21 Day Fast | Day 21
21 Day VICTORY Fast | Day 21
From Pastor Brian Gibbs
January 24th, 2021
Good morning, dear friends! Today is day twenty-one as we have entered a very special time of
consecration and humility and we open the door to a deeper, more intimate and more powerful relationship with our Father!
Bren and I are blessed that you have chosen to participate in the VICTORY FAST by setting aside 21 days to pray, fast and draw near to God. Fasting is not just an exercise for super-spiritual people. It is actually supposed to a part of every believer’s personal and private spiritual life. Personally, we have found there is no better way to reset our spiritual compass and bring about change and discipline in every area of our lives than through fasting.
We pray that you will experience the presence and power of God in an extraordinary way as you
commit yourself to Him over the next 21 days. May God continue to bless you and ignite your passion for Him as you seek Him first!
For these 21 days together, I will provide a daily biblical focus and some thoughts to encourage and strengthen you throughout the fast.
FASTING: FINISHING STRONG
Practical & Spiritual Advice
DAY 21
Day 21 is here. You’re on the very last day of your fast! Did you ever think it would go by so quickly? Ha! I’m just kidding. For me, this fast felt extremely long and challenging on many levels, especially with the intensity of this unprecedented and historic time in our Nation. We are engaged in a mega battle.
I’m proud of you for persevering to the end. I’ve received several messages from some fasting who
struggled and contemplated throwing in the towel. But God reminded them this is a marathon, not a sprint; if you fall, you can get back up and run to the finish line. And now…here you are! A few hours away from the finish line! Let’s finish strong and well for The Lord.
How to End Your Fast Physically
If you’ve been on a full fast for twenty-one days, please be careful how you reintroduce food to your system. Most people who are otherwise healthy should be able to return to normal eating within one week of a twenty-one day fast.
There is a period of adjustment though. This is because two things have happened to the digestive system during a prolonged fast.
1. The stomach has been slowly shrinking. By the end of the fast, the stomach’s capacity for food is nothing like it was at the beginning. Even the smallest amount of food can make you feel full.
2. The organs in the body that are usually involved with assimilating food have taken a
rest. You could think of it as if the organs have gone into a kind of sleep which became
deeper as the fast was extended.
Therefore, when you break your fast, be careful:
1. How much you eat
2. What you eat
3. How you eat it
Give your stomach time to return to normal size and the digestive organs time to “wake up” fully.
When breaking a fast, some foods are more suitable than others. A fast of great length is best broken with fruit or vegetable juices, if possible freshly squeezed or juiced. Some consider citrus
Page 5 fruits to be the best. However, if you live where citrus fruits are imported, this is not the best option, as they’re often picked unripe and the juice can be too acidic. Watermelon juice is excellent, as is tomato, grape or apple juice. Start with a small quantity, diluted if necessary. Drink it every two to three hours the first day. Increase the quantity gradually, and you’ll soon be able to take the fruit itself. At this point, milk can be taken. Milk in the form of yogurt taken with fruit would be beneficial.
Each 21 day fast I have done, I normally break the fast with juices, broth and hard boiled eggs. This is gentle on your stomach and begins the processing well.
Gradually return to regular eating with several small snacks during the first few days. Start with a little soup and fresh fruit such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Advance to a few tablespoons of solid foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, or a raw salad and baked potato. Fresh salad (no dressing), vegetable soups (no fat) and cooked vegetables may be included at this point, always starting with a small amount of anything new and gradually increasing.
Next, you could include a little toasted bread with a small slice of butter, but no cakes, pastries or cookies. Starchy foods are not good at this stage. Introduce protein first in the form of cheese or eggs (or Greek yogurt), with fish and meat last of all.
Rest as much as you can during the period of reintroducing food to your system. It will let your body concentrate on digestion and assimilation. Try not to become too active too soon.
How to End Your Fast Spiritually
Anticipate the voice of the Lord on the other side on this fast. Look and listen for His voice, promptings and prophetic unctions. You may see some rewards manifest soon — that’s exciting. And remember, our Father loves to reward us. (Matthew 6).
Although you can relax physically, do not relax spiritually! You can’t afford to. Your enemy, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). You must remain alert and vigilant. The “thief” will be on the prowl to steal the increased intimacy with Christ you’ve gained during your fast.
Give no place to the devil. Be careful. Be alert. Be intentional. Be disciplined, fellow soldier. Stay
disciplined in your prayer time and pursuit of God. Stay disciplined in your submission and quick
obedience to the Lord.
How Do You Plan to Keep Fasting a Part of Your Lifestyle?
I’m so glad that you joined our Victory Fast and engaged in opening the door to great intimacy with the Lord through this fast! Please note, though, that a single fast is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh infilling’s of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need fresh times of fasting. Consider a 24-hour fast each week or fasting several days each month. I encourage you to pray about it today and make a commitment as to how you plan to keep fasting a part of your lifestyle. It will be hard to make this decision once you get back into old routines of eating. Pray about it now, while the
spiritual benefits of fasting are fresh on your mind and in your spirit.
When God leads you as to what your regular fasting commitment should be, put it on your calendar — just as you would schedule a meeting for work, a spouse’s anniversary, or ladies, your hair appointment. When it’s on your calendar, it’s a commitment to be kept, not a contingency that can be cancelled.
I praise God for each of you, and I bless your New Year of 2021! You are marked and set apart with
God’s favor and joy — you are His treasure and delight. Enjoy each new day in faith to worship Him who reigns above all things, in every situation, knowing we are overcomer’s in this world!
Make it a great YEAR and be blessed!
Brian
From Pastor Brian Gibbs
January 24th, 2021
Good morning, dear friends! Today is day twenty-one as we have entered a very special time of
consecration and humility and we open the door to a deeper, more intimate and more powerful relationship with our Father!
Bren and I are blessed that you have chosen to participate in the VICTORY FAST by setting aside 21 days to pray, fast and draw near to God. Fasting is not just an exercise for super-spiritual people. It is actually supposed to a part of every believer’s personal and private spiritual life. Personally, we have found there is no better way to reset our spiritual compass and bring about change and discipline in every area of our lives than through fasting.
We pray that you will experience the presence and power of God in an extraordinary way as you
commit yourself to Him over the next 21 days. May God continue to bless you and ignite your passion for Him as you seek Him first!
For these 21 days together, I will provide a daily biblical focus and some thoughts to encourage and strengthen you throughout the fast.
FASTING: FINISHING STRONG
Practical & Spiritual Advice
DAY 21
Day 21 is here. You’re on the very last day of your fast! Did you ever think it would go by so quickly? Ha! I’m just kidding. For me, this fast felt extremely long and challenging on many levels, especially with the intensity of this unprecedented and historic time in our Nation. We are engaged in a mega battle.
I’m proud of you for persevering to the end. I’ve received several messages from some fasting who
struggled and contemplated throwing in the towel. But God reminded them this is a marathon, not a sprint; if you fall, you can get back up and run to the finish line. And now…here you are! A few hours away from the finish line! Let’s finish strong and well for The Lord.
How to End Your Fast Physically
If you’ve been on a full fast for twenty-one days, please be careful how you reintroduce food to your system. Most people who are otherwise healthy should be able to return to normal eating within one week of a twenty-one day fast.
There is a period of adjustment though. This is because two things have happened to the digestive system during a prolonged fast.
1. The stomach has been slowly shrinking. By the end of the fast, the stomach’s capacity for food is nothing like it was at the beginning. Even the smallest amount of food can make you feel full.
2. The organs in the body that are usually involved with assimilating food have taken a
rest. You could think of it as if the organs have gone into a kind of sleep which became
deeper as the fast was extended.
Therefore, when you break your fast, be careful:
1. How much you eat
2. What you eat
3. How you eat it
Give your stomach time to return to normal size and the digestive organs time to “wake up” fully.
When breaking a fast, some foods are more suitable than others. A fast of great length is best broken with fruit or vegetable juices, if possible freshly squeezed or juiced. Some consider citrus
Page 5 fruits to be the best. However, if you live where citrus fruits are imported, this is not the best option, as they’re often picked unripe and the juice can be too acidic. Watermelon juice is excellent, as is tomato, grape or apple juice. Start with a small quantity, diluted if necessary. Drink it every two to three hours the first day. Increase the quantity gradually, and you’ll soon be able to take the fruit itself. At this point, milk can be taken. Milk in the form of yogurt taken with fruit would be beneficial.
Each 21 day fast I have done, I normally break the fast with juices, broth and hard boiled eggs. This is gentle on your stomach and begins the processing well.
Gradually return to regular eating with several small snacks during the first few days. Start with a little soup and fresh fruit such as watermelon and cantaloupe. Advance to a few tablespoons of solid foods, such as raw fruits and vegetables, or a raw salad and baked potato. Fresh salad (no dressing), vegetable soups (no fat) and cooked vegetables may be included at this point, always starting with a small amount of anything new and gradually increasing.
Next, you could include a little toasted bread with a small slice of butter, but no cakes, pastries or cookies. Starchy foods are not good at this stage. Introduce protein first in the form of cheese or eggs (or Greek yogurt), with fish and meat last of all.
Rest as much as you can during the period of reintroducing food to your system. It will let your body concentrate on digestion and assimilation. Try not to become too active too soon.
How to End Your Fast Spiritually
Anticipate the voice of the Lord on the other side on this fast. Look and listen for His voice, promptings and prophetic unctions. You may see some rewards manifest soon — that’s exciting. And remember, our Father loves to reward us. (Matthew 6).
Although you can relax physically, do not relax spiritually! You can’t afford to. Your enemy, the devil, prowls like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour (1 Peter 5:8-9). You must remain alert and vigilant. The “thief” will be on the prowl to steal the increased intimacy with Christ you’ve gained during your fast.
Give no place to the devil. Be careful. Be alert. Be intentional. Be disciplined, fellow soldier. Stay
disciplined in your prayer time and pursuit of God. Stay disciplined in your submission and quick
obedience to the Lord.
How Do You Plan to Keep Fasting a Part of Your Lifestyle?
I’m so glad that you joined our Victory Fast and engaged in opening the door to great intimacy with the Lord through this fast! Please note, though, that a single fast is not a spiritual cure-all. Just as we need fresh infilling’s of the Holy Spirit daily, we also need fresh times of fasting. Consider a 24-hour fast each week or fasting several days each month. I encourage you to pray about it today and make a commitment as to how you plan to keep fasting a part of your lifestyle. It will be hard to make this decision once you get back into old routines of eating. Pray about it now, while the
spiritual benefits of fasting are fresh on your mind and in your spirit.
When God leads you as to what your regular fasting commitment should be, put it on your calendar — just as you would schedule a meeting for work, a spouse’s anniversary, or ladies, your hair appointment. When it’s on your calendar, it’s a commitment to be kept, not a contingency that can be cancelled.
I praise God for each of you, and I bless your New Year of 2021! You are marked and set apart with
God’s favor and joy — you are His treasure and delight. Enjoy each new day in faith to worship Him who reigns above all things, in every situation, knowing we are overcomer’s in this world!
Make it a great YEAR and be blessed!
Brian
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