Joel 2: 12-15 NIV
12 “Even now,” declares the LORD,
“return to me with all your heart,
with fasting and weeping and mourning.”
13 Rend your heart
and not your garments.
Return to the LORD your God,
for he is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in love,
and he relents from sending calamity.
14 Who knows? He may turn and have pity
and leave behind a blessing—
grain offerings and drink offerings
for the LORD your God.
15 Blow the trumpet in Zion,
declare a holy fast,
call a sacred assembly.
Fasting is a discipline that seems to have been lost in the church in 2010, but as I read the scripture, God never intended for us to stop the practice of this discipline.
The Bible has much to say about this discipline and I will talk about those reasons here over the next days and weeks but I want first of all to call the church to Fast and Pray.
Fasting is a Spiritual Discipline that brings us into the presence of God in a different way. It is a time to deny ourselves of worldly pleasures in order to intentionally focus on God and what He has for us at this time.
I am calling for all those from Out Of The Box Worship Center and other local churches who are able and will, to Fast and Pray for 72 hours. Starting sundown Monday October 25th through Thursday sundown October 28th.
In this 72 hours, I will only take water and I will spend focused hours each day seeking the Lord and how He would have us at OOTB Worship Center and First UMC Hillsville, reach the 78 percent in Carroll County who are not connected to a church, who do not have a committed relationship with Jesus Christ.
Some would say this is too big a goal and it is for us, but it is not too much for God. I want to pray and ask for something that ONLY God can do. I want people to look and see that we are not the ones to be praised but it is God who is to be praised. Let’s agree together, to ask God for the 78 percent, for His Glory.
I will only be taking water, some may choose to skip one or two meals a day, some may choose to do a Daniel Fast which is basically fruits and vegetables, and some may choose to do a juice Fast.
Let me know if you will be joining me and let’s seek God together.
Ronnie
