21 DAYS PRAYER FASTING (DAY11)

1. Guidelines

a) Fasting confirms our utter dependence upon God by finding in Him a source of sustenance beyond food ... fasting unto our Lord therefore is feasting - feasting on Him and on doing His will. Fasting is designed to make prayer mount up on eagle's wings. If the motive to fast is proper, heaven is ready to bend its ear to listen when someone prays with fasting. Fasting can break through in the spiritual realm that could never be had in any other way.

b) How to fast? You are free to fast however the Spirit of God leads you. Here are some options:

i) TOTAL FAST - Abstain from solid food for 24 hours. Drink only water. If you choose to go for a total fast over the 21 days, please seek the advice of your doctor.

ii) 1-MEAL FAST - Sacrifice one full meal a day. For example: Lunch Fast or Dinner Fast.

iii) PARTIAL FAST - Abstain from solid food for any extended part of the day. Drink only water. The time frame is a matter of the individual commitment before the Lord. For example from sunrise (6.00 am) to sundown (6.00 pm) or a shorter period, 8.00 am to 4.00 pm, breaking fast with a light snack.

iv) DANIEL FAST - Abstain from meat and other favorite delicacies. Take only small portion of fresh vegetables, fruits and juices.

v) LIQUID FAST - Beside drinking water only, one can take various kinds of fluids, such as juices, broth, soya bean etc. It is wise to abstain from strong stimulants such as tea or coffee.

2. Day 11

a) Prayer Focus:

i) That both the authorities and citizens of this land be prayerful and thankful at often times.

b) Meditation:

i) Prayer & Thanksgiving as usual

Consistency in our communion with God guards us from the wiles of the enemy and from people who could do us harm.

Daniel, from childhood to adulthood, had cultivated a lifestyle of praying and giving thanks to God three times a day.

May we, regardless of what our daily schedules be, not neglect our time with Him!

c) Scripture:

i) Daniel 6:1-28 (NKJV)

The Plot Against Daniel 

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom one hundred and twenty satraps, to be over the whole kingdom; and over these, three governors, of whom Daniel was one, that the satraps might give account to them, so that the king would suffer no loss. Then this Daniel distinguished himself above the governors and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king gave thought to setting him over the whole realm. So the governors and satraps sought to find some charge against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find no charge or fault, because he was faithful; nor was there any error or fault found in him. Then these men said, “We shall not find any charge against this Daniel unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.” 

So these governors and satraps thronged before the king, and said thus to him: “King Darius, live forever! All the governors of the kingdom, the administrators and satraps, the counselors and advisors, have consulted together to establish a royal statute and to make a firm decree, that whoever petitions any god or man for thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions. Now, O king, establish the decree and sign the writing, so that it cannot be changed, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.” Therefore King Darius signed the written decree.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days.

11 Then these men assembled and found Daniel praying and making supplication before his God. 12 And they went before the king, and spoke concerning the king’s decree: “Have you not signed a decree that every man who petitions any god or man within thirty days, except you, O king, shall be cast into the den of lions?”

The king answered and said, “The thing is true, according to the law of the Medes and Persians, which does not alter.”

13 So they answered and said before the king, “That Daniel, who is one of the captives from Judah, does not show due regard for you, O king, or for the decree that you have signed, but makes his petition three times a day.”

14 And the king, when he heard these words, was greatly displeased with himself, and set his heart on Daniel to deliver him; and he labored till the going down of the sun to deliver him. 15 Then these men approached the king, and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is the law of the Medes and Persians that no decree or statute which the king establishes may be changed.”

16 So the king gave the command, and they brought Daniel and cast him into the den of lions. But the king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Your God, whom you serve continually, He will deliver you.” 17 Then a stone was brought and laid on the mouth of the den, and the king sealed it with his own signet ring and with the signets of his lords, that the purpose concerning Daniel might not be changed.

Daniel Saved from the Lions

18 Now the king went to his palace and spent the night fasting; and no musicians were brought before him. Also his sleep went from him. 19 Then the king arose very early in the morning and went in haste to the den of lions. 20 And when he came to the den, he cried out with a lamenting voice to Daniel. The king spoke, saying to Daniel, “Daniel, servant of the living God, has your God, whom you serve continually, been able to deliver you from the lions?”

21 Then Daniel said to the king, “O king, live forever! 22 My God sent His angel and shut the lions’ mouths, so that they have not hurt me, because I was found innocent before Him; and also, O king, I have done no wrong before you.”

23 Now the king was exceedingly glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God.

Darius Honors God

24 And the king gave the command, and they brought those men who had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions—them, their children, and their wives; and the lions overpowered them, and broke all their bones in pieces before they ever came to the bottom of the den.

25 Then King Darius wrote: 

To all peoples, nations, and languages that dwell in all the earth:

Peace be multiplied to you. 

26 I make a decree that in every dominion of my kingdom men must tremble and fear before the God of Daniel. 

For He is the living God,
And steadfast forever;
His kingdom is the one which shall not be destroyed,
And His dominion shall endure to the end.
27 He delivers and rescues,
And He works signs and wonders
In heaven and on earth,
Who has delivered Daniel from the power of the lions.
 

28 So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. 

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