 14:1-26 – Jesus’ anointing at Bethany before his betrayal and arrest. I think a lot of us are like those that fussed and dare I even say, like Judas. If it isn’t done our way we get offended and because we don’t understand it must be wrong. This has been one of the hardest lessons for me to learn.
We never fully understand what others are going through or been through. Because of this we don’t know why people do what they do. We are not always going to understand everyone’s relationship with the Lord…because it’s just that…their relationship. No two marriages look a like, even though basically they are the same thing. Our daily walk with God is between you and the Lord…whether others recognize it or not. Like this one, no matter what others may say, obey God and live for him! The jeopardy if we don’t…we are like the others complaining about what else could have been done, or even worse, like Judas, we completely walk away.
Keep your eyes on Him…never others, and you will never go wrong!
Day 8
Day 8 of 21 Days of Fasting – Psalm 100:1-5 – A short Psalm but a very powerful one. It’s been 1 whole weeks of fasting…and I’m sure, like me, you are feeling it! But while I may be feeling the “pains” of the flesh, I am also keenly aware of God’s presence. After just 7 days of pushing aside and spending more time with him I can feel the joy of the Lord overflowing inside of me. Like the Psalmist it makes me want to Shout for Joy and let the whole world know just how great and wonderful the Lord is!
It would be very easy to get up and go about my day with a long face and no smile. Everyone would notice and ask, “What’s wrong?” “Oh, nothing. Just fasting.” But I would much rather have the joy of the Lord in my heart and face the day with people saying, “Why are so happy!” and Like the Psalmist in vs. 5, I can say from the depths of my heart, “For the Lord is good! His unfailing love continues forever, and his faithfulness continues to each generation!!”
Day 9
Day 9 of 21 Days of Fasting – Romans 12:1-21 – I have read the Bible through many times. And while there are a lot of verses that come to mind and jog my memory, whenever I read this one it’s always challenging. I think because it gets to the root of it all! Vs1 says it all that “because of everything God has done for you…this is truly the way to worship him!”
True worship…that’s what I want to give Him more than anything else! He deserves my worship! He deserves every breath that I breathe and every move that I make to be an act of worship toward Him! He held nothing back but gave everything for me! Why would I want to keep anything from him!?
Paul goes on to talk about the fact that God has given each of us natural abilities…to which Paul tells us, use them for the Lord…in every way! This is the heart of God! He has already made you useful in the Kingdom…you just have to make yourself available to Him!
Day 10
Day 10 of 21 Days of Fasting – Luke 4:1-13 – I spoke a little about this at the beginning of our 21 Day Fast. That fact that even Jesus, before he began his earthly ministry, spent time in prayer and fasting, preparing Himself. Just like Jesus, as we fast, we will be tempted by familiar things. Sometimes we think that our enemy, the devil, will only tempt us with crazy, outlandish stuff. However, it’s just the contrary. The scripture tells us that he disguises himself as an “angel of light.” It’s often the subtle little things that “make sense” for the most part.
Take Jesus’ first temptation in this passage. After not eating for 40 days the body would naturally be hungry…so the first temptation the devil uses is simply food…” come on, you know you’re hungry and you know you have the ability…surely God won’t be upset just because you ate something?!” Sound familiar? To Eve, Satan simply changed one word. God said if you eat you will surely die…Satan said, “you will NOT surely die.” Subtle changes to trick the mind, excuse the sin and leave us to have to deal with the consequences later.
Temptation comes to us all…so be ready, knowing that God has given you everything you need to not only withstand the attacks of the devil, but to chase him off and stand victorious!! And if you do fail…the devil will try to keep you down…but don’t! Get back up, shake off the dust, put your eyes on Jesus and keep moving forward for the Glory of God!
Day 11
Day 11 of 21 Days of Fasting – James 1:1-4 – All of us face trials and troubles. Job said that our days are numbered and full of trouble. But with Jesus, like James and so many others, we can let trials get us down and throw us around, or we can use them to keep climbing higher and higher in our walk with God.
Think of it this way. There is a saying out there, “He who slings mud, loses ground!” A true statement, but if you are the one to whom said person is slinging mud at, you have several choices…let it weigh you down, or use it to climb higher! James said to count trouble as an opportunity to grow your faith and get closer to God! Everything we face on earth has the potential to disrupt your faith or grow it…the DIFFERENCE IS ONLY WHAT YOU ALLOW IT TO DO!
Day 12
Day 12 of 21 Days of Fasting – 2 Corinthians 1:1-11 – We continue with Paul encouraging us. No Christian has an easy go of it! Sometimes the devil makes us feel like we are all alone in our troubles, but we are not…everyone else has their fair share of shake ups in this life. We live in a sin cursed word, so it should not be surprising when the effects of that sin affect us!
Paul simply says here that even when you feel like you are completely crushed, don’t depend on yourself, but on God! He is always there, ever present, and ever willing to carry you through every trial and tribulation! Paul stated that even when he thought he would never make it and would die, he stopped relying on himself and trusted God, who is able to raise the dead…in other words, what looks impossible to you, is never impossible with God! Rely on him and he will be faithful to do it!
Day 13
Day 13 of 21 Days of Fasting – 1 Peter 2:1-3 – As we recall, The Apostle Peter, fulfilling Jesus’ words, denied Christ 3 times the night he was betrayed. How could he have done this you say…by doing the opposite of what he tells us here in 1 Peter 2. Call it wisdom through experience!
“Get Rid of,” I believe are operative words! What ever causes you to stumble or step away from your relationship with God, in any way, get rid of it! Not put it on a shelf for little while, not sweep it under a rug or tuck it away in a closet! Why? Because we are human and we will reach for the shelf, pick up the rug and open the closet! So, if it’s drawing you away from God…GET RID OF IT!!!!
Peter longs for all of us to ‘grow into a full experience of salvation!’ That means that you are not there yet! God still has more for you! Abundant life is the blessing God longs to give…so get rid of those things that might be taking up the space needed for God’s abundance! Let God sweep away all the dry bones of your past to make room for your future with him!
Day 14
Day 14 0f 21 Days of Fasting – Matthew 4:1-14 – We are well passed the halfway mark so hang in there!! We look back at Jesus’ preparation for ministry. As the scriptures tell us, Jesus was led into the wilderness (desert) by the Spirit! What a thought-provoking thing! The Holy Spirit will allow you to be in situations where you may be tempted to stray! Why would God do this? What could ever be the point! How is this supposed to encourage me!!
First of all, if God is allowing you to go through it, it’s because he knows you can handle it!! You may not believe in yourself and may think no one else does, but if you get nothing else, get this: GOD BELIEVES IN YOU AND HAS NEVER GIVEN UP ON YOU! NOT EVEN ONCE!!!
He will never lead you to a place where you cannot come out victorious! The next time you are tempted you can say with confidence… “I know I can beat this! God has already taken care of it!” Don’t let the devil fool you! When he tells you it’s not possible, God has already declared, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE TO HIM THAT BELIEVES!
Day 15
Day 15 of 21 Days of Fasting – Psalm 51 – A powerful account of true repentance. This Psalm is David’s response to Nathon the Prophet confronting him about his affair with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah, her husband. David’s response to the truth breaks him! It rattles him so deep that he can’t help but cry out to God for mercy!
I believe that this serves as a power reminder to all of us that no matter how high, close, or powerful we think we are, we are still capable of some of the most awful things. Secondly, repentance is not just words but a deep mourning of the soul. Godly repentance, at the conviction of the Holy Spirit, will bring the biggest man to his knees and the strongest person to tears.
Sin had taken everything from David! His strength, his confidence, his joy, his purpose, but most importantly, it threatened to separate him from his relationship with God. This is why he prays in vs. 11, “Do not banish me from your presence, and don’t take your Holy Spirit from me.”
I spoke on the importance of God’s presence yesterday…here we see it intimately on a personal level…we need his presence, his touch, his active will in our everyday lives! Don’t ever be afraid or hesitate to cry out to God! It is the most powerful thing you can do!!!
Day 16
ay 16 of 21 Days of Fasting – Psalm 27:1-14 – Vs 1 was my graduation scripture when I graduated from Bible College. I was young and felt invincible! A world of ministry was a head of me and there was nothing going to stop me from preaching the gospel to all the world! And then life happened! Sad to say throughout my 30 plus years of ministry I haven’t always stayed where I needed to. I made a lot of bad decisions, selfish decisions to be completely honest. I let the devil get into my head with negativity and defeatism and felt completely useless no matter what I did.
God has given us the opportunity to stay under His wings, in his presence, guarded by his fortress so that no matter what the enemy tries to do it will fail…that is the essence of Vs. 1. Only problem was I forgot about vs 8, “My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “Lord, I am coming.” We must constantly come to him. Apart from Him, we can do nothing! And unless we come to him with honesty and humility, we aren’t really coming to him at all! I often have said, I was glad God factored in my stupidity when he called me to preach because I sure didn’t know what I was doing!
For all of us I think it’s important to understand that daily we must come to Him. If we listen we will hear Him calling out to us! But daily! Trusting Him! Living for Him! Worshipping Him! Representing Him! He is what matters! He makes everything else worth living for! Abide in Him and He will abide in you!
Day 17
Day 17 of 21 Days of Fasting – Daniel 3:18 – Most of us in church know the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and the fiery furnace. We all sing about the fact that Jesus is our “fourth man in the fire” in a lot of different worship songs and hymns. We shout praise at the fact that God is our rescuer and that these three Hebrew boys came out without a single hair singed on their head. Praise the Lord!
I think what we often overlook is not God’s power and abilities to the do the supernatural, but rather our responsibility as his loyal servant. Vs. 18 to me is the key verse in this whole account. It’s not that God delivered them because the didn’t bow down. Its rather they’re resolved to honor God no matter what! “But even if he (God) doesn’t, we want to make it clear to you, Your Majesty, that we will never serve your gods or worship the gold statue you have set up!
Compromise is one of the things that has plagued the church and the Christian since the beginning. Trying to make the gospel desirable to the unbeliever we water it down, sacrifice truth and turn it into obscurity! I’ll be the first to tell you that times have changed and if we don’t change with it, like many other things, we will become obsolete! However, while methods may change, the word of God never changes! Holiness does not Change! Right and Wrong do not Change! God does not Change!
Make the decision today with so many others and the song writer and say, “Though none go with me, still I will follow!”
Day 18
Day 18 of 21 Days of Fasting – Joel 2:12-32 – Sin is not an action problem…it is a heart problem! We sometimes tell ourselves that if we can just stop doing this or avoid doing that, we will be okay. But that is not the case. God is concerned about the root that’s causing the “bad” fruit in our life. Maybe struggles with our past, hatred harbored in our heart for others, rebellion toward authority or deep-seated habits. Whatever the cause, the cause is where God wants to focus the answer…and the answer is repentance.
Repentance is more than just feeling sorry. It is a heartfelt desire to change at any cost! For example, if unforgiveness toward another is causing bitterness and strife in other areas of your life…a willingness to forgive is what repentance calls for! It’s not whether anyone deserves it…because let’s be real…NONE OF US DESERVE IT! But thanks be to God, that no matter what, if we come to God sincerely, He not only forgives, but washes us clean of anything that keeps us from his presence! He even tells us that this is what He wants more than anything; “He is eager to relent and not punish!”
The description in the bible study said it perfectly, “God prefers sincerity to ceremony. He calls to us to turn completely to Him with fasting and repentance. As you repent, know that God will restore you. He will satisfy you. He will vindicate you. He will pour out His Spirit upon you. He will deliver you. Rend your heart before Him!”
Day 19
Day 19 of 21 Days of Fasting – Psalm 8:4 – “What are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?” David pens this psalm talking about the greatness and majesty of God and then leans into the realization that, Yes God is so great and so awesome…so why does he care so much about us? Why waste His time on mere mortals that fail, stumble, fall, mess up and at times, utterly destroy each other? When you place man against the vastness of the universe we are like a simple grain of sand!
Yet, God has fixed his Love on us! Of all His creations, we are his prize. He loves us above everything. In fact, everything was created and then given to man! God made heaven and earth for us and his design and purpose was for a forever paradise! And of course, we muffed it up! But thanks be to God he didn’t abandon us there, yet rather sent his Son, Jesus, to redeem us and bring us back to Him so that we can know his presence, fellowship with him and worship Him!
“Oh Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens!”
Day 20
Day 20 of 21 Days of Fasting – Zacheriah 7:1-14 – God, in this chapter, puts festivals and rituals in their proper place. The children of Israel have returned from exile and are rebuilding and they seek an answer as to whether they should fast every summer to remember when the temple was destroyed. In response, God asks, (paraphrasing by me) “Did you not learn anything?”
Israel has had feasts, festivals, special days, etc. from its beginning. But their purpose was never to be the celebration or the observance, but rather a catalyst to remember, recall, repent and return. In other words, to do something just because it’s “what we do” is pointless. The service, ceremony, reading, or whatever it may be, should be to inspire, to encourage and to motivate us to serve the Lord…not just complete a task.
I think of this every time I recite the Creeds or the Lord’s prayer. I meditate on this every time a special “church” day comes around like Christmas, Easter, Palm Sunday or Pentecost. If all we are doing is a “special service because it’s what we are supposed to do” than we have missed God all together! In all we do, it should be to worship him from the depths of our hearts! Next time you do something at church, ask yourself if you are doing it out of routine, or with purpose to draw you closer to God!
Day 21
Day 21 of 21 Days of Fasting! The Final Day! – Ezekiel 47:1-12 – Praise the Lord for an amazing journey over the past 21 Days! I don’t know about you but His presence has increased in my daily life! I can hear Him more clearly as he speaks to me and encourages me! However, I’m not sure about you, but I don’t want it to stop here! Like Ezekiel in this passage, I don’t want to be satisfied with wading In the water of His spirit but I want to keep moving forward to more and more and more!
More of His presence, more of His Love, more of His Power! More of Him! Like John the Baptist I pray: “He must increase! I must decrease!!!” God, let this be the prayer of the church today! We surrender to your will, your way, your purpose, your desire, your heart! We surrender all we are for all you are, Lord! It’s all about you! It’s all about you, Jesus!!!