21 Day Fast 1 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 01 DANIEL FAST: INTRODUCTION:
America is a fast food culture. We are always on the go. We practically wear busyness like a badge of honor. We seemingly move through life at the speed of light. While this culture is accepted, it’s also dangerous. It negatively affects our relationships, mental health, and emotional health. Furthermore, our “grab and go” lifestyle is detrimental to the way we eat.
We don’t just suffer from bad eating decisions, we can also suffer from bad eating intentions. Other parts of the world eat because they’re hungry, but in America we eat when we feel tired, stressed, anxious, bored, or sad. Unfortunately, our eating often isn’t even about hunger at all. You’ve seen the results.
You may feel sluggish and slow. You may feel lethargic and bloated. You may feel useless without caffeine or a sugar rush. You may even feel hungover while watching church online from your unmade bed.
Together, let’s end the cycle and rebel against our fast-food McCulture.
How are we going to do this? By fasting together. I’d like to invite you to join Oasis in a life-changing experience that will deeply impact you, your family, and our church. For 21 days, hundreds of us are going to unite and participate in a powerful spiritual discipline called a Fast.
Simple put, Fasting is refraining from physical food for a spiritual purpose.
Theologian Richard Foster put it this way: Fasting is the voluntary denial of an otherwise normal function for the sake of an intense spiritual activity. There is nothing wrong with normal life functions, but there are times when we must set them aside to concentrate. Fasting helps us see what controls us.
Believe it or not, there is a direct link between your stomach, your mind, and your spirit. Throughout the Bible, we see that refraining from food for a period of time can bring you into a richer, deeper, more powerful relationship with God.
Over the next 21 days, we will be going through a church-wide fast known as the Daniel Fast in which we cut the processed carbs & comfort food and eat “clean”-- primarily fruit, vegetables, and water. This fast is based in the Old Testament book of Daniel — which we will be studying in our daily devotionals.
21 Day Fast 2 of 32 Oasis Church Please don’t think of this as a diet — the focus of a fast is not losing weight or looking good for Instagram. This 21-Day Fast is meant to tame our cravings, refresh our spirits, and grow in our faith. Every day you will choose Jesus over doughnuts, pizza, tacos, and sloppy joes.
I know that sounds like a big sacrifice, but think of it this way: You may be missing out on some of God’s biggest breakthroughs in your life because you’ve never completely tapped into His Spirit’s power!
I cannot wait to celebrate the renewal God brings to your life and Oasis over the next 21 days!
So what will the next three weeks look like for us?
THE FOCUS Fasting is a spiritual discipline designed to connect us more deeply with God. Fasting involves giving up something Physical (ie: comfort food) for the sake of something Spiritual (ie: a fresh filling of God’s Spirit). Over the next 21 days, we will sacrifice some of our regular food intake and replace it with Bible reading, prayer, and journaling. The overall goal is to work up a greater appetite for God Himself!
THE FAST — WHAT’S ENCOURAGED We’ll be participating in a partial fast called “The Daniel Fast.” During this time, we will limit our diet to eating only fruits and vegetables. This principle was pulled from the life of Daniel when he chose to fast while under great stress. The result was breakthrough after breakthrough. The roadmap for this plan comes from the first chapter of Daniel where the young prophet says, “Please test your servants… Give us nothing but vegetables to eat and water to drink.” - Daniel 1:12.
It won’t just be Kale and Spinach. Although we’ll eliminate some common things from our daily diet, there are grocery-carts-full-of delicious options available for you.
Fruit: Fresh or frozen, and low-glycemic fruits in particular are encouraged. Low- glycemic fruits include berries, apples, peaches, grapefruit, cherries, and grapes. Canned fruit is also an option, but only if there is no added sugar, coloring, or other preservatives. Vegetables: Fresh, frozen, or canned vegetables are all allowed on the diet plan, as long as there is no added salt. You can eat these—and even potatoes—in abundance.
Whole Grains: Go easy on the processed varieties and focus on cooking unrefined whole grains such as amaranth, barley, brown rice, quinoa, millet, oats, and wheat. Leavened bread, or breads made with yeast, are not allowed, but if you can find whole-
21 Day Fast 3 of 32 Oasis Church grain breads and flatbreads made without yeast, those do fit within the parameters of the diet plan.
Legumes: Dried or canned varieties are both allowed, but canned versions shouldn’t have any salt or other additives. Types of legumes include black beans, chickpeas, lentils, and other bean varieties. These can also be eaten in abundance.
Nuts & Seeds: All nuts and seeds are allowed, as long as they are raw or dry-roasted without salt.
THE FAST — WHAT’S DISCOURAGED Meat & Eggs: Animal protein of any kind is not allowed during the three-week fasting plan, and meat is specifically avoided in the Book of Daniel. Instead, participants are encouraged to obtain protein from legumes, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
Dairy: Dairy is also not allowed on this diet, but you can substitute unprocessed or homemade non-dairy milks in recipes.
Processed Foods: Any food that is processed beyond packaging is pretty much off limits on The Daniel Fast. This includes fried foods, many frozen products, and even vegan-friendly packaged foods. This meal-plan is all about emphasizing whole, unprocessed foods, so you’ll even need to ditch your veggie burgers, unless you can make one from-scratch with approved ingredients.
Alcohol: This was at the core of Daniel’s proposed fasting plan in the first chapter of Daniel. Thus, it’s important to kick booze in favor of water and fresh fruit juices.
If you have any condition which might prohibit you from being a part of the Daniel Fast, there are other options for you. For example: Eliminate caffeine, sweets, or social media.
The details are not as important as the Spirit in which you participate. Fasting is not about legalism, it’s about love. We are eating clean and sacrificing some of our favorite foods in order to help us grow more reliant on God. If it was easy, then we wouldn’t need God to get us through it. That’s the point of the fast. Your hunger should be a reminder to seek God’s strength. Craving should trigger you to start praying.
Prayer Prompt: As you begin this time of prayer and fasting, ask God to show you the things that are taking up space in your life where you can be filled with the Holy Spirit Now, ask God for the strength to put those things aside for the next 3 weeks and fill you instead with those things He wants you to focus on during the fast.
21 Day Fast 4 of 32 Oasis Church A good place to start is the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
21 Day Fast 5 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 02 Why Do We Fast? It’s An Expectation.
READ: Matthew 6:16-17 "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.”
We often assume that fasting is reserved for the super-spiritual. We imagine Christians sitting atop a misty mountainside who exchange in a direct dialogue with a disembodied voice from heaven. Maybe that’s true for some people, but it’s certainly not for most. Fasting is not some exclusive right of passage for the devout, rather it’s a way of life for all disciples — you included.
In Matthew 16, Jesus kicks off his statement with a simple phrase. He begins, “when you fast…” He didn’t say “If you fast.” Rather, He said, “when you fast.” According to Jesus, fasting is an expectation. It’s a central part of our Christian lifestyle. It’s just something that Christians do — not something he has to convince them to do.
Why does God want us to do it? Because it opens us up to what God has for us. When we push aside distractions, God meets us in our weakness and our hunger. Yes, it is very difficult to put aside food or any period of time. It requires devotion and discipline. However, there is a promise within this passage. Jesus concludes, “… your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” When you fast privately, God rewards you publicly.
Here is a word of warning though. Fasting isn’t about getting something from God, rather it’s about giving ourselves to God. Yes, there is a promise of reward. However, that reward may not have a bright red bow while boasting a big price tag. Your reward may be renewed energy, a mind at peace, or greater intimacy with God. Those are all greater than money can purchase. Fasting isn’t about forcing God to move on your behalf — it’s about God transforming you.
Fasting is not a means of pursuing God’s blessings. It’s just about pursuing God. Period. End of sentence.
Journal Prompt: Make a list of those things you are most concerned about when it comes to fasting. Confess those things to God. Now make a list of things you hope to gain in this time focusing on God’s blessings and your thankfulness.
21 Day Fast 6 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 03 Why Do We Fast? It Fixes Our Focus
READ: Daniel 9:3 “As I prayed, I fasted and wore rough sackcloth, and I sprinkled myself with ashes.”
In Chapter 9, Daniel was in a dilemma. He was seeing vivid visions of terror and calamity that was coming upon his nation. For context, this takes place as the empire is being destroyed. It was undoubtedly terrifying and confusing. Seeing all the hurt and pain lead the prophet to pray. The prayer in Daniel 9 provides us with a great model for how to pray during a crisis (Do you remember 2020?)
When Daniel was overwhelmed, he strived to fix his focus. How did he do it? With fasting! When we fast, it allows us to focus on God. It will help you focus on him more which will change your perspectives and outlook. When you focus on what you cannot have, you will quickly become legalistic and lose sight of the primary focus — getting you closer to Jesus. You need to signal to God that you mean business about your needs. It isn’t just a whim or a casual thought. You need to let God see how important it is to you.
Fasting is powerful because it fixes our focus. Why? Fasting tells God you’re serious about your prayer. Prayer is the petroleum behind your fast — let it fuel your fast. Without prayer, fasting is just a fad diet. Pray with expectation as you fast. God’s deliverance may be on the other side of your dedication.
We see this throughout scripture. Jesus said some miracles could only happen through prayer and fasting, not by prayer alone. Moses fasted before he received the Ten Commandments. The Israelites fasted before they went into many of their major battles. Daniel fasted in order to receive guidance from God. Nehemiah fasted before he began a major building project. Jesus fasted in victory over temptation.
Prayer Prompt: Ask God to focus your prayer time this week and show you areas in your life where you may need a breakthrough. Thank him for his strength in your weakness and call on him for that extra measure of his grace to see you through this time.
21 Day Fast 7 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 04 Why Do We Fast? It’ll Make You Happy
I don’t know about you, but there is a direct correlation between my emotions and my stomach. I am prone to “hanger.” What is that, you ask? It’s a portmanteau (basically where you smush two words together) of hunger and anger. When my stomach empties, my patience wanes. I get temperamental, grumpy, and start to spiral. Happiness? That’s the last emotion on my list.
Fasting is all about replacing our physical hunger with spiritual hunger. There is a powerful passage that speaks to the outcome of a spiritual hunger. No, it’s not hanger. Rather, it’s happiness. In Matthew 6:5, Jesus teaches, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
The greek word for “blessed” here is makarioi. It literally translates as “to make happy.” Jesus is saying happy are those that hunger and thirst for righteousness. Jesus intentionally used the language of hunger and thirst in this passage. He is saying that we should crave the things of God like we crave bacon cheeseburgers or donuts.
If you want to be happy, you need to stay hungry. Not hungry for peanut butter or cookies. Rather, use this time of fasting to hunger after intimacy and closeness with God.
When your stomach grumbles, it’s a trigger to seek God. Jesus used this language, because he wants you to habitually seek righteousness the same way you do water after a long run. You need to make your spiritual health a habit. So what does it look like to routinely seek righteousness? • Commit to praying — daily. • Commit to reading scripture — daily. • Commit to being involved in your community — constantly.
When you hunger after righteousness. You will be filled and fulfilled. Fulfillment is not found in a new Tesla, stacks of money, or even a circle of good friends. Fulfillment comes from a personal friendship with Jesus — that is nourishing for your soul. Possessions, success, popularity, and money are enjoyable, you bet. However, they will always leave you desiring more — that’s like junk food for your soul. Chasing fulfillment in anything other than God is like drinking salt water. You’ll fill up, but you will never be filled.
Do you want to be happy? Stay hungry.
Journal Prompt: What are 3 things you can do this week to strengthen your relationship with Jesus? Write them down.
21 Day Fast 8 of 32 Oasis Church Over the next ten days, we are going to do a deep dive into the book of Daniel.
Introduction to Daniel If you visit a children’s Sunday school class on any given weekend, it’s very likely they are covering at least one story from the book of Daniel. This prophetic book contains some of the most famous Bible stories we tell to kids. From the Lion’s Den to the four friends in the fiery furnace to the refusal to bow down to the golden idol. This powerful prophet is an example of being faithful despite uncertain circumstances. In the first six chapters of Daniel, we are given a clear life lesson — we can live fearlessly because we have faith.
While many of us were taught the narratives within the first six chapters of Daniel, we may not know much about the second half of the book. Chapters 7-12 contain a collection of apocalyptic visions about the future. While these chapters are difficult to understand and continue to be hotly debated among Christian scholars, we can glean one central principle from this section — God is faithful, even when things get scary.
Outline of Daniel • Our Faith // The Stories of Daniel (Chapters 1-6) ◦ Daniel and His Friends Recruited to Serve the King || God’s Ways Always Win (1) ◦ The King’s Dream || God Guides (2) ◦ The Fiery Furnace || God Protects (3) ◦ Nebuchadnezzar’s Pride & Downfall || God Humbles (4) ◦ Belshazzar’s Pride & Downfall || God Humbles Pt. 2 (5) ◦ The Lion’s Den || God Provides (6)
• God’s Faithfulness // The Visions of Daniel (7-12) ◦ Prophecy: What’s Coming (7-11) ◦ Promise: God Will Make Things Right (12) ▪ You can fearlessly move towards your future.
Big Idea: God is in control — today and forever. What This Means for You: Trust God, faith will help you live fearlessly in adversity.
21 Day Fast 9 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 05 Don’t Defile Yourself
Buffets are gross. When I was a kid, my dad loved taking us to a restaurant called “Golden Corral.” It was a humid country buffet on the opposite side of town that offered foods ranging from neon yellow macaroni to sticky-sweet ribs to boiled brussels sprouts.
The food was all pretty standard southern fare. Let’s talk about the centerpiece of every Golden Corral — the chocolate fondue fountain. Have you seen one of these things? Sure, they look stunning, but they’re kind of unsettling. Every few minutes, you’d notice a child plunge their nasty baby fingers into the glistening, chocolatey waterfall. The shiny sauce would drip off their hands, cascade into the base of the fountain, and cycle back through the top. The fountain surely festered with germs and viruses.
READ: Daniel 1:1-17
The book of Daniel tells the story of Daniel (obviously) who was a charismatic seventeen-year-old leader from the lineage of King David. He and his friends were forced to live in Babylon, because his city of Jerusalem was seized and enslaved. The people of Israel were forced into exile under the harsh dictatorship of Babylon. This kingdom was completely opposed to Daniel’s faith. They sought vengeance and ignored mercy. They loved war and hated peace. They worshipped idols and disgraced the God of Israel.
In the first chapter, Daniel was recruited to work for the government of King Nebuchadnezzar because of his strength, knowledge, and handsome looks. (Seriously, look at verse five!) During his orientation ceremony, he was offered a buffet of junk food with an open bar. I am sure there was a chocolate fountain or two. David realizes that the food is completely contrary to the Kosher commandments in Jewish scripture. Thus, he politely asked not to partake. Daniel 1:9 elaborates, "Daniel was determined not to defile himself by eating the food and wine given to them by the king.”
This is why we are fasting as a church, because we want to set ourselves up for success in a culture that demands excess. Sure, the food we are abstaining from wasn’t blessed by a Babylonian goddess. However, culture is constantly trying to trick you into Babylonian behavior. You walk by a buffet of vices and choices every day. The spread is full of delightful-looking confections with dangerous consequences. Gossip is just a group-chat away. Vile videos are easily accessible. Selfishness is our culture’s default setting. Culture is constantly encouraging you to “defile yourself” with addictive substances, the pursuit of prosperity, selfish ambitions, and ultimately finding purpose in all the wrong places.
21 Day Fast 10 of 32 Oasis Church Make the same choice as Daniel. Don’t defile yourself with culture's confections. Swim against the cultural current. Respectfully reject anything that can come between you and God.
Prayer Prompt: God only desires good things for you. Ask God to reveal any harmful areas of your life.
21 Day Fast 11 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 06 It’s Written in the Stars
While standing in line at the store, I love scanning the random impulse buys around me. Fruity candy, energy drinks, flavored chapsticks, Pokemon Cards, and magazines are all neatly stacked onto shelves, ready for impromptu purchases. Recently, the line was dragging slowly, so I snatched a magazine off the rack. This pamphlet-sized magazine was smooshed between a smiling pictures of Oprah and a tabloid pushing a conspiracy theory about aliens. The cover was plastered with an impressive picture of space that caught my eye. I thought, "I like space, so this may be cool.” It wasn’t. Turns out this thing had nothing to do with space at all, it was a horoscope. Are you familiar with these things? I thumbed through an absurd article that offered relationship advice, warnings about the future, and life hacks — all based on the stars.
Let me write up a horoscope for you. “Capricorn: The alignment of the stars has nothing to do with your future.”
READ: 2:1-23
In the second chapter of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar was haunted by dark dreams that prevented him from sleeping soundly. The nightmares were so disturbing that he assumed they meant something supernatural. Thus, he called on his astrologers and magicians to interpret the dream for him. Babylon was obsessed with reading the stars for signs of the future and using magic to manipulate the present. Since he assumed this dream had to do with fate, the King put his best horoscope writers on the job. After hours of contemplation and enchantment, they come to an unfortunate conclusion, “no one on earth can interpret the dream…your demand is impossible” (Daniel 2:10-11). Nebuchadnezzar, the evil emperor, demanded the magicians and astrologers murdered. I know, Veggie-tales left that scene out.
Daniel faced an impossible situation, so he looked to the one who makes the impossible possible. He didn’t need to read the stars, because he knew the Creator of them. He pressed into prayer and worship, begging for God to grant him guidance. Then, God came through. Daniel interpreted the King’s dream with the supernatural resource of God’s wisdom. Daniel relied on God with trust, faith, and patience. His expectation was that God would come through for him. His expectation led to celebration, as God granted him guidance to interpret the dream. Daniel is a flawless example of faith. He had faith that God would come through. He had faith despite scary circumstances. His whole life was fueled by faith.
I am sure some of you are facing impossible circumstances. Your family's fate may be uncertain. You may feel in desperate need of an answer. You may not know what’s next for you. Your relationships may be stuck in a rut. You may have a seemingly impossible decision to make. When you face impossible circumstances, look to the example of
21 Day Fast 12 of 32 Oasis Church Daniel. Live a life fueled by faith. Faith frees us up to expect things far beyond logical expectation or even explanation. Why? Because “with God all things are possible” (Matt 19:26). Next time you face an impossible situation, remember that our God specializes in the impossible. Your faith will make you fearless. He’s ready to exceed your expectations.
Journal Prompt: Think about a time when you were facing what seemed like an impossible situation. What did you do to face it? Write down how your faith may or may not have played a role in the outcome.
Look up Matthew 19:26. Then write down your thoughts on what this verse means to you.
21 Day Fast 13 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 07 Make Much of God Group projects can be frustrating. It always comes down to one person doing most of the work while slackers accept the easy A. It’s frustrating when someone else takes credit for your work, right?
READ: Daniel 2:24-27; 46-49
Daniel knew who to give the credit for his work. While speaking to the ruthless ruler, he boldly said, "There are no wise men, enchanters, magicians, or fortune-tellers who can reveal the king’s secret. But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets, and he has shown King Nebuchadnezzar what will happen in the future. Now I will tell you your dream and the visions you saw as you lay on your bed” (Daniel 2:27-28).
Daniel did the impossible, he was able to interpret the King’s confusing nightmare. Not only could he interpret it, Daniel shared mysterious knowledge about things the King didn’t mention — confirming his special revelation. He didn’t take credit though. He pointed to God for his guidance. He was just a humble messenger; God was the interpreter.
If some of you were completely honest, you might have been tempted to take a little credit. I mean, Daniel did have the connection with God. Daniel prayed and fasted. Daniel was calm and collected enough to communicate the complex truth to the King. He prayed, listened, and obeyed. Surely, he could’ve claimed some credit.
But he didn’t. He gave all the glory to God.
When you give glory to God, He will use you in big ways. Towards the end of this chapter the pagan king said, "Truly, your God is the greatest of gods, the Lord over kings, a revealer of mysteries.” He got a glimpse of God through God’s servant. If Daniel had made much of himself, then the King would have praised him. However, when Daniel made much of God, Nebuchadnezzar praised the true God. This is a miraculous moment, because someone got to experience God for the first time.
When you make much of God, miracles unfold.
Prayer Prompt: Congratulations! You have made it through one week of fasting and focusing on God! Praise God for all the victories this week over food (or anything else you may have given up to focus more on him). As your body has adjusted, this will start to get easier, but don’t get too comfortable. Ask God to continue to work in you both physically and spiritually in the days to come.
21 Day Fast 14 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 08 What Are Your Idols?
The smokey smell of incense wafted through the air and the jingle of tambourines echoed against the stone walls as I maneuvered through ancient alleyways. As I slowly strolled towards the main road perpendicular to my path, the crowds got larger and the noise grew quieter. Upon turning the corner, all my senses soared. I was standing before a beautiful Buddhist temple in the middle of Guangzhou, China. This towering temple, gilded in gold, jade, and precious gems, was 1600 years older than the United States. The sight was surreal.
I studied a young monk wearing a tangerine-orange robe as he struck a match off the brick wall in order to ignite a bouquet of incense in his hand. As the smoke danced into the air, he solemnly knelt before a supersized statue of Buddha while whispering prayers. He riffled through his simple backpack before pulling out some fruit, rice, and a photograph that he placed before the golden likeness of a chubby Buddha smiling from cheek to cheek. The sacred grounds were scattered with hundreds of sculptures and graven images of Buddhist deities and depictions from the Sutta Sutras (a famous Buddhist text).
READ: Daniel 3:1-8
Most people conjure up these images when thinking of idols. We think of golden statues and stone-chiseled images with adoring people bowing before them. Sure, that may exist, but it’s only a microscopic fraction of idol worship. “Idols” aren’t always statues of random animals or deities prepared with precious metals and gemstones. Idolatry goes so much further than that.
An idol is anything that you position before God. It can be a person, hobby, activity, or project that steals the majority of your attention and affection. This can be a relationship, a career path, a sport, a musical artist, social media, or even your own reflection in the mirror. Idols are seldom bad things that corrupt you, they’re usually just good things that consume you.
At the beginning of Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar decides to order a custom-built statue. This thing was mammoth at ninety feet high and nine feet wide. Many people believe this statue was actually an image of the crooked king himself. This is like the person who makes their lock screen a picture of themselves, only a few hundred times worse. As if that wasn’t narcissistic enough, he mandated that everyone in the nation bow down before the newly-minted idol.
We can all be like Nebuchadnezzar. No, you aren’t going to build a statue of yourself out of gold. However, we often build a statue of ourselves within our own hearts. We act
21 Day Fast 15 of 32 Oasis Church selfishly. We put our needs before those of others. We view every experience through the lens of how it affects us. If we aren’t careful, we can build an idol of ourselves.
Idolatry prevents you from celebrating her success due to your jealousy. Idolatry makes you focus on building the biggest platform possible. Idolatry makes you count every single penny as if it’s a metric of your worth. Idolatry makes you use people instead of loving them.
When you put anything before God, it leads to idolatry. When you put God over everything, it leads to victory. Make God your priority. Refuse to bow before idols, even if the idol is yourself.
Journal Prompt: List anything that may take a bigger place or priority in your life than God. Be specific. Now reflect on those things and ask God to either remove them or reorganize them.
21 Day Fast 16 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 09 Stand Up for What You Believe In
The King’s orders were crystal clear. Everyone in the Kingdom must bow down before the new statue or they’ll be executed in an oven. As word spread across the land, it was showtime. The statue was unveiled, the band played a melody, and the nation began to bow. Row after row, standing subjects took a knee before the ninety foot statue. It must have been a mesmerizing moment for the King. He gleefully gazed at thousands of people bowing before him — except for three guys. Friends of Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, refused to bow before the King’s graven image.
READ: Daniel 3:8-18
This made Nebuchadnezzar's blood boil. Who were these refugees that they didn’t fear him or respect him? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew that failure to bow would send them into the fire. That didn’t stop them from standing up for what they believed in, even if they were standing alone.
They could have easily rationalized bowing down. They could have outwardly bowed while inwardly praying to God. They could have claimed, “God doesn’t want me dead.” They could have crossed their fingers the whole time. They didn’t. They boldly stood their ground when everyone else was against them.
What do you need to stand up for today? God may be calling you to speak out against the idolatry of our culture. God may be calling you to stand up for derogatory or prejudice language within your social circles. God may be calling you to challenge the cultural current of objectification. God may be calling you to step up and share your faith, even if it frightens you.
Just like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, live fearlessly. Stand up for what's right — even if you’re standing alone.
Prayer Prompt: What is God calling you to stand up for? If you aren’t sure, ask him to reveal it to you. Then pray for him to give you strength and courage to stand up in the crowd.
21 Day Fast 17 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 10 Walking Through Fire
One summer, my friends and I were all gathered around a bonfire telling stories and eating s’mores. While watching the flames dance around, I had a brilliant idea. I was going to try to jump over the fire. This was far from a bonfire, it was only a 2-3 foot jump. There was no reason I couldn’t have easily cleared two fires of that size. All eyes were on me as I took three steps back before attempting my leap over the flames.
I counted, “One….two….two and a half….three.” I paused for an uncomfortably long time before my feet left the ground. Next thing you know, I was airborne. The fire burned hot beneath my legs as I crossed from one side to the other. To the amazement of my friends, I landed on the other side of the fire completely intact. I lifted my hands in victory and did an embarrassing little dance. During my victory dance, I tripped over some stones and stumbled. I screamed as my knee landed directly onto a burning coal next to the fire. While the pain was primarily on my leg, I could feel it in my head. Horrible hurt took over my entire body. This is why you shouldn’t play with fire — it burns.
Since the beginning of humanity, fire has been used as an intimidation tactic. Ancient armies launched fiery arrows. Fireworks were invented to scare enemy soldiers. Folklore teaches that dragons breath fire. Fire strikes fear, which is why it was the go-to threat of King Nebuchadnezzar. He frightened people into obedience with a fiery furnace.
READ: Daniel 3:19-30
After Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stood up to the King, his red-hot rage led him to throw the three men into a fiery furnace. The three men fell to the floor, the public watched in horror. The men stumbled and casually stood to their feet. While flames whipped around them, they looked calm and collected. How are they unharmed? The king demanded they turn the heat all the way up. As the fire grew hotter, the men started to look more comfortable. As he investigated the miracle before his eyes, he saw that there were actually four men inside the fire. God was with them in the fire. He protected them. He rescued them.
Nebuchadnezzar was enamored with what he saw. He exclaimed, “Praise be to the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, who has sent his angel and rescued his servants! They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God” (Daniel 3:28).
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced an impossible situation, but God works through the impossible. The impossible is just an invitation for Him to show up and show
21 Day Fast 18 of 32 Oasis Church off. Whenever your circumstances or feelings feel like fire, know that God is with you. He can do the impossible for you.
I do not know what circumstances, feelings, or fears feel like fire for you right now. Whether it’s disease in your family, a devastating breakup, a disaster, or a disappointment. Whatever they are, trust God as you walk through the fire. He will be there with you. He will protect you. He will rescue you. People will notice and God will be glorified.
Let people witness you walk through fire in faith. The King saw that these men were willing to risk death because they trusted in God. When people see you trust God through challenging times, they will desire what brought you through the fire. Your response to pain can become your testimony without even sharing a word. Your true character triumphs within the fire.
Faithfully walk through fire. It’ll point people to God.
Journal Prompt: Think about someone in your life who has faced hardships and then used those experiences to point to God. How did they handle those challenges and how can their example help you to do the same?
21 Day Fast 19 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 11: How Do You Hide Your Pride? Never let a little success go to your head. Whether it’s athletic recognition, a big win, a stellar performance, or a profitable career. Success is sensational, but pride is poisonous. Just like a disease, it’s difficult to pinpoint pride within ourselves. It’s not as black-and-white as lying, cheating, murder, or not returning your shopping cart. Pride is remarkably subtle, but terribly destructive. We often rebrand our prideful tendencies to justify them. We call them confidence, success, or empowerment. Regardless of what you call it, pride comes before destruction (Proverbs 16:18).
READ: Daniel 4:1-36
This story twists and turns like an afternoon soap opera. The Babylonian King has another string of daunting dreams, so he asks Daniel to interpret them for him. The prophet explains that pride was going to be a disease that leads to his downfall. Daniel warns that he will be driven out of his country and forced to live outdoors like a wild animal. Nebuchadnezzar was unsettled by the interpretation, but the warning didn’t change his behavior. While walking around his kingdom one afternoon, the king praised himself saying, "Is not this the great Babylon I have built as the royal residence, by my mighty power and for the glory of my majesty?” This seems innocent enough, doesn’t it? He’s just celebrating his success. The guy is a world ruler after all. His outward celebration was evidence of his inward arrogance — which ultimately led to his downfall.
The dream came true. He was thrust out of his kingdom and transformed into a savage in the wild. In this passage, pride morphed a world leader into a wild animal. When you trace it backwards, pride is the root of all sins. When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden, pride coaxed them into thinking their way was better than God’s. Every time Nebuchadnezzar tried to control the people around him, pride was at play. When Cain killed Abel, pride made him take vengeance into his own hands. When you witness a family fractured by sin, pride was often the drive behind the cheating, lying, or manipulation. Pride can imprison you without you even knowing it, because it’s a sneaky sin. Pride can hide.
You must identify how you hide your pride. Do you hide it behind perfectionism? You claim you want things to be perfect, but really you just want things to go your way. Do you hide it behind sarcasm? You are quick and witty, but this is also a subtle way of showing off your intelligence. Do you play the martyr? This is when you throw yourself under the bus by saying things like “I am awful! I am terrible” in order to manufacture sympathy.
All of these things are like a disguise for your pride. Ultimately, this will push people away. Just like when Nebuchadnezzar lost his kingdom, you may lose friends, your reputation, your influence, or even your future when you let pride hide within you. When you are full of yourself, there is no room for anyone else.
21 Day Fast 20 of 32 Oasis Church Here is what you need to do. Drop the defenses. Take off the disguise. Invite other people into your life — especially the messy and imperfect parts. Take the emphasis off of yourself and put it on others. Your life will radically change.
Pride builds barriers, humility builds bridges. One keeps others out and the other invites others in.
Prayer Prompt: Ask God to show you where you are hiding your pride. Call on God to help you choose a different way and ask him to put others in your life who can partner with you in love and grace to help you humble yourself before God. Consider reaching out to someone today to pray with you if you struggle with pride.
21 Day Fast 21 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 12 Faithfulness Over Famousness
I came to a crucial conclusion in my twenties. Keeping up with fashion fads is impossible. What’s trendy one day is tacky the next. How do people keep up with it all? Everyone is wearing tie-dye recently, a fad from my mother’s era. Kids are dressing like late 90's pop stars now, which would have been incredibly tacky just two years ago. Have you seen the way Billie Eilish dresses? I just can’t keep up.
This proves the constantly evolving opinion of the public. What’s classy in one generation is cheesy in the next. People are wishy-washy and culture is constantly changing like a current down a river. If you try to live by popular opinion, you’ll never get it right. People’s opinions change faster than the top fifty on Spotify.
READ: Daniel 5:1-30
This passage opens with a party hosted by the new king, Belshazzar. The banquet goes from happy to haunting when a mysterious message magically appears on the wall. The room trembled with terror. Echoing the same thought-pattern as his father before him, Belshazzar assembled a team of astrologers and enchanters to interpret the cryptic message. The royal mother had a deja-vu moment, then she remembered the reason behind her flashback. Reminiscing on the wisdom and insight Daniel gave to Nebuchadnezzar nearly fifty years ago, the elderly lady suggested, “There is a Jewish man in our kingdom who is a skilled interpreter, we should find him.” (Daniel 5:10-11).
This passage shows something kind of sad. Daniel used to be one of the highest ranking officials in the Kingdom. He was royalty. Now, twenty years after his employer's death, Daniel was basically forgotten. The Kingdom was run by a new team of rulers and magicians. When Belshazzar finally met Daniel, he offered him power and prosperity. Daniel wisely declined, because he understood that popular influence was just like a fad. It’ll leave as quickly it came (Daniel 5:17). Daniel, now nearly eighty years old, understood that true fulfillment came through faith.
Daniel wasn’t focused on fame or his following. Rather, he was focused on his faithfulness to God. He didn’t try to impress them as he interpreted the dream. There was no dramatic show, no fireworks, and no refreshments. He just faithfully delivered the message from God. We should take a lesson out of Daniel’s manual. Don’t live for fame or fortune, just focus on being faithful. Influence fluctuations. Fame fades. Wealth withers away. Internal purpose and peace from God is eternal.
Journal prompt: Take a trip down memory lane. What trends or fads were popular when you were a kid. What are you grateful now is no longer a thing? What has God removed from your life that you once thought was so valuable? Write a prayer of gratitude that whatever that was is no longer important to you.
21 Day Fast 22 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 13 When We Feel Trapped
Daniel in the Lion’s Den is probably one of the best known Bible stories in the world. When kids are coloring pictures of this scene in Sunday school, they are usually filling in the lines of a young man cuddling a large lion. This leads us to one big misconception: people assume that Daniel was a teenager when this took place. Not at all. He was an elderly man in his late eighties.
At the beginning of this chapter, life is a dream for Daniel. He’s risen up the ranks of the kingdom once again, now he is a “satrap” which is basically a mayor with more power. Daniel exudes so much wisdom and promise that the King planned to promote him to oversee the entire nation. Jealousy plagued the rest of the rulers. They scoffed, “how could the king give so much trust to an old man from Judah? His people are captives of the Kingdom, why does our ruler adore him?" The other Satraps decided to create a scandal. They wanted Daniel gone, so they dug up a little drama. These leaders knew that Daniel openly prayed three times a day, so they lobbied for a new law to make prayer illegal. Once the law was on the books, they immediately snitched.
Daniel’s day took a sharp left turn as he was arrested, prosecuted for praying, and sentenced to execution. The Babylonians were grotesque in their treatment of criminals — especially through capital punishment. They didn’t just kill people, they made a show out of it. It wasn’t just execution, it was entertainment. They were so twisted that they threw an elderly man into a den of lions as the public peered over the ledge of the pit.
Daniel found himself surrounded by blood-thirsty lions with no escape. He wasn’t armed with a sword, shield, or catnip. He had nothing except his wrinkled fists and his faith in God. Maybe you have been in the pit like Daniel, surrounded by lions with no escape. I am not talking about literal lions here, but metaphorical “lions" can be just as frightening. Perhaps you feel trapped in a pit surrounded by helplessness, doubt, apathy, stress, loneliness, rejection, or abandonment. God shut the mouths of the lions for Daniel and he can do the same for the lions you’re facing too.
God was with Daniel in the lion’s den. He’s with you too. You aren’t promised a life free of pain, but you are promised His presence. God will be with you through it all. It’s amazing how Daniel prayed in the pit while surrounded by blood-thirsty beasts. Do the same. Pray. Trust God. Focus on the Lord. He will come closer to you. He will be with you. He will protect you.
Prayer Prompt: Ask God to help you face your lions. If you are fearful, ask him to give you calm and peace. Pray for his wisdom and strength and trust that he is in your den right beside you. Thank him for his protection and provision.
21 Day Fast 23 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 14 Is It the End of the World?
After finishing a little-league soccer game one Saturday morning, I was exhausted from all the bench-sitting and Gatorade-sipping. I needed a nap. Once I walked into my room, I collapsed on the bed to take a well-deserved slumber. Hours passed before I woke up to see the sun was starting to set. Scared that I missed supper, I ran downstairs to find my mother. She wasn’t there. I looked for my dad or brother, but they weren’t home either. Suddenly, the silence of my house became scary. I flashed back to a book I read where everyone was raptured from earth to kick off the apocalypse. In that moment. I was convinced that I was left behind to suffer through the tribulation. Standing at the kitchen window in my soccer uniform, shock swept over me. Like a sign from heaven, I saw my mom’s red van pull into the driveway with dust trailing behind. She stepped out holding a bucket of chicken with a bag of biscuits. I was relieved to learn that I wasn’t living through Armageddon and my mom had picked up some fried chicken. It was a good day.
(If you’re up to it) READ: Daniel 7-12
Growing up, I was terrified of the end times — earth’s future fate after the return of Christ. Daniel is the second most studied book about the end times, following Revelation. Late in his life, Daniel records a series of visions, dreams, and images that represent the events surrounding the return of Jesus. To sum it up, things get really bad before they get really good. When you’re reading these recordings in Daniel 7-12, they can seem scary. The end times are marked by chaos, calamity, and conflict on a universal scale. These visions aren’t in scripture to scare us, they’re actually there to soothe us. Daniel claims a clear message using complex imagery — God is in control now and forever. It’s not about horror; it’s about hope.
The visions in Daniel 7-12 are confusing. We must fight the urge to treat these visions like a National Treasure script where each image and phrase pieces together a cosmic puzzle. Yes, it’s fun to read apocalyptic literature and try to understand the symbolism. There are scholars who make this their life focus; however, that’s not the main message for us. Even Daniel doesn’t understand most of his visions (Daniel 12:8). The prophet was shaken with confusion after seeing all these convoluted visions flash before his eyes. He had the same question that we all have now (Daniel 12:5; 12:8), “when will this happen and what does it mean?”
A figure clothed in white linen replied with a smile, "As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance” (Daniel 12:13). If confusion or distress about the future overwhelm you, take the same advice given to Daniel. Just go on with your life. Move forward in faith. The future may be unclear, but we know that God is in control. A famous hymn echoes this by saying, “I may not know what the future holds, but I know who holds my future.”
21 Day Fast 24 of 32 Oasis Church We can take hope in that. Fearlessly move forward into the future God has for you.
Journal prompt: You have now completed two whole weeks of fasting and focusing on God!
Glory to God for getting you this far! How do you feel? What still nags at you that’s trying to take the place of the spiritual things God would have you focus on? Take some time to celebrate what God is doing in and through you in this time. Share what you have learned and how you plan to finish well in your last week.
21 Day Fast 25 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 15 READ: Colossians 1:1-15
Who is Jesus?
This is a question that people have wrestled with for the last couple of thousand years. Some people suggest that He was merely a peacemaking prophet. Some would say He was a brilliant teacher with misguided followers. Unfortunately, some would say he was a lunatic and a liar. Regardless of who you think Jesus was, He’s the most significant human ever to exist. His birth literally changed the calendar from BC to AD.
Paul wrote the letter of Colossians to help young believers make sense of their newly- found faith. When Paul was discipling and developing this new church in the Roman Empire, he started with the basics. What’s the most pivotal part of Christian theology? Jesus! That’s where Paul started. Unfortunately, some false teachers had spread a fictional theory about the nature of Jesus, so Paul set the record straight. The Apostle explained, “The Son [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation” (1:15).
The word “image” in greek was closely related to the word “mirror.” What does Paul mean? If you were to gaze in the eyes of Jesus, you were gazing into the eyes of God. To know Jesus is to know God. Jesus is God in the flesh. This is why Christianity is so distinct from all other faith traditions. In every other religion, people are required to find God. They have to say the right prayer, chant the correct phrases, or practice a specific discipline to encounter God. Jesus flips religion on its head. We don’t have to find God; God has found us.
God stepped down from heaven and onto the rocky terrain of ancient Palestine. Jesus invites you to join a Kingdom turned upside down. We experience life through the death of Jesus. God shows His strength through our weakness. We receive by letting go. It’s confusing, captivating, and worth celebrating.
Jesus is the image of the invisible. Jesus is the initiator of the impossible.
That is who Jesus is.
Prayer prompt: Thank God today for sending Jesus as the only figure in religion to “show up” in the flesh. Spend some time reflecting on who Jesus is to you and how his ministry and ultimate sacrifice have personally impacted your life.
21 Day Fast 26 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 16 READ: Colossians 1:15-27
Jesus is with you.
In the early 1900s, the world was captivated by a private investigator with bizarre methods and brilliant wit. Eager readers would binge the stories of Sherlock Holmes the same way we binge Netflix shows. These pages were packed with twists and turns that gave chills and granted adventure — even if it was all just pretend. From private eyes to spies, everyone loves a good mystery.
Christianity was the great mystery of the first century. Why was a carpenter’s son from Judea changing the world? How did the early leaders seem to possess power over sickness and nature? The Christians in Colosse were almost entirely non-Jewish, so how were they following a Jewish rabbi's teaching? Paul writes this short, theology- packed letter to help them contextualize their questions and bring clarity to the mystery.
In the first chapter, Paul refers to a great and “glorious” mystery. He then defines it as "Christ in you, the hope of glory” (1:27). In all other ancient traditions, gods dwelled within inanimate objects like statues or sanctuaries. However, our God is personal. He doesn’t live inside things; he lives inside of us.
Have you ever felt like you were playing hide and seek with God? You feel as though you keep looking, but you cannot find Him. In the childhood game, we can easily miss the kid hiding in plain sight. The same is true for God. We often miss Him because we make it far more mysterious than it needs to be. God is not found in some complicated program or supernatural vision quest — God is within you right now.
God is with you — right now. God is with you — in this very moment. God is with you — forever.
Journal prompt: Read Colossians 1:27 again. Personalize it with your name. “Christ in (write your name here), the hope of glory” Now write it again 3 times. Keep that thought with you throughout the day and repeat it as a reminder that wherever you go Christ goes with you.
21 Day Fast 27 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 17 READ: Colossians 2
Jesus paid it all for you.
America is facing a financial crisis. No, not the fact that grapes cost 10x more than pop tarts. While that is certainly alarming, there is something worse. We are experiencing a student debt crisis. Roughly 42 million Americans are in debt due to the loans they used for school. Unfortunately, over half of them are struggling to pay back the nearly 1.3 trillion dollars owed. It’s preventing young people from getting married, purchasing homes, and even moving out of their childhood homes.
We are all familiar with debt. It’s a constant weight that people carry with them wherever they go. You can’t hide from it, and you certainly shouldn’t ignore it. While you may not find yourself in financial debt (I hope not at least), you have probably been indebted to another person. You have owed someone an apology, or you have owed someone a favor.
Here is the harsh truth, though. The Bible teaches that you owe a much bigger debt than an apology, chore, or even a six-figure student loan. You owe a debt to God. When Paul was describing this, he explained, "We owed a debt because we broke God’s laws. That debt listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us that debt. He took away that debt and nailed it to the cross” (2:14).
Imagine you were millions of dollars in debt and someone called you to say that it was all gone. Some mysterious man paid it off for you. What would you do? You would celebrate! You would cheer with joy because you are finally free. That is what Jesus did for you on the cross.
Jesus paid our debt for us. Regardless of what you have done or what you owed, Jesus wiped it out. Our savior paid for every sin in your lifetime — past, present, and future.
Jesus paid it all for you. There is nothing more for you to do but accept his incredible gift.
Prayer prompt: Take some time today to thank God for the incredible price he paid on the cross to erase your debt now and forever.
21 Day Fast 28 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 18 READ: Colossians 3:1-4
Jesus is your guide.
What’s on your mind?
I’m not necessarily asking what you’re thinking about right now, but wondering what things spend a lot of time in your mind. Do you constantly think about what’s stressing you out? Do you constantly think about your crush? Do you constantly think about success in work or athletics? Ultimately, our thoughts become our focus, and our focus determines our future.
Paul’s friends, the Colossians, were having to learn a new way to live and think. He encourages them to, "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God" (3:2-3). Their fulfillment in life isn’t attached to their performance; it’s attached to their perspective. Paul is encouraging them to remember their identity and let that shape their destiny.
Just like getting ready for a big game or interview, your success starts with the right perspective. You can obsess over your bad situation, or you can look towards the ultimate miracle worker. You can fixate on your failures, or you can rest in God’s grace. You can keep trying to do everything alone, or you can let Jesus be your guide. You can turn your eyes to God and He will turn your life around!
Journal prompt: List 3 things you think about regularly. Ask yourself if these are things your heart and mind should be set on. Ask God to help you prioritize your thoughts and set your heart and mind on things above. Write out Colossians 3:1-4 as a reminder of how Paul taught us what it means to be alive in Christ.
21 Day Fast 29 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 19 READ: Colossians 3:5-17
Jesus gives you significance.
Did you know that you are a minister?
Sure, you may never perform a wedding ceremony, preach a sermon, or wear one of those white collars around your neck. However, the Bible teaches that you have a pastoral job description. You are called to celebrate Jesus loudly. You are called to lead people passionately. You are called to love people unapologetically. As the ancient church exploded in growth, it wasn’t because of skilled preachers or pastors. It was because of passionate people. We share in the same calling 2,000 years later.
The Apostle Paul penned this letter to the Colossians to help the ancient church understand their function as followers of Jesus. Paul says that “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him” (3:17).
I love the first word of this verse - whatever. Paul is saying that you don’t have to lead a church to be a minister. Whatever you do in life, do it in the name of Jesus. That’s your ministry. Whether it’s playing football, creating a painting, taking out the garbage, or cooking an omelette, it’s all ministry — if you do it for Jesus.
This makes all tasks meaningful, even those that seem mediocre or menial. As a Christian, it’s impossible to be insignificant. Everything you do carries great significance because your calling is significant.
Prayer prompt: Ask God today to go with you everywhere you go, be present in everything you do and shine through you to everyone you encounter.
21 Day Fast 30 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 20 READ: Colossians 4:2-6
Jesus is the perfect example.
There are few things in this world as delicious as a hot french fry freshly plucked from cooking oil. Sure, they’re about as nutritious as a bowl full of rocks, but they’re also delicious. We love this greasy snack that makes our fingers both shiny and slimy at the same time. Get this. Americans eat 8,700,000,000 pounds of fries every year (that’s over 12,310,500,000,000 calories). How crazy is that? They’re not just limited to fast food joints with bright red signs. Fries are everywhere! From Italian bistros to Indian takeout places, they’re inescapable.
When most people say, “I love fries,” they actually mean, “I love salt.” Have you ever tried one without salt? It’s almost inedible. That’s because salt brings out the best flavors in food. Salt is amazing at increasing flavors and decreasing bitterness. The same way we use salt for our food, Paul encourages us to use salt for our words.
He says, "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (4:6). That’s a weird sentence, right? What does it mean to season our speech with salt? Think about it. The same way that we use salt to bring out the best in food, we should use our words to bring out the best in others. Strive to use your words to make people feel good.
Look at the example of Jesus. He strived to help people, encourage people, and inspire people consistently. Give out compliments. Celebrate someone else’s gifts. Congratulate someone on their success. Go out of your way to be kind. This will ultimately bring out the best in everyone. Strive to sprinkle some salt onto every conversation. Why? Because your words can change someone’s life.
Journal prompt: List three people you can encourage with your words today. Write down what they mean to you and why. Now send them a text to share what you wrote about them today.
21 Day Fast 31 of 32 Oasis Church DAY 21 READ: Colossians 4:7-18
Jesus will deliver you.
Have you ever heard a preacher say, “if you don’t get anything else from this message, be sure to get this?” They’ll usually utter this phrase towards the conclusion of their talk. I truly get what they’re saying, but my mind always asks, “Then why did you say all that other stuff? Paul’s letter to Colossians was most likely delivered to the congregation as a sermon. They didn’t pass the piece of paper around like a note in the back of a classroom. Instead, a pastoral leader would stand before the congregation and preach the words of their founding pastor. It was designed to be personal, powerful, and practical — especially the closing lines.
The closing part of a letter is usually the most important. This is where you give a final challenge, say something heart-felt, or state your primary reason for writing. The closing lines are often encouraging, motivational, or compelling. The same is true for this letter- turned-sermon. Paul’s letter to Colossae concludes with a challenge. He says, "See to it that you complete the work you have received in the Lord” and “Remember my chains. Grace be with you” (4:17-18).
“Remember my chains” is a pretty bizarre closing. He could have said, “hugs and kisses” or something more normal, right? However, he urged them to remember the chains previously wrapped around his wrists. As the church was facing persecution, Paul urged them to remember that God delivered him from prison and persecution in the past. Whatever they were facing, remember the chains of their friend. No jail cell is strong enough to contain what God was doing in the world. God set Paul free, and he will do the same for them!
God rescued Paul. He will do the same for you. Whenever you face pain, remember Paul’s chains. The same God who delivered Paul will deliver you too.
Prayer prompt: You did it! Thank God for the journey of the last 3 weeks. Praise him for all of it; the struggles, the triumphs, the breakthroughs and the set backs. Reflect on everything you have read and written these past few weeks and ask God to continue the work He has started within you.
You may have finished the fast, but God is just starting something new within you.
21 Day Fast 32 of 32 Oasis Church