21 days does not seem like a long time when you think in terms of months or years; however, 21 days can seem like an eternity when waiting for your breakthrough. Why 21 days?
Here are some things I know about 21 days:
- Habits can be formed or broken
- It’s equivalent to 504 hours
- Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days (Daniel 10) before he had a breakthrough
I want to focus on Daniel and waiting for your breakthrough. If you study the book of Daniel, you will discover Daniel was of royal blood; however, as a young boy, he was carried away to Babylon along with three other young boys mentioned in Daniel 1, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah.
These boys were, “Children in whom was no blemish, but well-favored, and skillful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and had the ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom could be taught the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans.” (Daniel 1:4)
The purpose of taking them captive and giving them special training was to make them servants in the king’s royal court. It was customary for a person’s name to be changed to denote their change in station or position in life. Their Hebrew names, which they received at their circumcision, revealed a picture of the one true God: Daniel—God is my Judge; Hananiah—The grace of the Lord; Mishael—He that is the strong God; Azariah—The Lord is a help. However, to make them forget the God of their fathers, they were given names which denoted Chaldean idolatry.
Daniel became Belteshazzar, which signifies the keeper of the hidden treasures of Bel; Hananiah’s name was changed to Shadrach meaning inspiration of the sun, which the Chaldeans worshipped; Mishael became Meshach, meaning ‘of the goddess Shach’, under which name Venus was worshipped; and Azariah’s name was changed to Abed-nego, meaning servant of the shining fire, which the Chaldeans also worshipped. (I want to make point here: Just because the devil has renamed you does not mean God has changed or forgotten your true name).
Through his captivity, Daniel never forgot the God of his forefathers. He remained steadfast in praying three times a day. In Daniel 10, Daniel is now an old man and has been praying and fasting for 21 days. He has not availed himself of any of his normal pleasantries. He is petitioning God for answers concerning the return of his people at the end of the 70 weeks prophesied in Jeremiah 25:12-13.
As he prayed, Daniel has an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ, who tells him that the Father had heard his prayers, but the answer had been hindered by demonic forces for 21 days. Only with the help of the arch angel, Michael, did Daniel’s answer finally arrive.
Like Daniel, sometimes we are fasting and praying and do not see an answer. Some are so discouraged they simply stop praying; however, we must realize that God has heard and the answer is on the way. We must maintain our faith and our hope in the promises of God’s word. Have you been waiting a while for answers; are you discouraged? Stand firm (Colossians 1:23) and hold on to the confession of your faith (Hebrews 10:23). For He is faithful.
Being thankful: Ephesians 5:20
Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
Want to know more about Daniel and the end times. Check out this resource.
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