Declare a Holy Fast

Scripture:

Joel 1:14 "Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly.  Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord".

Observation:

Joel comes onto the scene talking about locusts that have eaten everything in sight and how the nation of Israel is desolate and dried up.  He tells the people of Israel what to do when it seems like everything around you is drying up.  He tells them to declare a fast and summon the leaders to the house of the Lord to cry out to the Lord. 

Application:

God is always the source of our deliverance as His children.  We can look to others, education, systems, government, etc., but our help comes from the Lord, the maker of Heaven and earth.  When things are getting dry in our lives, our nation, our church, our family, etc.,  we should take the example of Joel and call for a time of fasting and prayer.  It is God who can and will deliver us!  We must cry out to the Lord, the rest is His business.

Prayer:

Father, America is in a mess.  We have abandoned You and forsaken Your truths.  We have assembled many times of prayer and fasting, but it seems we keep going farther from the truth.  Help me turn the tide.  Draw people to times of prayer and fasting.  Draw church leaders to united prayer, fasting and worship.  Let there be unity in the body of Christ.

Your Son,
Jeff