Opening Day

Tomorrow is the big day.  It feels like opening day of the Baseball season.  A new feeling is in the air.  "Could this be the year?" We wonder.  Our team will take the field and play for the pennant of the Kingdom of God.  Certainly we train constantly for this but at certain times new seasons come upon us and we are ready.

Perhaps you are like me.  I get a little out of shape in the off season.  I don't remember to pray for our nation every day as I should.  I can forget that the opposing team is not flesh and blood but  "the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places." Ephesians 6:12.   In many ways the whole world is looking at the US election this season and see the worldly impact but we are concerned with the Spiritual impact.  We are not playing defense. We are playing offense not to be offensive but to appeal to the God of our Lord Jesus for mercy and to revive the hearts and minds of the people of our country.

Can you hear the cheers of the crowds of the universe watching?  We are opening a new season in the history of our country and even in our own lives.  We are opening it with fasting and a fresh new time of prayer, of seeking God for the hearts and minds of people that He loves.   40 days til the election begins tomorrow.  Will you join us in prayer every day and in some form of fasting?

That's What Makes It Great

I'm reminded of a great exchange from one of my favorite movies, "A League of Their Own" about Ladies baseball during WWII. 

Geena Davis: "It just got too hard."

Tom Hanks: "It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great."

Fasting is like that. Its hard. That's what makes it great. That's what tells God and ourselves that we are serious. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that God rewards those who "diligently" seek Him. This is not about gaining salvation. Its about going deeper. In more movie parlance it could be called, "going to the mattresses". We are laying it down and saying to God that we are "into Him" and we trust Him that He will reward us with more of Himself and with the accomplishment of His perfect will in our lives and in the requests on our hearts. 

Our primary request in this fast is the healing of our nation. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14. This is our request to Him as we begin our fast on Sept 28.