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.