21 Day Fast Experience
Day 21
Day 21: It Is Well with My Soul: Hope in the middle of tragedy. Watch the Video Above: It Is Well With My Soul - Bob Overview: The lyrics to the famous hymn, "It Is Well with My Soul" written by Horatio G. Spafford are words of encouragement to us living in a broken world. The message focused on how life can be unpredictable and challenging, but faith and trust in God can help us to overcome hardship and tragedy. Horatio lost his entire fortune in the Great Fire of Chicago in 1871. Early that year his 4-year-old son died, and then later that year his four daughters drowned. Even through these unbelievable tragic losses, he was able to lean on the Lord and was able to push forward. The truth is, we will all face trials in life. The good news is we serve a God who loves us and will always be with us – a loving father who dwells in our very soul. Scripture: Philippians 4:6-7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Practical Guide: Today is the last day of your 21 days of prayer and fasting. Way to push through and do this. Today, as I finish up whatever it was that I was fasting from, I will be thankful for God and all that He has done for me and will continue to bless me in. Throughout the day, I will sing the simple first verse and chorus of the hymn written by Horatio as a song of thanks to God for walking with me in life. Feel His presence in your precious soul as you sing this hymn today. It Is Well with My Soul Verse 1 When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Refrain: It is well, with my soul, It is well, with my soul, It is well, it is well, with my soul. Prayer: Dear Father, thank you for these last 21 days. Thank you for your grace and patience with me and thank you for this time to draw nearer to you. Lord, please allow me to continue to grow in my relationship with you, helping me be consistent in reading your word and spending time with you daily. Please bless and protect me and my family this year. Help me to stay healthy in all areas of my life – body, mind, heart and soul and help me to love others the way you love me. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 20
Day 20: Quench my Soul: What are you thirsting for? Watch the Video Above: Quench My Soul - Jeff Overview: So, what are you thirsting for? What does your soul long for? The world offers us a wide range of things that claim to fulfill us – and yet all of these worldly things will fade and fall short. Author Larry Crabb wrote this: “We cannot stop wanting to be happy – our souls long for whatever we think will provide the greatest possible pleasure. Our problem is that we are not yet fully aware that an 'intimate relationship with God' is that greatest pleasure. In our foolishness we look for that experience in all the wrong places. We dig 'broken cisterns' to satisfy our thirst and walk right by the fresh spring of water that is God. An encounter with God is what we really want – we just don’t know it. We dream 'lower dreams' and think there are none higher.” Scripture: Psalm 63:1 O God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water. John 4:13-14 Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. 14 But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.” Practical Guide: Today, to help me be aware what will actually quench the longings of my soul (an intimate relationship with God), I will recite the following hymn throughout the day today. I will consider making it a prayer that I intentionally pray at different moments during my day today. Hymn: Fill My Cup Lord Fill my cup, Lord; I lift it up Lord; Come and quench this thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more. Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving me and knowing me so personally. Thank you that you know every hair on my head and that you care for me so much that you are available to hear my prayers. Thank you for quenching my soul with an intimate relationship with you, found through your son Jesus. Please allow me to seek the good things that are of you to quench my soul, and not things of this world. Please lead me and guide me and comfort me in the challenges that I will face today. Lord, please fill my cup and make me whole. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 19
Day 19: Soul Food: We need to feed our soul. Watch the Video Above: Soul Food - Yemisi Overview: Your soul needs to be fed. If you’re not intentional about healthy ways to feed your soul with the Word of God, you might find yourself spiritually starving. We know we need to feed our soul, but life happens and we get distracted. One day leads into another, and before we know it, we find ourselves spiritually famished and our faith begins to weaken. We feed our souls whether we’re intending to or not. If you’re not feeding your soul with the Word of God, you’re feeding it something else. What are you feeding it? Seriously. Stop and think about that. What are you actually feeding your soul right now? God created all of us with a need for His Word. Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. John 6:35 Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. Practical Guide: It is vital that we feed our soul with God’s word – to read it, listen to it, meditate on it and apply it to our lives. Today, every time I eat or snack on something, I will open up my Bible or my Bible app and read a verse. I can read the same verse all day and memorize it or read a new one each time. I will allow this activity to remind me of the importance of feeding my soul with the Word of God and I will praise God for giving me His truth found in His scripture. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for your beautiful scripture that brings me truth and hope and brings me closer to you Father. Allow me to really grasp the importance of feeding my soul – how important it is for me to read and meditate on your precious Word. Lord, help me slow down and take the time to open up your Word. Please reveal to me anything you would like me to know from reading your scripture. Thank you for giving me all that I need to feed my soul. I love you with all my soul Lord. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 18
Day 18: I Pray the Lord My Soul to Keep: A faithful soul keeper. Watch the Video Above: I Pray the Lord My Soul to Keep - Cindy Overview: Our soul is priceless and eternal. Scripture tells us that our bodies can be destroyed by man, but not our soul. And it is worth protecting. How often do you try to be your own keeper of your soul? Do you build walls so no one can get in. Are you bound by false truths and a false sense of who you are, believing what others think of you defines you? Do you feel like you are the only one capable of protecting the core of who you are? When we do this, we shut out God and don’t trust Him to protect us – to be the keeper of our soul. Allow God to be the one who you turn to when you are afraid. Allow Him to let you land in green pastures and rest in Him. Let Him keep you and your soul safe. He’s a faithful soul keeper. He’s the lock on the door to your soul, keeping the bad things out and completely supplying all of your needs inside. Scripture: 1 Peter 4:19 NKJV Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator. Practical Guide: To live with and comprehend that we have a soul is confusing and elusive for many people - so much so that Jesus warns us to be careful not to lose our soul! If you neglect your soul you lose touch with it. To lose soulfulness is to lose your vitality for living and loving well. Today, I will memorize the following scripture and recite it throughout the day. I will reflect on the value my soul has and thank God for it throughout the day. Matthew 16:26 And what do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul? Is anything worth more than your soul? Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for my soul and for how incredibly valuable it is. Do not let me neglect my soul or lose my soulfulness. Please help me not take this for granted and please protect and keep my soul safe form the enemy and the distractions of the world. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 17
Day 17: I’m a Soul Man: The essence of who God created you to be. Watch the Video Above: I'm A Soul Man - Gary Overview: What is the human soul? The human soul is central to the personhood of a human being. As George MacDonald said, “You don’t have a soul. You are a Soul. You have a body.” In other words, personhood is not based on having a body. A soul is what is required. Jim Packer says that your soul is your “conscious personal self,” the “I” that knows itself as “me.” Your soul is the identity that makes you who you really are. It is the seat of your memory, and your feelings, and your imagination, and your convictions, and your desires, and your affections. The Bible states in Genesis 2:7 that when God breathed into the body, man “became a soul of life.” The “soul” didn’t exist before, but came into being when God breathed into the body. Scripture: Genesis 2:7 NKJV And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. Practical Guide: Today, be intentional in your focus on God and today’s scripture from Genesis. Throughout the day, take large, deep and exaggerated breathes (like you would do at the doctor’s office) and thank God for breathing his very life into you and giving you a soul. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for the very gift of life – for breathing your life into me and for giving me my very own eternal soul. I pray that you would reveal to me your wisdom and insight into what my soul really is and allow me to truly understand how precious my soul is. Lord, please help protect and keep my soul in your holy presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 16
Day 16: The Key to Your Heart: JESUS Watch the Video Above: The Key to Your Heart - Debra Overview: According to theologian Franz Delitzsch, our heart is the point of personal contact with God, which means we relate to God in our hearts, knowing Him and growing in our relationship with Him. “God transforms our inward heart that results in an outward way - a changed character, a changed person, a changed life.” And the most important factor in all of this is JESUS. When we allow Jesus to dwell in our hearts, we will begin to see authentic transformation in our lives. Scripture: Colossians 3:16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts. Philippians 4:7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Romans 10:10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved. Practical Guide: Today, I will be intentional in my focus on God and today’s scripture from Genesis. Throughout the day, I will take large, deep and exaggerated breathes (like you would do at the doctor’s office) and thank God for breathing his very life into me and giving me a soul. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for sending Jesus as our rescue plan to restore our relationship with you and for the freedom that comes with faith in Christ. Thank you for transforming my heart and making it new. Please guard my heart and help me focus on you and all things good and not be led astray and distracted by things of this world. Please protect and keep me and my family safe today. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 15
Day 15: A Heart Transplant: We all need a new heart. Watch the Video Above: A Heart Transplant - Peggy Overview: Just like the Tin Man in the Wizard of Oz, we are in need of a heart – a new heart that is transformed by what Jesus did on the cross for us. By faith in Christ, God gives us a new heart, an undivided heart, a heart to know Him, to walk with Him. Our “deceitful” and “desperately sick” heart has been replaced in salvation. Oh, our old heart still exerts its wicked pull but, in Christ, we no longer have to follow it. The Spirit works to renew our thoughts and attitudes, and He transforms us with a new heart, a new nature. Scripture: Deuteronomy 30:6 “The Lord your God will change your heart and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a loyal spirit within me. Practical Guide: Today, I will draw a heart on a piece of paper. Inside the heart, I will make a list of everything I am thankful for. I will allow God to open up my heart and see everything that He has blessed me with, even things that came out of hardship and sorrow. I will keep this paper with me all day and add new things I find myself being thankful for. I will allow this to remind me how special I am and how much my Father in heaven loves and provides for me. I will thank God for giving me a new heart in Jesus. Prayer: Dear Lord, I know that I am far from perfect and that my heart is not always pure or healthy. Thank you for your grace and mercy and for giving me a new heart in Jesus. Please help me live a life that follows this new nature and help me to stay clear of my old nature. I thank you for everything I have and for all that you have done for me. You are amazing God. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 14
Day 14: A Heart of Stone: The heart of the problem is that we have a heart problem. Watch the Video Above: A Heart of Stone - Jelecia Overview: According to Paul in Ephesians 4:21-24, God took the initiative to take care of our greatest problem – a deceptive and wicked heart. Many of us can fall into the lie that Hollywood likes to sell us on – that we are good people and we can be “good enough” to earn our way to heaven. The truth is, and this can seem hard to swallow, that because of what is in our hearts – because of our sinful nature – we are not “good enough.” But the good news is, by God’s grace, and our faith in Jesus Christ, that our old heart (our old self) is restored and we become a new creation in Him. “If you would know the heart of your sin then you must know the sins of your heart!” – William Secker Scripture: Jeremiah 17:9-10 “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10 But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” Ezekiel 36:26 And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Luke 6:45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart. Practical Guide: Today, during my quiet time, I will ask God to reveal any broken or wicked things that may be in my heart right now. What situation or person has my heart been hardened towards? Is there bitterness or unforgiveness in my heart towards someone? Then I will ask God to soften and change my heart in this area of my life. I confess my sinful nature and receive a new heart. I will have a conversation with God about any next steps I may need to do to clean up, forgive or restore this broken situation or relationship. Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving me through all of my faults and failures, in spite of my wicked heart. Lord, help bring to light any dark and sinful areas in my heart right now so that with your help, I can begin the work of cleansing my heart. Help soften my heart with people that I need to be more loving and gracious to. Lord, fill me with more of you and less of me and allow me to love others with all of my heart. Thank you for your unconditional love for me. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 13
Day 13: My Achy Breaky Heart: God loves the brokenhearted. Watch the Video Above: My Achy Breaky Heart - Bob Overview: This journey of life has many ups and unfortunately, many downs. Let’s face it, life is hard and at times we can feel brokenhearted. The enemy wants to destroy us and our relationships with each other and with God. This can feel overwhelming at times and we can feel the heaviness of it in our hearts. But in Luke 4, Jesus said he came to heal the brokenhearted. Jesus is God’s rescue plan for us all – a rescue plan that includes peace for our troubled hearts. Scripture: Psalm 34:18 The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. John 14:1 “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. John 14:27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid. Practical Guide: Today, on a small piece of paper or post-it note, I will write down at least one trouble, worry or anxiety that I am facing currently. I will pray over this paper, and then let Jesus take it from me – to bring peace to me and this situation. Today, I will allow Jesus to heal me of this worry or brokenness. (Consider tearing up this post-it note or burning it - safely, of course - as a visible reminder that Jesus knows your hurt and wants you to be free of it). Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for loving me and for knowing me and my troubles. Help me be aware of your power and grace and help me to let go of the things that are worrying or hurting me today. Help me to truly understand and be confident in your promise to heal me from my broken-heartedness. Lord, heal me and restore me emotionally and spiritually to who you have originally created and designed me to be. Thank you for loving me like you do. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 12
Day 12: The Heart of the Matter: The importance of “heart” in the bible. Watch the Video Above: The Heart of the Matter - Marie Overview: Dr. Bruce Waltke points out that the word “heart occurs over one thousand times in the Bible, making it the most common term in the Scripture” to describe any part of a human being. “It denotes a person's center for both physical and emotional-intellectual-moral activities…” This heart is the core of who you are as a person. Your heart is, essentially, you. Today we ask God to reveal to us the importance of our heart. Scripture: 1 Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Proverbs 27:19 As a face is reflected in water, so the heart reflects the real person. Practical Guide: Today, I pray that the Holy Spirit will help me grasp the centrality and importance of the heart in scripture and in my life. Throughout the day today, I will be intentional in focusing in on what my heart’s role is in my daily experience. Prayer: Lord, thank you for designing me with a heart that really makes me who I am. Lord, help me to better understand what makes up my heart and how it works in my life. Open my heart to whatever your Spirit would like to reveal to me. I praise you God and love you with all of my heart and I thank you for your heart for me. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 11
Day 11: Environment Creation: Creating a Daily Space for a Peace of Mind Watch the Video Above: Environment Creation - Dorrien Overview: The more I hang out with Jesus, the stronger I become. There is power in changing my music selection to music about God. There is power in changing my reading to reading of God’s word. There is power in changing my relationships to people who also value Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. There is power in taking the time to create a healthy, holy and peaceful place where the voice of Christ can be felt, heard and understood. Scripture: Colossians 3:15 NLT And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful. Practical Guide: Today, I am going to live in peace. I am going to identify areas of my life that are not peaceful. This can also be people who bring into your life confusion and conflict. Ask God to give you insight as to how you are supposed to handle those areas or people. Are you to completely cut them off? Are you supposed to set some clear boundaries with them? Are you supposed to reach out to them to bring peace in the relationship? Strive to live in peace today. Prayer: Jesus, I know that you are a God of order and peace. I ask that you help me to identify areas of confusion and conflict that may be present in my life. Give me the tools to know how to move forward and to bring about peace in my relationships. Help me to be aware of any ambush that the devil may be laying aside to attack the peace in my life. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 10
Day 10: Stinkin Thinkin: Stay Away from the Nasty Watch the Video Above: Stinkin' Thinking' - Liz Overview: Every now and then our thinking will fall short and end up in the gutter. It’s called living in a broken world. Stinky and nasty thinking, a.k.a. sin, will always try to attach itself to us as children of God. We must strive to stay away from things that seek to destroy us and lean into a healthy, holy and clean place with Jesus Christ. Scripture: Philippians 4:8 NLT 8 And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Practical Guide: Today, I am going avoid anything that is not in line with Jesus Christ. I will be aware of what I hear, what I see, and what I speak. These are three areas of my body that I am going to set my mind on winning in today. Prayer: Jesus, today I am going to win. I am going to be aware of what I listen to, I am going to be aware of what I watch and I am going to be aware of what I say to others. I can do this with your help. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 9
Day 9: Daily Mind Renewal: Do not be Conformed to this World Watch the Video Above: Daily Mind Renewal - Bryan Overview: When my mind thinks of the things of this world, I live out what is worldly. When my mind thinks of things that are of God, I live out what is Godly. When we give ourselves over the Jesus, we make the decision to strive daily to change our thinking from a world’s view to God’s view. Scripture: 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. Practical Guide: Today, I am going to identify 5 ways that I have allowed myself to conform to this world (my temper, my spending, my social media, my communication, my friendships). I am going to replace those 5 things with 5 other things that will build my relationship with Jesus better (scripture reading, silence, prayer, compassion, patience, honor). Prayer: Jesus, my desire is to allow you to change what is inside of me so that I can begin living it out on the outside of me. Give me the boldness to step into the place of wanting to change and perseverance to push through to the end. My desire is that as I grow in you that I will see life change taking place in the way I live my life. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 8
Day 8: A Changed Mind: Set Your Mind on what is Above Watch the Video Above: A Changed Mind - Dorrien Overview: They say it takes 21 days to change a habit. When making a change in anything it can be hard. This is probably because thinking the same way over and over again becomes the norm. The normal way we think. Jesus encourages us to change the normal way we have thought all our lives to a new way of thinking. A better way of thinking. Scripture: Colossians 3:2-3 NLT 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 3 For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. Practical Guide: Today, I am going to capture every thought that I have. I am going to measure my thinking and redirect my thoughts towards Christ. I am going to write down this scripture, Colossians 3:2-3 and speak it throughout the day. Prayer: Dear Jesus, I need your help to change my mind and my thoughts to be more of the way you want me to be. Help me to capture any thought that is not of you and to use your scriptures to guide me throughout my life. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.
Day 7
Day 7: The War in our Mind: There is a War Within and I Must Win! Watch the Video Above: The War in Our Mind - Peggy Overview: What an amazing thing God made when He created the human mind. All of its intricacies and wonders are too amazing for man to grasp. The mind can have a mind of its own, but we must master it. We must control our mind and place it under the headship and submission of Jesus Christ. By doing so, my thinking and living will be centered around Jesus Christ. Scripture: Ephesians 6:12 NLT 12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Practical Guide: Today, I am going to read the entire set of scriptures on putting on the full armor of God in Ephesians 6:10-20 and write down the various parts of the armor and how they can protect me. Prayer: Dear Jesus, I desire to be fully covered by and immersed in your presence. Help me to discipline my thoughts to be your thoughts and my actions to be centered on you. Help me to overcome evil with good and to defeat the devil when he shows up in my life. In Jesus name, amen. Quiet Time Moment: For the next 60 seconds, sit quietly (without distractions), embrace the presence of the Lord and seek to hear His voice.