Well Done!

James 4:8 NIV - Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Today isn’t about what you gave up—it’s about what you gained.

For 21 days, you chose to disconnect from the world and you intentionally prayed more which created more space in your life for God. Whether you felt something dramatic or quietly steady, God met you in your obedience. Your spiritual ears are sharper. Your dependence is deeper. Your hunger for God is more honest than it was three weeks ago!

There’s also something powerful about finishing something hard. You proved to yourself that discomfort doesn’t get the final word. Discipline grew. Confidence followed. Mentally and physically, you reminded your body and mind that you lead them—they don’t lead you.

Don’t rush past today. Pause. Thank God. Let this moment mark you.

Well done.

👉🏼 Now, it's time to celebrate at Worship Night. 🙌🏼

"You have not come to a mountain that can be touched and that is burning with fire; to darkness, gloom and storm;…But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly,  to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” Hebrews 12:18, 22-24

We are not coming in fasting and prayer to a God of gloom and storm. We are coming to Jesus, the God and mediator of a NEW COVENANT, that speak a better word over our lives. As you fast and pray, do this in a posture of hope and confidence that you are the righteousness of God in Christ seeking a God who loves you and hears your prayers!

Philippians 3:10-14

As we near the end of this focused season of prayer and fasting, let your devotion to Christ and faithfulness to Him continue throughout 2026. Do not linger on past failures or victories—press on. Whether you face difficulty or stand on the mountaintop, press on. Whether in plenty or in want, press on. In seasons of silence and in moments of rejoicing, press on. Press on to know Him more deeply, to abide in Him more fruitfully, and to walk faithfully with Him throughout the year. 21 Days may end, but commit yourself to steadfast perseverance in knowing Him day by day through 2026 and your life will be changed forever.

John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

The world and the enemy seek to steal, kill, and destroy the good things God desires for our lives. HOWEVER Jesus came so that we may have life and have it to the fullest! Today, let’s take time to reflect on the moments this month when we experienced glimpses of life to the fullest as we intentionally stepped away from the world. For me, this has looked like encountering God’s presence in a blanket of peace during prayer on a hard day, enjoying meaningful time with friends without technology distractions, and being filled with more love and compassion for strangers. Let’s pray that these moments don’t end with our fast but instead draw us deeper into relationship with God throughout 2026!

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

21 days of prayer and fasting maybe made some of us feel physically or mentally weak. The encouragement that Paul gives is when we are weak, then we are strong. Our weakness is an invitation to depend on the strength of God versus the strength of self, which empowers us to withstand the attacks of the enemy. 

Let’s keep leaning on His strength!

Philippians 3:14 NIV - I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

This is the point in 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting when I start thinking about two things.

FIRST: Finishing Strong.
Finishing strong doesn’t mean finishing perfect. It means choosing not to quit. It means crossing the finish line even if you’re tired, even if you missed a day, even if it wasn’t as clean as you hoped. Faithfulness beats perfection—every time.

SECOND: Carrying It Forward.
What you’ve practiced for 21 days was never meant to stop on Day 21. Ask yourself:

• What prayer time am I keeping? (10 minutes every morning)

• What Scripture rhythm am I continuing? (one verse or Proverb a day)

• What am I saying no to? (late-night scrolling, unnecessary noise)

• What am I saying yes to? (worship in the car, gratitude, stillness)

Don’t just finish the fast—let it shape the year.
Cross the line strong… and keep walking it out in 2026.
#365DaysOfPrayer&Fasting

“Even now,” declares the Lord,
    “return to me with all your heart,
    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Joel 2:12

21 Days of Prayer and Fasting helps us intentionally create space in our lives to "return to God with all our hearts." The early church father Irenaeus said, "The glory of God is man fully alive." When we return to God through fasting and prayer, we begin to experience what it truly means to be fully alive - reflecting God's image more clearly and walking in step with the Spirit of God living within us opening our eyes to God's will and plans.  As we begin 21 Days, let’s ask God where He is calling us to return to Him with our whole hearts in order that we may live fully alive to the glory of God.

Don’t Quit Now — You’re Almost There

Galatians 6:9 NIV - Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

You’ve reached the final week of the fast—and that matters. Often the hardest part isn’t the beginning, but the end, when energy fades and questions creep in. Is this worth it? God’s Word says yes.
This season isn’t about willpower; it’s about faithfulness. Every prayer, every sacrifice, every moment you choose God over comfort is shaping you and preparing a harvest—whether you feel it or not.
So lean in a little more. Trust God a little deeper. You’re closer than you think.

Don’t quit now—you can do this.

Matthew 5:23–24
“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the alter. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”

Fasting is not only about denying our bodies, it’s also about aligning our hearts. Jesus teaches that worship is incomplete when reconciliation is ignored, and Paul reminds us that unresolved anger, bitterness, and division grieve the Holy Spirit (Eph. 4:30–32). During this fast, God may reveal relationships that need healing or forgiveness that needs to be released.Today, pause and listen to the Holy Spirit. Ask Him to show you where reconciliation is needed whether in forgiving someone or humbly seeking forgiveness yourself. Let your worship continue as you respond in obedience.

Psalm 63:1

“You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”

We catch this intimate prayer that David speaks to God of how he longs to BE WITH GOD. In this intimate prayer, David reveals the deepest desire of his heart—to be with God. His request isn’t for relief, provision, or answers. It’s for God’s presence.

May the cry of our hearts be to encounter the presence of God. Still bringing our request but remembering that His presence is the ultimate gift. Let’s continue to seek Him, above all else.  “He waits to be wanted.” - A.W. Tozer 

Hebrews 4:15-16

"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

Fasting often brings our weaknesses to the surface—hunger, impatience, and distraction. This passage tells us we do not have a high priest who is distant from our struggles. Jesus was tempted in every way we are, yet he did not sin. He knows what it feels like to be human, to depend fully on the Father, and to pray from a place of surrender. In fasting, we are reminded that our strength comes from Him, and in prayer, we receive mercy and grace right when we need it most.

Psalm 98

21 Days of Prayer & Fasting comes on the heels of the Advent Season. The old carol Joy to the World, which we sing every year, was not originally written as a Christmas song, but was based on Psalm 98 and can be sung throughout the year. The famous line, “Let every heart prepare Him room,” drives us to ask: Am I making room for Him? In my cluttered mind, busy schedule, emotions, goals, marriage, and recreation? The reason spiritual disciplines like fasting, prayer, Bible study, and worship bring times of refreshing is because we clear out the clutter and make room for the One worthy of our full attention and praise.

Isaiah 58:6 NIV - “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?”

Fasting is often reduced to what we give up—food, habits, comforts. But in Isaiah 58, God reframes fasting as something far deeper. True fasting is not merely about self-denial; it’s about self-giving. It’s not just turning down a plate—it’s turning toward people.

God’s chosen fast loosens chains. It breaks cycles. It confronts injustice and lifts burdens that weigh others down. In other words, fasting isn’t only meant to change us—it’s meant to change the world around us.

When we fast, God sharpens our spiritual awareness. We begin to see where systems oppress, where people are overlooked, and where love requires action. Fasting softens our hearts so our hands can get to work.

This kind of fasting asks bold questions:
- Who is burdened around me?
- Where can I bring freedom instead of indifference?
- What yokes might God be calling me to help break?
True fasting aligns our hearts with God’s heart—a heart that longs for freedom, justice, and restoration.

Prayer:
God, as I fast, open my eyes to see what You see. Loosen anything in me that keeps others bound. Use my surrender to bring freedom, hope, and healing to those around me. Amen.

Why do we fast?

Throughout Scripture we find many instances of fasting and varied reasons for fasting. Take a moment today and read through the following passages that help us understand why we fast.

Repentance - Lev. 23:27–28, Joel 2:12

Humble Our Flesh - Psalm 35:13

Spiritual Breakthrough - Daniel 10

Answered Prayers - I Samuel 1

Divine Direction - Acts 13:1-3

Seek Deliverance for the oppressed - Isaiah 58

Prophetic Understanding and Commitment to God - Luke 2:36-38

1 You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

During Prayer and Fasting, we intentionally strip away comforts and distractions that keep us from fixing our eyes on Jesus and encountering Him more. We make space in our lives to seek Him with more intentionality and frequency. Sometimes the challenge is not only remaining obedient to our commitment, but also resisting the urge to fill these newly created spaces with other distractions—simply trading one worldly comfort for another. Instead, the hunger or craving we begin to feel becomes an invitation to turn toward prayer, God’s Word, and worship. We are not fasting or abstaining simply to practice discipline, but to know our Lord more fully and intimately—the only One who truly satisfies us!