Day 2
John 2:5
His mother said to the servants, Do whatever he tells you.
Jesus’ first miracle does not happen on a stage. It happens quietly, almost unnoticed, at a wedding most people would eventually forget. The servants know something happened. The master of the feast tastes the result. But many in the room never realize that ordinary water has been transformed into something entirely new. John tells us this is how Jesus first revealed His glory.
As you journey through life, one of the realities is that you end up knowing more people. And as those people age, you also find yourself attending more funerals. Over the past couple of years, I have noticed a pattern at several services I have attended. I would read an obituary or listen to stories being shared and realize I had no idea the kind of impact this person had. These were people I deeply respected, not because of public accomplishments or visible success, but because of their character. They loved their families well. They lived with integrity. They were faithful in ways that rarely drew attention.
What struck me was the connection between quiet obedience and lasting impact. The people who shaped others the most were often doing things no one else ever noticed. They were not chasing recognition. They were simply faithful. That realization has stayed with me and has begun to shape how I think about life and faith. What we do in the quiet places matters more than we often realize.
John 2 reminds us that Jesus delights in working this way. He does not begin His ministry with spectacle. He asks servants to fill jars with water. He invites obedience before explanation. And in that obedience, transformation takes place. The miracle is real even when it is unseen.
This is especially important early in a season of prayer and fasting. On day two, it is easy to wonder if anything is happening yet. Nothing may feel different. No breakthrough may be obvious. But God often works quietly before He works publicly. He is forming something beneath the surface long before it becomes visible.
As you continue today, remember that quiet obedience is never wasted. God sees what no one else sees. He honors faithfulness that goes unnoticed. Trust that He is at work in you, even now, even here, even when the jars still look full of water.
Prayer
God, teach us to obey You in the quiet places. Help us trust that You are working even when we cannot see the results yet. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, form our character, deepen our faith, and remind us that simple obedience in Your presence is never small. Amen.
Day 1
John 1:5
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Darkness feels very present right now. You do not have to go looking for it. Turn on the news, whether local or global, and it is there. Stories of division, violence, loss, and uncertainty surround us. But it is not only something we observe from a distance. If we are honest, that same darkness can be found in quieter, more personal corners of our own lives as well. It shows up in fatigue, distraction, compromise, fear, or simply the desire to stay comfortable. That reality does not cause me to lose hope, but it does remind me that darkness is not theoretical. It is real. It is present. And it is something we cannot ignore.
John begins his Gospel by telling us that the light shines in the darkness. Not that it once shined. Not that it might shine someday. It shines now. And even more importantly, the darkness has not overcome it. Darkness may feel loud, familiar, and overwhelming at times, but it is not ultimate. It does not get the final word.
I want to be completely transparent as we begin these 21 days. The idea of 21 days of prayer and fasting is a little daunting. As a church, we have done three days of prayer and fasting many times. It has been part of our rhythm, and God has met us there. Those seasons have produced real fruit. But sometimes we can fall into patterns simply because they have worked before. And while there is nothing wrong with those three day moments, I sensed the Lord inviting us to go deeper than we have in the past.
Moving from three days to 21 felt like a significant shift. I knew it would be a difficult step for many of us, and honestly, a challenging one to remain faithful to all the way through. But the calling felt clear. While the three day breakthrough definitely was not a bad thing, disobedience is. The light was obvious. What remained was the decision to step into it. Stepping into the light often means leaving what feels familiar. It means choosing obedience over comfort. It means trusting that God is at work even when the path feels longer than we expected.
Prayer and fasting are not about earning God’s favor or proving spiritual strength. They are about positioning ourselves in the light. They are about saying we do not want to make peace with the darkness around us or within us. We want to bring our whole lives into the presence of God and let Him do what only He can do.
As we begin day one, I want you to know this is not something you are stepping into alone. We are stepping into it together. Together we choose light over darkness. Together we trust that God meets us when we seek Him. And together we believe that the light still shines, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Prayer
God, we acknowledge the darkness around us and the places where it has crept into our own lives. Thank You that You are not intimidated by it. As we begin these 21 days, help us step fully into Your light. Give us endurance, honesty, and faith to walk this journey together. We trust that You are at work, even now. Amen.