Day 16 “Freedom!” – Acts 16:25-30

One of the many remarkable miracles we see in Scripture takes place during a very unusual set of circumstances. Paul and Silas had been doing what Jesus said to do – they are healing the sick, delivering people from the demonic and leading thousands to faith in Jesus.

God’s power is moving mightily in and around them, yet they find themselves in a very unexpected and challenging situation. After delivering a girl from the demonic power that was controlling her, they are beaten, arrested and imprisoned – all because they were doing the Lord’s work.

However, their response sitting in a prison cell provides the key to real victory. Instead of cowering in fear, complaining about their circumstances or questioning God’s faithfulness, Scriptures says that, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.”

What an amazing response! It demonstrates a heart that understands an important spiritual truth: if I’m living in wholehearted obedience to the Lord, the challenge that I’m facing will become the vehicle God uses to demonstrate His miraculous power. We have to believe that what seems to be a prison is actually a platform—the very place where God wants to show off His power. And that’s exactly what we see happen for Paul and Silas.

Acts 16:26 says, “Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” As Paul and Silas were praying and worshiping, God was preparing a spectacular intervention. God’s presence shows up in the jail cell in a such a mighty way the Earth shakes, and Paul and Silas are set free. Scripture tells us that the jailer and all of his household came to faith as a result of this magnificent miracle.

Notice that the miracle didn’t begin with the earthquake. It began with worship.

When we pray and worship, especially in a challenging season of life, we are setting the atmosphere for God to bring supernatural freedom that impacts both our lives and those close to the situation. Not only were Paul and Silas freed from prison, but many became followers of Jesus because they chose to worship in the midst of their trial.

Regardless of the challenges you face, never stop singing and never stop praying. Those responses are spiritual weapons the Lord uses to defeat the enemy and bring deliverance and a supernatural answer to your prayers. God desires to work powerfully in your life, and like the jailer and his household receiving salvation, those close to you will experience the blessing of your miracle that can literally change their life and their family forever!

What you do in your midnight hour matters. Heaven listens when faith sings. So, keep on singing and keep on praying, because God is still working and freedom is coming!

Day 15 “The Blessing of Unity” – Psalm 133:3

One of the things that is so powerful about this 21-day fast is that you aren’t going at this alone – right now, many people are participating with you! These three weeks of fasting are specifically designed so that everyone who participates raises their spiritual awareness to another level. And we not only believe that God is going to answer huge requests during this time, but He is also going to continue to unite believers around the world in a powerful way as we seek all that He has for us!

Unity is one of the most powerful forces to propel us into God’s purposes, both as a church and individually. In fact, Psalm 133:3b says that where there is unity, God commands His blessing! If you want the blessing of God, live in unity with what God is doing!

In Psalm 133, David gives a few illustrations of what unity is like. First, he says it is like “oil poured on the head, running down onto the beard of Aaron”. While this may seem like a strange symbol to us today, what David is referring to is the anointing oil that was used to anoint Aaron and set him apart as a priest of the Lord (cf. Exodus 29-30, Leviticus 8). This was a very specific oil which was specially made for anointing the priests, identifying them as set apart and holy.

One of the blessings God gives to people who live in unity with fellow believers is an anointing for His work. When you and I unite around what God is doing, as people of God, it brings an anointing into our lives that would not be there any other way.

The psalm then continues with another image David uses – the dew on the mountains. While this certainly is a beautiful sentiment for us today, for the ancient Israelite it would have symbolized the abundant provision of the Lord. The dew of the mountains is what provided life giving water for their crops. It was a source of necessity if they were going to be nourished.

What a powerful picture David gives us of the blessing and power of unity – it is a place of anointing, a place of provision. It is in that place the Lord commands His blessing!

As we join our hearts together in this fast, we are uniting for the purpose of seeing God move in our community and our families. And with this unity comes the guarantee of an increase in anointing and provision for all of us because God commands it.

Day 14  “Effective Prayer” – Matthew 21:18-21

For many people on this journey of prayer and fasting, prayer is something we have done before. Even if it was simply, “God please help me to past this test” or “Lord, please don’t let me get a ticket…” most of us have prayed before. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 44% of Americans pray daily, and most (67%) pray at least weekly/monthly. Prayer is something we are familiar with, and yet, there is a difference between prayer, and effective prayer.

In Matthew 21, Jesus demonstrated for us what it takes to make our prayers effective and powerful.

Early in the morning, as Jesus was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. Seeing a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves. Then he said to it, “May you never bear fruit again!” Immediately the tree withered.

When the disciples saw this, they were amazed. “How did the fig tree wither so quickly?” they asked.

Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:18-22 NIV)

This is such a unique story, but it has much to tell us about effective prayer. Jesus didn’t curse that fig tree arbitrarily, He did it as a vivid demonstration to show that authority flows from unwavering belief in the power of God. That is why Jesus closed this section with an incredible promise: “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer” (v.22).

You see, effective prayer isn’t merely about speaking words or repeating requests. It’s about aligning our hearts with God, and believing in faith that what we ask in accordance with His purposes, will be done.

Fasting is a powerful statement that we want God more than we want anything else. Giving up food and other things in pursuit of God has a way of wrestling our flesh into submission, and aligning our hearts with God’s heart. When we are in a place where we know and pray the heart of God, faith grows in abundance. That is where we really see the power of effective prayer. This kind of prayer moves mountains. This kind of prayer changes families.

So as you fast, let faith rise in your heart, that “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask in prayer!”

Day 13 “The Battle Belongs to the Lord” – 2 Chronicles 20:3-4

We’ve all had moments in life where it feels like the odds are stacked against us. Maybe you’re in one of those moments right now. Or maybe you entered this 21-day fast asking God to do something that feels impossible.

Take heart—because we serve a God who delights in doing the impossible. And He responds powerfully when His people pray and fast.

One of the most remarkable examples of this comes from Jehoshaphat, king of Judah from around 870 to 848 BC. He was a godly leader, but even the godliest leaders face overwhelming challenges.

Jehoshaphat received terrifying news. A massive army—made up of three nations—was marching toward Judah. Scholars estimate this coalition may have totaled hundreds of thousands of fierce, battle-tested warriors.

He had every reason to panic. But look at what he did instead:

“Alarmed, Jehoshaphat resolved to inquire of the Lord, and he proclaimed a fast for all Judah. The people of Judah came together to seek help from the Lord; indeed, they came from every town in Judah to seek him.” —2 Chronicles 20:3–4 (NIV)

Jehoshaphat didn’t rely on strategy, strength, or alliances. His first response was prayer and fasting. And he called the entire nation to join him.

As the armies approached, the people of Judah didn’t fight. They fasted.
As the enemy advanced, the people of Judah didn’t run. They worshiped.

And as they lifted their voices in praise, God moved, and what happened next was nothing short of miraculous:

“As they began to sing and praise, the Lord set ambushes against the men of Ammon and Moab and Mount Seir… and they were defeated.” (2 Chronicles 20:22)

God caused the enemy armies to turn on each other. Judah didn’t have to draw a sword—the Lord fought the battle for them. And when it was over, there was so much plunder it took three full days to gather it all. What began as a crisis ended in miraculous victory and unexpected blessing.

It’s another amazing example of the faithfulness and power of God, no matter the size of the battle we may face. But there’s a crucial element to this passage that we can’t overlook—the people praised BEFORE the breakthrough. They lifted their voices in worship before they saw God move. There was praise on their lips long before there was plunder in their hands. That’s what faith looks like. That’s what trust sounds like. And that’s the kind of heart God responds to.

As we continue in this season of prayer and fasting, take this to heart: whatever battle you’re walking through—praise Him. Whatever breakthrough you’re believing for—trust Him. Don’t wait for the answer to celebrate. Worship Him today, knowing that He is still the God who goes before His people and triumphs over the enemy.

Day 12 “Open His Eyes” – 2 Kings 6:15-17

In 2 Kings 6:17, Elisha prays a simple prayer that results in one of the most startling spiritual pictures we get in the Old Testament. It’s a powerful reminder that spiritual sight often changes long before our circumstances do. Elisha’s prayer leads to a dramatic shift from fear to faith, as Elisha’s servant shifts from seeing only the physical threat to the ability to see the spiritual defense surrounding them.

Leading to this moment, the Lord had been revealing the enemies plans to Elisha resulting in the protection of God’s people from their attacks. Elisha’s intel from the Lord that thwarted the plans of the enemy had now led the enemy to surround them. Elisha’s servant was terrified and for good reason. It seemed inevitable that Elisha and his servant would be taken as prisoners.

Elisha’s servant is the first to discover their seemingly dire situation and says to Elisha, ““Oh, sir, what will we do now?” the young man cried to Elisha.  “Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.”

And suddenly everything changed. Elisha’s servant saw not only the physical threat, but the spiritual reality behind it. The hills were filled with horses and chariots of fire, heaven’s armies, surrounding the enemy that surrounded them. Although the servant’s physical situation looked unchanged, his spiritual confidence was transformed. It lifted his eyes from the enemy’s threat to God’s protection.

This is what happens when we pray: God opens our spiritual eyes. He helps us see past what’s visible into the invisible. And the clearer our spiritual sight, the calmer our spirit. Fear turns to faith as we spend time in God’s presence and allow Him to speak peace to our storm.

Today ask God to open your eyes to the spiritual realities which are the greater realities. Instead of praying for the problem to disappear, ask for spiritual insight into the situation. The closer we walk with the Lord and the more time spent in His presence, the more we’ll gain insight and be strengthened by the fact that God’s power is surrounding us on every side.

As we fast, we train our spiritual vision to see what flesh can’t perceive, so pray today like Elisha prayed for his servant – “Lord open my eyes.”