Breakthrough - Week 1 | Coastal Church

Devotional

Day 1: Build breakthrough before the battle begins

Unstoppable faith is planted long before the storm rolls in. Daniel’s strength in the lion’s den came from habits formed in the quiet, ordinary days. You can begin now—set a time, a place, and a simple plan to meet with God before pressures mount. Don’t wait for a crisis to deepen your roots; prepare your heart so trust becomes your reflex. Start small, stay steady, and let consistency carry you into courage. [54:59]

Daniel 6:10: After hearing the royal order was signed, Daniel went home to his upstairs room, turned toward Jerusalem, and bowed in prayer. He kept his practice of praying three times a day and offered thanks to God, just as he always had.

Reflection: What daily rhythm will you establish this week to seek God before the next pressure arrives, and when exactly will it happen in your schedule?

Day 2: Fasting to awaken holy dependence on God

Fasting is not a trick or a shortcut; it’s a way of making space for God that our full plates often crowd out. By voluntarily emptying ourselves, we learn a deeper dependence on the One who sustains us. Consider a food fast that is safe, sincere, and significant—neither extreme nor weak—and let it create holy desperation that leads to prayer. Don’t replace repentance with “fasting”; set aside something good so you can seek what is better. Enter these days with humility, clarity, and a plan that draws your heart near to God. [41:22]

Philippians 3:18–19: Many live in ways opposed to the way of the cross; their path ends in ruin. Their cravings rule them, they boast in what should bring shame, and their minds are fixed on earthly things.

Reflection: What specific, time-bound food fast would cultivate holy dependence for you in the coming days, and what plan and support do you need to carry it out wisely?

Day 3: Consistent prayer without excuses or hiding

When pressure rose and prayer was outlawed, Daniel didn’t make exceptions—he kept praying with gratitude. Consistency forms courage; excuses thin our trust when we need it most. If fear, fatigue, or distraction has sidelined you, let this be a fresh start toward simple, steady prayer. Even brief, honest moments with God throughout the day can reshape your inner life. Choose faithfulness over loopholes, and gratitude over grumbling. [01:00:22]

Daniel 6:6–10: The officials convinced the king to decree that no one could pray to any god or person except the king for thirty days, or they would face the lions. Even then, Daniel went to his home and, as he had long practiced, prayed to God three times a day with thanksgiving.

Reflection: What is one honest excuse that tends to keep you from unhurried prayer, and how will you adjust your environment or routine to remove it?

Day 4: Trust God with outcomes, not control

Faithfulness is your part; outcomes are God’s. Deliverance sometimes looks like closed lions’ mouths, and sometimes like God sitting with you in the den. Keep seeking Him, keep obeying, and let Him write the ending in His timing and wisdom. Your steadfast trust may even stir others to seek God, as the king did for Daniel. Rest your heart in the One who sees the whole story. [01:07:28]

Daniel 6:19–23: At daybreak the king hurried to the den and called out in distress. Daniel replied that God sent His angel to shut the lions’ mouths because he was found innocent and had done no wrong. The king rejoiced, had Daniel lifted out, and no injury was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.

Reflection: Where are you longing for an exit, and what would trusting God with the outcome look like while you remain faithful right where you are?

Day 5: Ask big; grow deeper and wider together

Bring specific, daring requests to God—ask for what seems beyond reach. He may change circumstances, and He will certainly change you as you seek Him. Let these days grow you deeper in devotion and wider in perspective, not only for yourself but alongside the church family God has given you. Jesus remains your greatest breakthrough; everything else flows from Him. Keep showing up, keep asking, and keep trusting. [01:09:59]

2 Corinthians 12:9–10: The Lord said His grace is sufficient and His power becomes most visible in weakness. Therefore, choosing to embrace weakness and hardship makes room for Christ’s strength; when we are weak, His strength proves greater.

Reflection: Name one bold breakthrough you will ask God for this season; how will you write it down, pray for it daily, and invite a trusted friend or group to pray with you?

Sermon Summary

God’s faithfulness is the backdrop for a 21-day call to seek Him with “unstoppable faith.” The focus is not merely attending church or serving, but growing deeper in devotion and wider in perspective. Fasting is presented as a time-tested pathway into prayerful desperation—not a way to “earn” blessings or manipulate outcomes, but a mercy that heightens dependence on the God who is always present. While some may choose to fast media, the invitation presses further: consider fasting food in a wise, doctor-aware way, because appetites often compete with alertness to the Spirit. Fasting is not about health gains, though those may come; it’s about meeting God more fully.

Drawing from Daniel 6:10, the call is to develop consistent habits of prayer before a crisis hits. Daniel didn’t scramble to find faith under pressure; his daily rhythm had already formed him. Unstoppable faith doesn’t make excuses when culture presses back; rather, it keeps the windows open toward Jerusalem, giving thanks in the face of lions. The three practical fasting tips are clear: choose a fast that creates holy desperation; fast something good (not sinful habits—that’s repentance); and avoid extremes while still choosing something significant. The result is a life shaped by devoted routines that cultivate courage when it’s costly.

Trusting God with the outcome is central. Daniel’s story shows that breakthrough isn’t always an escape hatch; sometimes deliverance looks like God sitting beside His people in the lions’ den. That nearness is the greater gift, and it forges endurance. With that confidence, the invitation is to ask boldly—about health, marriages, finances, children, addictions—naming specific breakthroughs and seeking God daily. Practical helps include a church resource page, email devotionals, and life groups, all designed to sustain consistency. The gathered response—writing breakthroughs and pinning them to the cross—embodies a communal faith that expects God to move. And for those ready to begin with Jesus, the greatest breakthrough is surrendering to Him now and building a life that prays three times a day “as usual,” windows open, grateful and unafraid.

Key Takeaways

1. Build faith before the crisis A crisis exposes what has been formed in ordinary days. Daniel could stand firm under scrutiny because his habits were already sturdy. Don’t wait for pressure to invent a prayer life; start small, steady, and daily now. Build your breakthrough before the battle. [54:59]
2. Fast to cultivate holy desperation Fasting clears space for God by quieting appetites that often run the day. It is not magic, but it heightens dependence and attention to His presence. Choose a wise, doctor-aware approach that actually costs you something. Let hunger become a teacher that points your heart toward Him. [41:02]
3. Consistency over excuses in prayer Daniel didn’t bargain for a 30-day pause; he prayed “as usual,” giving thanks with lions looming. Excuses tend to multiply when commitment is vague; clarity and rhythm protect desire. Build a pattern that can withstand alarms, fatigue, and resistance so your heart has a home to return to. [61:02]
4. Trust God with the outcome Courage is not presuming a plot twist; it is entrusting the ending to God. Daniel’s calm came from the One who knows beginnings and ends. Do what faith requires today, and leave tomorrow’s vindication in His hands. Trust is the bridge between obedience and peace. [64:45]
5. Breakthrough is presence before escape Sometimes God does not open a door; He closes a lion’s mouth. He may not remove the tension, but He will fill it with Himself. Breakthrough is less about getting out and more about meeting God in the middle. Expect rescue, but prize His nearness above relief. [68:08]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:25] - New Year greeting and identity reminder
[01:20] - Breakthrough 2026: Unstoppable faith
[02:30] - Why fasting: hunger that seeks God
[04:10] - Practical fasting options and wisdom
[06:10] - Three fasting tips: desperate, good, balanced
[08:05] - Resources and weekly rhythm for growth
[09:10] - Key verse: Daniel 6:10
[10:00] - Faith built before the crisis
[12:05] - No excuses: consistency in prayer
[14:20] - Trusting God with outcomes
[16:00] - Presence in the lions’ den
[17:30] - Response: Breakthrough cards and prayer
[20:00] - Invitation to follow Jesus
[22:00] - Closing and next steps

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading

Daniel 6:10

Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before.

Observation questions

In Daniel 6:10, what two phrases show Daniel’s steady pattern and heart posture in prayer? What do “as usual” and “three times a day…giving thanks” reveal?
Why does the verse mention that Daniel’s windows were “open toward Jerusalem”? What might that detail tell us about his focus and identity?
What were the three practical fasting tips named, including “create a fast that creates holy desperation”? [47:08]
When the new law was signed, what did Daniel actually do—notice both his posture (kneeling) and his attitude (thankfulness) in Daniel 6:10?

Interpretation questions

Why is building habits “as usual” before trouble comes so important for faith to endure when pressure hits? How does “Build your breakthrough before the battle” land with you? [58:29]
What might keeping the “windows open toward Jerusalem” suggest about public witness, courage, and integrity today?
How does fasting aim at dependence on God rather than “earning” anything? Consider the line, “It’s not magic…[fasting] creates more dependence on the God who’s always there.” [41:22]
What does it look like to trust God with the outcome when the “lions” are still very real? Reflect on, “Sometimes God’s deliverance…comes by him sitting with you while you’re still in the presence of lions.” [01:08:08]

Application questions

Rhythm “as usual”: When will you pray three times a day for the next 21 days? Name the exact times, places, and triggers (alarm, before meals, commute) so it becomes “as usual” for you. “He prayed three times a day just as he had always done.” [01:00:22]
Choose your fast: What will you fast that is good and significant (not a sinful habit), and how will you make it doctor-aware and wise? Where do you need the nudge to “Don’t be extreme, but also don’t be weak”? [48:15]
Replace excuses with clarity: What are your top two excuses that keep you from consistent prayer (alarms, fatigue, schedule)? What specific boundaries or cues will you put in place this week to remove them? Consider the warning about “lazy, optional faith.” [01:03:51]
Ask boldly: What one or two specific breakthroughs will you ask God for over these 21 days (health, marriage, finances, kids, addictions)? Write them down and share with the group if you can. “Ask big.” [01:08:31]
Gratitude in the den: What can you give thanks for right now—even with pressure or fear present—so that your prayers mirror Daniel’s “giving thanks” in Daniel 6:10? Name three things you’ll thank God for daily this week.
Presence over escape: Where do you need to prize God’s nearness more than quick relief? How will you practice awareness of His presence when hunger pangs hit or anxiety rises (short breath prayers, Scripture cards, a short walk)? “Breakthrough is not always about an escape route…It’s about the presence of God seeing us through.” [01:08:08]
Walk with others: Who will you invite into this journey (text check-ins, praying together, sharing breakthroughs)? What next step will you take with a Life Group or the daily devotionals to stay consistent? “Our life groups…many of them are gonna be discussing breakthrough topics.” [51:51]

Sermon Clips

So I want you, as your pastor, I want you to seek God. I want you to grow. I I want you to thrive spiritually in 2026. I don't want you to just show up to church regularly. I don't even want you to show up to church regularly and serve and do all these things. I want you to grow. I want you to grow deeper in your faith, and I want your perspective to grow wider. [00:39:36] (27 seconds) #ThriveSpiritually2026

I want you to take advantage of this time. Even if you're like, what is this crazy church trying to get me to do? I wanna give I want you to give it a chance. I want you to go to God. Don't don't do it because I think you should. I want you to go to God and ask him, is this something that you want me to do for you? Because you're not doing it for your church. You're actually not even doing it for you. We fast and we pray for God. [00:40:18] (34 seconds) #GoToGod21

I wanna also I want to, or let me let me the f word fasting. I wanna put that aside for just a second because fasting just gets us into a position of prayer that can't be easily gotten into with food on the table. Okay? Or with whatever it is you're fasting still there. Fasting puts us in a position of desperation, which creates more dependence on the god who's always there whether you're fasting or not. Just makes us more aware. It's not magic. It's not like rubbing the genie bottle. Oh, now we get our wish. [00:40:52] (42 seconds) #FastingForPrayer

So let's talk about that f word, fasting. Maybe not the f word you were thinking of, but fasting. It's an emptying of ourselves physically so we can be filled in more spiritual ways. Can we just get close to Jesus and keep eating? Fasting is throughout the scriptures. I wanna I wanna say now some people fast social media, Some people fast the news. [00:41:45] (35 seconds) #FastToBeFilled

I just I think it's interesting that the very first sin, the temptation was food. I And then fast forward, Jesus in the wilderness, what does Satan tell him to do? Turn those stones into bread. So I can't get past that. And so I'm fasting food. [00:42:59] (27 seconds) #FastingOverFood

Don't you know, I I get these every year. I'm not just saying this to be funny. I'm saying this because we're coastal, and people are still at a place where they're growing. But, like, fasting porn, fasting drunkenness, fasting weed, that's not fasting. Okay? That's called repentance, and you need some. Okay? That probably should just be a a lifelong I'm a fast this stuff. Okay? Just you understand me? Don't fast something that's already self destructive. [00:47:30] (35 seconds) #RepentDontFastVices

number three, don't be extreme, but also don't be weak. Yeah. If you didn't eat between now and the twenty fifth, we'd probably notice. Don't be extreme, but don't be weak. So, you know, you can set different different you you get to set the rules. Okay? You go before God and you say, this is what I'm gonna dedicate to you. I'm gonna I'm gonna you could not eat for a day a week. Alright? Trust me. You can handle it. I'm looking out here. Some of y'all could handle it. I'm just kidding. Why do I say that stuff? [00:48:16] (38 seconds) #BalancedFasting

twenty one days of fasting, and it was done when Daniel made a decision that he wasn't gonna compromise. And he actually ended up healthier. K? So I guess good. Don't do this just for the health. You hear me? We cannot do this just for health reasons. It's okay. You're gonna you might lose some weight if you don't eat. Okay? That's fine. But that's a byproduct. Do this seeking the presence of God. [00:50:09] (36 seconds) #FastForPresence

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Breakthrough - Week 1 | Coastal Church

Devotional

Day 1: Build breakthrough before the battle begins

Day 2: Fasting to awaken holy dependence on God

Day 3: Consistent prayer without excuses or hiding

Day 4: Trust God with outcomes, not control

Day 5: Ask big; grow deeper and wider together

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Breakthrough - Week 1 | Coastal Church

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