Day 22
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word be ready in season and out of season reprove rebuke and exhort with complete patience and teaching.
As we come to the end of these 21 days of prayer and fasting, it is important to remember that this was never meant to be a spiritual high point that fades with time. Seasons like this are not an ending. They are a preparation. Scripture calls us to be ready in season and out of season, and that readiness is something we cultivate over time, not something we turn on and off.
One of the challenges of an intentional season like this is assuming that spiritual momentum will simply carry itself forward. In reality, momentum must be stewarded through daily faithfulness. What we practiced over these 21 days was never meant to stay contained here. It was meant to shape how we walk into the next season.
One of the most practical ways to remain ready is by staying rooted in Scripture. A consistent Bible reading plan creates rhythm, grounding, and perspective. It anchors us in truth when life becomes busy or unpredictable. If you do not already have a plan, this is a great moment to choose one.
There are many simple and helpful tools available. The YouVersion Bible App offers a wide range of devotionals and reading plans that meet you right where you are. You can find topical plans, prayer focused readings, or structured plans that guide you through Scripture over time. Another great option is choosing a through the Bible in one year plan, which provides consistency and helps ensure you are engaging the full counsel of God’s Word.
The goal is not perfection. The goal is faithfulness. A good reading plan is one you return to even when you miss a day. Staying ready does not mean you never stumble. It means you remain committed to getting back up and staying connected to the source.
Additionally, if you would like continued encouragement beyond these 21 days, I want to let you know about something new I’m starting. I will be launching a daily blog that will be sent out all year long. Each post will be short, Scripture centered, and designed to help you stay grounded, encouraged, and attentive to what God is doing in everyday life. I have been pondering this for a few years now, and I’m genuinely excited to finally get it launched.
If you would like more information about this, simply reply to this message with “I want more info”, and I will send you the details. My hope is that this will be a real blessing to you as you continue to walk with Jesus beyond this season.
As we step out of these 21 days, let us do so with intention. Let us not only remember what God has done, but continue to walk with Him daily. Being ready in season and out of season begins with small, faithful choices that shape our hearts over time.
Prayer
God, thank You for meeting us throughout these 21 days. As we step into the next season, help us remain ready, grounded, and attentive to Your voice. Give us discipline and joy as we stay rooted in Your Word. We trust You to continue the work You have begun in us. Amen.
Day 21
John 21:17
He said to him the third time, Simon, son of John, do you love me? Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, Do you love me? And he said to him, Lord, you know everything you know that I love you. Jesus said to him, Feed my sheep.
As Jesus restores Peter in John 21, He does something deeply intentional. He does not begin with Peter’s failure. He does not rehearse the denial. He does not ask for an explanation. Instead, Jesus asks a single question three times. Do you love me?
It is striking that Jesus focuses on love rather than behavior. Peter had already proven that effort alone was not enough. In moments of pressure and fear, his strength failed him. But Jesus does not rebuild Peter’s future by correcting his actions. He rebuilds it by addressing his heart.
So often, we want restoration to start with what we do. We promise to try harder. To be better. To not fail again. But Jesus starts somewhere deeper. He is less concerned with Peter’s resume and more concerned with Peter’s affection. Less focused on performance and more focused on devotion.
Love is the foundation Jesus is after because love sustains obedience when effort alone cannot. When the heart is aligned, restoration follows. Fruit follows. Calling flows naturally from love, not obligation. That is why each question is paired with a commission. Feed my sheep. Tend my sheep. Feed my sheep. Love leads to faithfulness.
As we come to the end of these 21 days, this question lingers for all of us. Not what have you done. Not how well did you perform. But do you love me? The fast was never about proving devotion. It was about reordering affection. When love is in the right place, the rest begins to align.
Jesus does not ask this question to condemn Peter. He asks it to heal him. And He asks it knowing the answer. Love is not the end of the journey. It is the beginning of what comes next.
As you step out of these 21 days and into what God has ahead, carry this with you. Obedience will flow best from love. Faithfulness will last longest when it is rooted in affection for Jesus rather than pressure to perform. When the heart is restored, fruit will continue to grow.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for meeting us with grace rather than accusation. Search our hearts and reorder our loves. As we step out of these 21 days, help us live from devotion rather than duty. We want to love You deeply and follow You faithfully. Lead us forward as You restore and recommission us. Amen.
Day 20
John 20:21
Jesus said to them again, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.
Sometimes we treat powerful moments from the past as if they are meant to stay there. We remember them. We honor them. We celebrate them. But we do not always live from them. Over time, even life changing events can slowly become something we look back on rather than something that actively shapes how we move forward.
The resurrection can quietly become one of those moments. We celebrate it as a historical event, something extraordinary that happened once and changed everything back then. But the resurrection was never meant to be confined to history. It carries ongoing power, ongoing purpose, and an ongoing calling for the people of God.
What is important to remember about the resurrection is that it does far more than inspire us. It does far more than simply send us out. The resurrection changes us from the inside out. It transforms who we are at the core. It gives us a new identity, a new confidence, and a new life that could not exist apart from Christ.
When I think about American history, even though it represents a very short span of time in the scope of world history, I am reminded that the decisions made by the founding fathers still have real implications today. The freedoms many of us enjoy exist because of choices made long before we were born. But those influences shape us from the outside. They affect systems, structures, and opportunities.
The resurrection works differently. It does not merely influence our circumstances. It transforms our hearts. It reshapes our desires. It changes who we are, not just what we do. And from that transformation flows purpose. When Jesus sends the disciples, He is not sending them with motivation alone. He is sending them as changed people, filled with resurrection life.
To be sent with resurrection power means we do not move forward relying on inspiration that fades. We move forward rooted in transformation that lasts. We are not carrying a message we admire. We are carrying a life that has been made new. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work within us, shaping how we live, love, and serve.
As you near the end of this fast, remember that what God has been doing is not temporary. He has been forming something deep within you. Resurrection life is not just something we celebrate. It is something we live from. And from that place, we are sent into the world with confidence, courage, and hope.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for the power of Your resurrection that changes us from the inside out. As we near the end of this season of prayer and fasting, help us live from the new life You have given us. Send us forward not just inspired, but transformed. We trust You to continue Your work in us as we step into what comes next. Amen.
Day 19
Before we begin today’s devotional, I want to make a brief announcement for those who are part of our local community. We are aware of a potential snow and ice storm expected in the coming days. While we cannot predict exactly what it will look like or how severe it may be, wisdom calls us to prepare now rather than wait to respond later. Please take time to ensure you have what you need, including food, water, heat, and any household essentials. And if at any point during the storm you need assistance, whether that is related to supplies, warmth, or support, please do not hesitate to reach out to the church. We want to care for one another well and walk through this together.
John 19:30
When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, It is finished, and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
We live in a world that is constantly pointing us toward the next thing. The next project. The next task. The next goal. Many days end with the feeling that we did not accomplish everything we hoped to, and tomorrow’s list already feels longer than today’s. Over time, that rhythm forms something deep within us. We begin to believe there is always more to prove and more to accomplish.
I remember a few years ago when I started running. I am by no means a top athlete and will likely never stand on a podium, but I genuinely enjoy getting out on the trails. When I finished my first 5K, my immediate thought was, when can I sign up for a 10K? After my first 10K, I began thinking about a half marathon. And then the next distance after that. There was always something next.
That same mentality can quietly shape our spiritual lives. We begin asking, what is next? What else do I need to do? What more is required? Without realizing it, we carry the pressure of performance into our walk with Jesus. We struggle to rest, even when something good has been completed.
That is why Jesus’ words from the cross are so powerful. When He says, It is finished, He is declaring that everything necessary for our salvation has been fully and completely accomplished. Nothing is lacking. Nothing needs to be added. The work is complete.
Living from that truth changes how we approach each day. A healthier posture is learning to be satisfied with what God has done today, rather than constantly measuring ourselves by what comes next. Jesus has already done everything that needed to be done. Our role is not to earn, but to trust. Not to strive, but to rest.
Scripture reminds us of this posture when Jesus says, Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. Matthew 6:34.
As you continue these final days of prayer and fasting, allow yourself to rest in what has already been accomplished. Let go of the pressure to constantly prove or perform. Jesus has finished the work that matters most. Today, that is enough.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for finishing the work we could never complete on our own. Help us rest in Your finished work rather than striving to earn what You have already given. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, teach us to live with gratitude and confidence, trusting You with both today and tomorrow. Amen.
Day 18
John 18:11
So Jesus said to Peter, Put your sword into its sheath; shall I not drink the cup that the Father has given me?
When Jesus is arrested in the garden, everything in the moment points toward resistance. There is injustice. There is confusion. There is threat. Jesus has the authority and power to stop it all. And yet, He chooses surrender. Not because He is weak, but because He is obedient.
We often confuse weakness with what appears weak from the outside. From an external perspective, surrender can look passive or powerless. But biblical surrender is something very different. Think of a trained horse. The strength is still there. The power has not been removed. It is simply under control. That kind of restraint is not weakness. It is strength submitted.
Jesus embodies this perfectly. In the garden, He could have resisted arrest. He could have called upon power beyond anything the crowd understood. Instead, He chose obedience over control. His surrender was not a loss of strength. It was the clearest demonstration of it.
A very practical example of this shows up in how we engage in conversations with others. Many times, we enter discussions with the primary goal of being right. We want to prove a point. We want to defend ourselves. We want to win. But strength under control shifts the goal. Instead of elevating ourselves, we aim to encourage, bless, and reflect Christ.
Just as we talked about yesterday with the idea of moving from moment to moment in prayer, the same posture applies to our conversations. Before we speak, we ask different questions. How can Christ be represented here? How can this interaction point someone toward Him? Strength under control chooses humility over dominance and obedience over ego.
Jesus tells Peter to put the sword away. Not because the sword lacks power, but because it is not the right tool for the mission. The kingdom Jesus is building does not advance through force, but through surrender. When we live that way, people are not drawn to us. They are drawn to Him.
As you continue these final days of prayer and fasting, consider where God may be inviting you to practice strength under control. In conversations. In responses. In moments where you could assert yourself, but instead choose obedience. When Christ is elevated, He does the drawing.
Prayer
Jesus, teach us to trust You enough to surrender control. Help us choose obedience over ego and humility over the need to be right. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, may our words and actions elevate You and draw others toward You. We want our lives to reflect Your strength and Your grace. Amen.
Day 17
John 17:18
As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.
One of the themes that has surfaced again and again throughout these 21 days is the idea of belonging. We are wired for community. There is something within each of us that longs to belong to something meaningful and life giving. Ultimately, that longing finds its home in the body of Christ, under the headship of Jesus.
But there is also a tension we feel. While we are created for Christ centered community, we still live in the world and move among people who do not share our faith. If we are not careful, that tension can lead us to one of two extremes. We either retreat into comfort and shelter, or we blend in so much that we forget why we are there in the first place.
Jesus gives us a different framework in John 17. He makes it clear that His followers are not meant to be of the world, but they are very much sent into it. That distinction changes everything. We are not drifting through life. We are not simply managing relationships. We are on assignment.
A mindset I adopted a few years ago has helped bring that reality into everyday life. I began praying throughout the day as I moved from one moment to the next. Before walking into a grocery store, I would pause and ask if there was someone who needed encouragement. Before stepping into a meeting, I would ask how I could represent Christ well in that space. Before heading home, I would pray for awareness of how to love and serve my family faithfully.
Nothing in the day is accidental. Every interaction becomes an opportunity. When we live with the awareness that we have been sent, life shifts from simply moving from meeting to meeting into living from assignment to assignment. Ordinary moments take on eternal significance when we invite God into them.
Jesus did not pray that we would be removed from the world, but that we would be faithful within it. Being sent does not mean being loud or forceful. It means being intentional. It means living with open eyes, listening hearts, and a willingness to be used wherever God places us.
As you continue these final days of prayer and fasting, consider what it looks like to carry this posture forward. You are not just someone who belongs to the church. You are someone sent by Jesus into the world. Every day is filled with moments that can be used for His purposes when we are attentive and available.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for sending us into the world with purpose. Help us live with awareness and intentionality in every interaction. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, teach us to see our lives not as routines to manage, but as assignments You have given us. Lead us, use us, and help us represent You faithfully wherever we go. Amen.
Day 16
John 16:13
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.
Jesus speaks plainly in John 16 about the role of the Holy Spirit. He tells the disciples that the Spirit will come to guide them, to convict them, and to lead them into truth. This was not meant to be abstract theology. It was meant to be lived reality. The Spirit was given so that God’s presence would not be distant, but daily.
In many ways, the modern church has grown uncomfortable with the work of the Holy Spirit. We speak often about God the Father and God the Son, but the Spirit is sometimes treated as an afterthought. Rather than being acknowledged as active and present, the Spirit becomes theoretical. Something we affirm in doctrine, but rarely expect to experience in everyday life.
When the Spirit is reduced to a concept, we begin to overlook how God actually works within us. The Holy Spirit convicts, guides, comforts, and forms us, often quietly and patiently. His work is not always loud or immediate, but it is deeply formative. When we are not attentive to that work, it becomes easy to miss what God is doing beneath the surface.
When someone gains a scripturally accurate understanding of the Holy Spirit, it can revolutionize their walk with God. Faith becomes more than belief. It becomes relationship. We begin to recognize conviction as care, guidance as grace, and direction as evidence of God’s nearness. The Spirit does not merely point out what needs to change. He equips us with what we need to walk faithfully.
As we move toward the end of this fast, it is imperative that we rightly place God the Spirit where He belongs. Not as a distant idea, but as God actively at work within us. The same Spirit who convicts is the Spirit who empowers. The same Spirit who guides is the Spirit who sustains us day by day.
Today can be one of those simple but powerful moments where we pause and pray a quiet, honest prayer. Holy Spirit, lead us. Lead us in our decisions. Lead us in our thoughts. Lead us in our obedience. When we surrender to His work, we discover that God is not only with us, but actively forming us.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, we invite You to lead us today. Help us recognize Your work within us and respond with trust and obedience. As we continue these final days of prayer and fasting, guide us into truth, strengthen us for what lies ahead, and form us more fully into the people You have called us to be. We depend on You. Amen.
Day 15
John 15:2
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.
We have reached an important moment in this journey. Day 15 marks the beginning of the final seven days of these 21 days of prayer and fasting. Often, this is where the temptation to ease up becomes strongest. Fatigue sets in. The rhythm feels familiar. It can seem reasonable to relax what we have been practicing.
But this final stretch is also where God often does some of His deepest work. By now, you have been walking with Jesus in a different rhythm than usual. You have slowed down. You have created space. You have been more attentive. And seasons like this create the perfect environment for pruning.
Jesus uses the language of agriculture to describe spiritual growth because it reflects how growth actually works. Pruning involves cutting. It involves loss. And loss is rarely comfortable. Letting go of something that has been part of your life can feel confusing or even painful. But pruning is not a sign of failure. It is a sign of care.
Early in the spiritual journey, pruning often looks like removing things that are clearly misaligned with Scripture. Certain habits, behaviors, or patterns need to be cut away because they are harmful. But as we grow and walk more closely with Jesus, pruning begins to change. It becomes less about removing what is wrong and more about letting go of what is simply not the best.
Some branches are not bad. They are healthy. They have even produced fruit. But they can still get in the way of greater fruit. God’s pruning is not about minimizing our lives. It is about maximizing what He wants to produce in us. What feels like loss may actually be preparation.
As you enter these final seven days, pay attention to what God may be inviting you to release. Do not rush past the discomfort. Trust the process. The same God who prunes is the God who brings growth.
Prayer
God, thank You for caring enough to prune our lives. As we enter the final days of this journey, give us discernment to release what no longer serves Your purpose. Help us trust that what You remove is making room for greater fruit. We surrender to Your loving work in us. Amen.
Day 14
John 14:6
‘Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
One of the reasons people struggle to treat Jesus as the only way is because of the cultural moment we live in. In a postmodern world, truth is often seen as relative. What feels true to one person may feel different to another. This way of thinking shows up most clearly in conversations about morality, values, and meaning. The idea that there could be one true way runs directly against the cultural current.
When Christians say that Jesus is the way, not one option among many, it can feel uncomfortable. It pushes against the belief that all paths are equally valid. It challenges the idea that truth is something we define for ourselves. And because of that tension, it can feel easier to treat Jesus as part of our belief system rather than the path we actually follow.
But Jesus does not present Himself as a suggestion. He presents Himself as the way. Not simply the way to believe, but the way to live. Trusting Jesus as the way means more than agreeing with a statement. It means allowing Him to shape our decisions, priorities, and direction.
One of the ways I am able to notice when Jesus is truly at work in my life is when I begin to see my flesh denied and His priorities increasingly aligned with the way I live. There is a constant tension between the flesh and the Spirit. And when I see the Spirit winning again and again, it reassures me that I am walking closely with Jesus.
Those actions do not earn salvation. They do not produce the Spirit. But they do provide evidence. They reveal the fruit of the Spirit at work. When trust in Jesus moves beyond belief and into obedience, life begins to take shape around Him.
Jesus as the way means we do not just ask what feels right, but what honors Him. We do not simply follow preference or convenience, but His voice. In a world full of options, Jesus offers direction. In a culture full of opinions, He offers truth. And in a life full of striving, He offers real life.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, consider what it looks like to follow Jesus not only in what you believe, but in how you live. Trust Him not just as the truth you affirm, but as the way you walk.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for being the way, the truth, and the life. Help us trust You fully, not only in belief but in obedience. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, align our lives with Your priorities and allow Your Spirit to bear fruit in us. We want to walk closely with You. Amen.
Day 13
John 13:8
Peter said to him, You shall never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I do not wash you, you have no share with me.
There is something deeply uncomfortable for many people about receiving help. We are often far more willing to serve than to be served. We will show up for others, lend a hand, and meet needs, but when the roles are reversed, resistance rises. Accepting help can feel like weakness. Somewhere beneath the surface, there is a desire to prove that we are capable, strong, and self sufficient.
Peter embodies that tension in John 13. He is a fisherman, accustomed to hard work and taking care of himself. It is easy to imagine how uncomfortable he must have been as Jesus knelt in front of him with a towel. Peter would have gladly washed Jesus’ feet. What he could not accept was Jesus washing his. His resistance was not rooted in disrespect, but in pride and self reliance.
Jesus responds firmly and lovingly. If Peter refuses to be served, he misses out on something deeper. Letting Jesus wash his feet was not about cleanliness. It was about surrender. It was about releasing control and allowing Jesus to meet him in a place of vulnerability.
Many of us struggle in the same way. We carry burdens we were never meant to carry alone. We strive to prove that we can handle things ourselves. But self sufficiency often becomes a barrier to grace. When we insist on doing everything on our own, we quietly resist the care and rest Jesus offers.
Allowing Jesus to serve us challenges the belief that we have to carry everything by ourselves. It invites us into a posture of trust. It opens the door to rest and peace that cannot be found through effort alone. Dependence on Jesus is not weakness. It is the starting point of transformation.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, consider where you may be resisting help from Jesus. Ask yourself what it would look like to release the need to prove yourself and simply receive. Jesus is not asking you to earn His care. He is offering it freely.
Prayer
Jesus, help us release the burden of self sufficiency. Teach us to trust You enough to receive Your care, Your grace, and Your rest. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, help us surrender control and depend fully on You. We open our lives to Your loving service. Amen.
Day 12
John 12:43‘
For they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God.
John 12 exposes a tension that many people quietly live with. Some believed in Jesus, yet they kept their faith hidden. Not because they did not believe, but because belief came with a cost. They feared how they would be seen, what might be lost, and how their lives might change if their devotion became visible. Scripture tells us plainly that they loved human approval more than God’s glory.
There are many reasons someone might hesitate to live their faith outwardly. Fear of being misunderstood. Fear of being labeled. Fear of opposition or relational strain. While we may not face the kind of persecution seen in other parts of the world, opposition to the gospel is still real. Faithfulness still carries weight. And sometimes the discomfort is not only about what others might think, but about what faithfulness requires once belief becomes public.
But devotion to Jesus does not begin in public spaces. It begins in private ones. While the Christian faith is undoubtedly meant to be lived out openly, it is rooted in habits and devotion formed when no one is watching. Choosing devotion over applause starts with character, not visibility. It starts with prayer, worship, and obedience in the quiet places of life.
When faith is shaped only by public approval, it becomes fragile. It depends on affirmation and avoids cost. But when faith is formed in private devotion, it becomes steady. What is practiced in secret eventually shows up in public. Private faith always reveals itself over time.
John 12 places these realities side by side. Mary pours out costly devotion with no concern for approval. Others believe but remain silent to protect reputation. The question is not whether belief exists, but what belief is rooted in.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, consider where your faith is being formed. Ask what devotion looks like when there is no applause to gain and no recognition to receive. Faithfulness in private prepares us for courage in public. God sees what is done in secret, and He is faithful to honor it.
Prayer
God, help us choose devotion over applause. Form our faith in the quiet places where our character is shaped and our hearts are revealed. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, deepen our private devotion so that our public faith flows naturally from a life centered on You. We desire Your glory more than approval from others. Amen.
Day 11
John 11:6
So, when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.
Waiting is one of the hardest parts of faith. We live in a world shaped by instant results, quick answers, and immediate solutions. When something takes longer than expected, it feels wrong. We assume something must be off. And because we are so accustomed to speed, we can quietly believe that our timing would be better than God’s.
In John 11, Jesus hears that His close friend Lazarus is sick, and He waits. Not because He does not care. Not because He lacks power. But because He is doing something deeper than what anyone can see in the moment. The delay is intentional, even though it is painful for those waiting.
There are some things that simply take time. Formation does not happen overnight. Growth is rarely rushed. Along the journey, something deeper is being shaped beneath the surface. That is why overnight success can be unsettling. What comes quickly can disappear just as fast. But when someone has been formed steadily over time, it often reveals a depth that does not burn out easily when pressure comes.
Waiting has a way of forming things in us that immediate answers never could. Trust is strengthened. Dependence deepens. Our confidence shifts from outcomes to God Himself. In seasons of delay, God is often working on who we are becoming, not just on what we are asking Him to do.
Jesus arrives after Lazarus has been in the tomb for four days. From a human perspective, it looks too late. But Jesus is not operating on a clock of urgency. He is operating on a purpose of resurrection. What feels like delay to us may be preparation for something greater than we imagined.
As you continue these days of prayer and fasting, consider what God may be forming in you during seasons of waiting. Do not rush past the process. Do not assume delay means absence. God is present in the waiting, and He is often doing His deepest work there.
Prayer
God, help us trust You when answers do not come quickly. Teach us to see waiting not as punishment, but as formation. As we continue this season of prayer and fasting, form our faith, deepen our trust, and remind us that Your timing is always purposeful. We place our hope in You. Amen.
Day 10
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
There have been moments when I have been truly thirsty. Maybe it was after a workout or at the end of a long day when I had not paid attention to how little water I had actually taken in. I reach for my water bottle, take a sip, and realize there is only half a gulp left. It helps for a moment, but it does not satisfy. It leaves me aware that what I really need is more.
Spiritually, many of us live the same way. We take small sips here and there. Enough to get by. Enough to survive. And while those small sips are not bad, they are not what Jesus promised. He did not speak of barely enough. He spoke of abundance. He spoke of life that overflows.
One of the ways we unintentionally settle for survival instead of abundance is by confusing busyness with fullness. Our calendars are packed. Our days are filled with meetings, responsibilities, activities, and commitments. Life feels full, but not necessarily life giving. Just because your schedule is crowded does not mean your life is abundant.
Abundance is not about how many things are on your calendar. It is about having the right things there. It is about margin. It is about presence. It is about being filled with what truly sustains you rather than constantly running on empty. A busy life can still be spiritually dry if we are not drawing from the source Jesus offers.
Jesus describes Himself as the Good Shepherd who leads His people into life to the full. Not a life of constant exhaustion. Not a life of barely keeping up. But a life that is nourished, guided, and sustained by His presence.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, allow God to help you distinguish between what is merely filling your time and what is actually filling your soul. Do not let good become the compromise when God has offered you something great. Jesus is not offering another obligation. He is offering abundant life.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for offering us life that overflows. Help us recognize where busyness has replaced abundance in our lives. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, reorder our desires and our schedules so that we are filled by You. Teach us to live from Your abundance, not just survive. Amen.
Day 9
John 9:39
Jesus said, For judgment I came into this world, that those who do not see may see, and those who see may become blind.
Most of us have a deep desire to be right. Very few people want to live in a state of being wrong. While there may be moments when we wish a difficult truth were not true, none of us want to believe we are consistently incorrect. Because of that, we often assume our perspective is right, especially in areas where we feel informed, experienced, or confident.
Over time, that confidence can quietly harden. What begins as conviction can slowly turn into resistance. We stop questioning. We stop listening. We become settled in what we already know. And without realizing it, certainty can become spiritual blindness. This is exactly what happens in John 9. The Pharisees are convinced they see clearly, yet they miss what God is doing right in front of them.
The man who was born blind receives sight, not only physically but spiritually. He obeys Jesus without fully understanding what will happen, and his openness leads to clarity. The Pharisees, on the other hand, refuse to consider that they might be wrong. Their confidence keeps them from seeing the truth standing before them.
Humility in faith does not mean lacking conviction. It means remaining open to God’s examination. Scripture gives us a simple and powerful prayer for moments like this. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting. That prayer acknowledges something important. We do not always see ourselves clearly. We need God to help us see what we might be missing.
True humility invites God to search us, especially in the areas where we feel most certain. It allows Him to expose blind spots not to shame us, but to lead us into life. The Pharisees believed their certainty protected them, but it actually kept them from freedom.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, consider where confidence may have turned into assumption. Ask God to search your heart, reveal blind spots, and lead you in His way. Spiritual sight is not found in being right. It is found in being willing.
Prayer
God, search our hearts and show us anything that keeps us from seeing You clearly. Give us humility where we have relied on certainty and openness where we have stopped listening. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, lead us in the way everlasting. We want to see as You see. Amen.
Day 8
John 8:11
She said, No one, Lord. And Jesus said, Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on sin no more.
Shame has been part of the human story since the very beginning. In Genesis, when sin enters the world, shame follows immediately. The instinct to hide is not new. It has been with us from the start. When people are exposed, the fear of condemnation can feel overwhelming, and the desire to cover up or deflect becomes strong.
In John 8, Jesus steps into a moment filled with accusation. A woman is brought before Him, her sin exposed publicly, her future hanging in the balance. What stands out is not only what Jesus says, but what He refuses to do. He does not accuse her. He does not condemn her. He silences the voices of shame and creates space for grace.
That truth matters deeply. There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Grace is real. Forgiveness is real. Our identity in Christ is secure. But Jesus does not stop there. His grace is not passive. After removing condemnation, He invites transformation. Go, and from now on sin no more. Mercy restores her dignity, and truth calls her forward.
In our modern moment, it can be tempting to emphasize one side of that exchange without the other. We celebrate freedom from condemnation, and rightly so. But grace was never meant to ignore sin. It was meant to confront it with love. Jesus does not expose to shame. He exposes to heal.
This is where fasting becomes such a gift. Fasting creates space for honest evaluation. It is part of the emptying of ourselves before God. As we deny our flesh, distractions quiet down. Defenses lower. We become more aware of what is really going on beneath the surface. Not so we can condemn ourselves, but so we can invite God to do His work.
God never empties us to leave us empty. He empties us so He can fill us again. When we come to Him honestly, grace meets us first, and transformation follows.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, allow yourself to pause and evaluate honestly before God. Receive His grace fully. And trust that the same Jesus who says there is no condemnation also walks with you into real change.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You for grace that meets us in our brokenness and love that calls us forward. As we fast and pray, help us evaluate our lives honestly without fear. Empty us of what does not belong, and fill us again with Your truth, Your strength, and Your life. We trust You to restore and renew us. Amen.
Day 7
John 7:43
So there was a division among the people over him.
John 7 paints a picture that feels surprisingly familiar. Opinions about Jesus are divided. Some believe. Some doubt. Some argue. Conversations turn into debates. Motives are questioned. Voices get louder. What should have brought clarity instead exposes just how divided people really are.
At the core of much of that tension is something deeply human. All of us want to belong. We long for acceptance and connection. While our ultimate security is meant to be found in God, we still feel the pull of relationships, community, and social approval. When opinions are divided, that emotional desire to belong can sometimes speak louder than our spiritual grounding.
In moments like that, lines can blur. What we know to be true can become clouded by fear of misunderstanding, fear of rejection, or fear of standing alone. It becomes easier to form opinions based on circumstances, pressure, or popular response rather than on what Jesus has actually said. Doubt creeps in. Hesitation follows. And clarity begins to fade.
Toward the end of John 7, the debate only intensifies. People argue back and forth about who Jesus is and what should be done with Him. And in the middle of that noise, Scripture offers us a simple but challenging wisdom. We are told to be quick to listen and slow to speak. That is not a suggestion. It is a posture of faith.
When opinions collide, wisdom often looks like restraint. It looks like taking a step back and listening for what the Lord would say before rushing to respond. It looks like studying what His Word actually says. It looks like evaluating the voices around us through the lens of the gospel rather than emotion or pressure. Only after listening well does speaking become fruitful.
Following Jesus in divided moments does not always mean having the loudest voice or the quickest response. Sometimes it means remaining grounded, patient, and attentive to truth. Clarity is not found in reacting. It is found in listening.
As you continue these days of prayer and fasting, allow space for that posture. Let God shape not just what you believe, but how you listen and how you speak. In a divided world, faithfulness often looks quieter than we expect.
Prayer
God, in moments of division and confusion, help us listen before we speak. Teach us to seek Your voice above all others and to ground our responses in truth rather than fear. As we continue this season of prayer and fasting, give us wisdom, humility, and courage to follow You faithfully. Amen.
Day 6
John 6:35
Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
We live in a world filled with options for quick satisfaction. There are countless ways to pacify the needs and desires we feel throughout the day. It is important to say clearly that anxiety is real and depression is something many people genuinely wrestle with. Those struggles should never be minimized or dismissed. And yet, even within those realities, we can sometimes turn to things that numb rather than nourish. We reach for what brings temporary relief instead of what brings lasting renewal.
John 6 tells the story of Jesus feeding thousands of people with bread. Their hunger is real, and Jesus meets it. But He does not stop there. He redirects them from physical satisfaction to something deeper. He tells them that He is the bread of life. Not bread that fills for a moment, but bread that sustains. Not provision that fades, but nourishment that endures.
The beauty of fasting is that as you deprive yourself of physical sustenance, you become acutely aware of your hunger. You feel it. You notice it. The desire for that need to be met becomes unmistakable. And when you deny the flesh and lean in spiritually, something begins to reset. You start to see other areas of your life more clearly. You recognize patterns. You notice what you tend to reach for when you are tired, stressed, or empty.
Fasting has a way of exposing substitutes. It reveals how easily we confuse comfort with nourishment. Distraction with rest. Relief with renewal. None of those things are inherently wrong, but they were never meant to replace Jesus. Only He can satisfy the deepest hunger of the human heart.
Jesus does not shame the crowd for wanting bread. He invites them to something more. He does the same with us. He meets us where we are, but He refuses to let us settle for what cannot sustain us.
As you continue this season of prayer and fasting, pay attention to what hunger is revealing. Let it guide you back to Jesus. He is not just a supplement to your life. He is the source. He is the bread that satisfies.
Prayer
Jesus, You know the hunger we feel, both physically and spiritually. As we fast, help us see clearly what we have been feeding on and where we need to come back to You. Reset our hearts. Teach us to seek true nourishment in Your presence. We trust that You alone can satisfy. Amen.
Day 5
John 5:6
When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, Do you want to be healed.
We live in a fast paced world where everything is designed to move quickly. From the moment the alarm goes off, the day begins at full speed. Meals are rushed. Schedules are packed. We move from one obligation to the next, often measuring success by how efficiently we can get through it all. Waiting feels out of place in a culture like this.
We constantly ask how long something will take. How fast can we get from point A to point B. How quickly can dinner be made. How long will the line be. Even small delays feel frustrating because we are so accustomed to speed. When we compare that to Scripture, the contrast is striking. Biblical waiting is rarely measured in minutes or hours. It is often measured in years. Waiting was not unusual. It was formative.
Yet we are a people shaped by instant results. When we do not see immediate change in our own lives, frustration begins to build. And when we see what appears to be instant progress or breakthrough in someone else’s life, comparison quietly enters the picture. We begin to ask why it is happening for them and not for us. Over time, the question shifts. We stop questioning the waiting season and start questioning ourselves.
That is what makes John 5 so powerful. The man by the pool has been waiting for thirty eight years. His condition has become part of his identity. Waiting is no longer just something he is experiencing. It is something he is living with. And when Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed, the question is not cruel. It is revealing. Jesus is inviting him to imagine a future that is not defined by how long he has been waiting.
Long seasons of waiting can do something subtle within us. They can convince us that this is just who we are. That this is how life will always be. That hope is risky and expectation is dangerous. Comparison only deepens that belief. We measure our story against someone else’s and quietly conclude that something must be wrong with us.
But Jesus does not define us by our waiting. He sees the length of the season, and He still speaks possibility. Waiting does not disqualify us from healing. It does not determine our future. It does not have the final word.
As you continue these days of prayer and fasting, consider where waiting may have begun to shape how you see yourself. Ask God to help you separate the season you are in from the identity you have taken on. Waiting can be a place of formation, but it does not get to define who you are. Jesus still meets us there, and He still speaks life.
Prayer
God, You see how long we have waited and how deeply it has shaped us. Help us release the identities we have formed around delay, disappointment, or comparison. As we continue this season of prayer and fasting, restore hope where it has faded and remind us that our story is still being written. We trust You in the waiting. Amen
Day 4
John 4:16
Jesus said to her, Go, call your husband, and come here.
There is something deeply human about the instinct to hide. From the very beginning of Scripture, we see it. In Genesis, after sin enters the world, the man and woman become aware of their nakedness, and shame follows. They hide themselves, even though God already knows exactly where they are. Shame convinces them that concealment is safer than exposure.
As we move into a new year, many people find themselves starting new Bible reading plans. I have found myself once again in the book of Genesis, reading through the Old Testament, the New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs together. As Erica and I have been reading in sync, I have been reminded how early this pattern of hiding shows up in the story of humanity. Even when God knows everything, we still feel the urge to cover, conceal, and retreat.
That instinct has not disappeared. We hide not because God is unaware, but because sin creates distance. It whispers that if we are fully seen, we will be rejected. Shame convinces us that honesty will lead to condemnation rather than healing. And yet Scripture tells us something radically different. Romans reminds us that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Shame may be our instinct, but it is not our identity.
When Jesus meets the woman at the well, He does not begin with accusation. He begins with honesty. He gently brings into the open what she has spent her life avoiding. And remarkably, He does this not to shame her, but to free her. God will not heal what we conceal, but He gladly heals what we bring into the light.
About a year or two ago, I began a discipline that was honestly difficult at first. I started writing down the things in my life that needed to change. Sometimes those were goals or areas of growth. Other times they were behaviors, patterns, or sins that required forgiveness and surrender. It can be daunting to put those things on paper. Naming them makes them feel real. But I have found that when I come to terms with those areas honestly before God, that is often when He shows up most clearly and helps me navigate through them.
The woman at the well leaves her jar behind and walks back into town free. She is fully known and still fully loved. That same invitation is extended to us. In Christ, there is no condemnation. There is freedom. There is healing. And there is grace waiting on the other side of honesty.
As you continue these days of prayer and fasting, consider what it might look like to stop hiding from God. Not because He does not already know, but because bringing things into the light is where healing begins.
Prayer
God, thank You that You see us fully and still love us completely. Give us the courage to bring hidden places into Your light, trusting that Your response is grace, not condemnation. As we continue this season of prayer and fasting, lead us into deeper honesty and greater freedom. We place our lives fully in Your hands. Amen.
Day 3
John 3:3
Jesus answered him, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Nicodemus comes to Jesus with knowledge. He knows the Scriptures. He understands theology. He recognizes that Jesus is from God. Yet Jesus immediately takes the conversation deeper. Knowledge alone is not the goal. Information is not the destination. Jesus tells him that something must happen within him. He must be born again.
For some, prayer and fasting are not unfamiliar concepts. The language is known. The rhythms are familiar. You know how these seasons work. You know what to expect externally. And over time, familiarity can quietly reshape expectation. It is possible to step into a season like this believing all the right things about God, while no longer expecting Him to actually change anything in us right now.
Faith becomes steady, but expectation fades. Participation remains, but anticipation weakens. We pray, but without the deep sense that God might interrupt us, refine us, or transform something beneath the surface. Not because we doubt His power, but because we have grown accustomed to things staying mostly the same.
Jesus does not allow Nicodemus to stay there. He invites him beyond knowledge and into transformation. Being born again is not about learning something new. It is about becoming someone new. It is not self improvement. It is surrender. It is allowing God to do a work that we cannot control or manufacture.
As we enter day three of prayer and fasting, perhaps the invitation is not to decide what God should change, but to slow down enough to listen. To pray with open hands. To meditate on the question of what God may want to do within us during these days. Not rushing to answers. Not managing outcomes. Simply creating space for the Spirit to move.
Transformation rarely begins with certainty. It often begins with willingness. And God is faithful to meet those who seek Him, not just with understanding, but with new life.
Prayer
God, protect us from familiarity that dulls expectation. As we continue these days of prayer and fasting, help us listen for what You want to do in us. Give us hearts that are open, humble, and responsive to Your Spirit. We trust You to lead us beyond information and into transformation. Amen.