21 Days of Prayer and Fasting
- Chelsea Blythe
- Feb 19, 2021
- 4 min read
I often find myself crying during worship. Not because I’m sad but because I am redeemed, I am forgiven, I am loved. I am a child of God who sent his son to die for me. Yes, even when I’ve forgotten who I am and even when I quieted the truths that I know of God and His own power.
I learned how to fight my battles more than I had ever learned before while doing 21 Days of prayer and fasting. Now I knew that we as Christians should pray everyday and over everything and bring it to God first but admittedly I was not the best in this department. For 21 days I woke up at 5:30am everyday (almost, weekends were just a little different) and my Husband and I read our devotionals and our assigned prayer books, then we would listen to the message for the day and pray together once it was over. I would stay in the living room and pray for the remainder of the service while my husband got ready for work. It was something I had never done before, designated prayer time! I was so at peace and so in tune with God each of those mornings while worship music played softly in the background. I was so intentional about the prayers I was praying and who I was praying for that I was emotional almost every morning because of how much I cared and how much I truly trusted God to do in each of these peoples lives.
Church of the Highlands orchestrated the event and produced a book with specific prayers and how to pray them. I read the entire book for the 21 days was over and I had never felt more equipped to fight the enemy in my prayers. If I didn’t know what to say it was ok because God knewmy heart and there is power in Jesus name. I already knew this but it never hurts to hear again and again. If you don’t even know what to pray just say Jesus! His name alone brings fear to the enemy.
“The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name!” - Luke 10:17
I’ll admit I’ve been in a rut lately. I’m sure by now you’re saying “well yeah what else is new Chelsea? You seem to struggle every week”. Try everyday and sometimes even hourly because it is a daily battle for me to stay rooted in Gods word. We’ve been staying in a hotel for a few weeks now (vacationing/work) and it’s been a bit difficult for me to follow my 21 days or prayer routine. My youngest son can be a light sleeper and wake up when I do since we share a hotel room. I’m not really getting the peace and quiet I need to fully give my attention to God. I still meet with him in the midst of the distraction but it’s not quite the same as early morning devotion of my mind, body and soul. I’ve adjusted to making the shower my personal prayer time.
I can feel when I’ve taken back from God what I’ve already given him. I become heavy, anxious and overwhelmed with every thought and emotion that I’m now trying to fix in my own power. My power sucks by the way. I get so mad at myself for doing the exact opposite of what I know I’m supposed to be doing. A new friend of mine posted the other day that she feels completely restored after reading Gods word and I could not agree more. It can bring full restoration each and every day.
If you’ve never tried 21 days of prayer and fasting I highly suggest it whither you’re a new or old Christian. I am so weak without His strength. Here are a few lines from two songs that I’ve clung to since beginning my new purposeful prayer life. Music is such a powerful thing. It can say the words you feel and want to say but don’t know how to phrase them.
Make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus bring new wine out of me
In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making new wine
In the soil
I now surrender
You are breaking new ground
New Wine by Hillsong Worship
You've already overcome
You have already overcome
You have already overcome
Oh, this is how I fight my battles
This is how I fight my battles
Grace, grace, grace
This is how I fight my battles
Oh, this is how I fight my battles
Grace
It may look like I'm surrounded
But I'm surrounded by You
It may look like I'm surrounded ...
Surrounded by UPPERROOM
Challenge: Listen to these songs or any worship songs if you’re stuck and being stubborn about lifting that worrisome thing off of your chest to God. Lift your hands and blare the music to where you feel the beat in your chest. Let it fully consume you and just release those issues to Him open handed.
I will place the links to a worship playlist and the prayer book from 21 days of prayer as well as the videos below 👇
Worship playlist:
Pray first book:
2021-pray-first.pdf
21 Days of Prayer videos:
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