How can we prioritize prayer and fasting in times of spiritual crisis? Recognizing the Call in Crisis • Joel 1:13: “Put on sackcloth and lament, O priests; wail, O ministers of the altar. Come, spend the night in sackcloth, O ministers of my God, because grain and drink offerings are withheld from the house of your God.” • Spiritual drought—pictured by withheld offerings—demands an immediate return to God. • When outward worship dries up, inward devotion must deepen. Responding with Immediate Action • “Put on sackcloth and lament” – adopt outward signs that mirror inward sorrow (cf. Nehemiah 9:1). • Delay only hardens hearts; Joel urges instant, visible repentance. • Personal application: clear the calendar, silence devices, and dedicate uninterrupted hours to prayer. Embracing Corporate Responsibility • The command targets “priests” and “ministers,” yet Israel’s later response in Joel 2:15-17 shows the whole assembly joining. • 2 Chronicles 7:14 confirms collective humility: “If My people who are called by My name humble themselves…” • Encourage families, small groups, and congregations to fast together, sharing both burden and breakthrough. Fasting that Humbles the Heart • Joel calls for sackcloth; Jesus refines the attitude: “When you fast… your Father who sees in secret will reward you” (Matthew 6:16-18). • Biblical fasting is abstaining from food to seek God’s face, not to earn favor. • Consider varied fasts—sunrise to sunset, Daniel fasts, or total fasts under medical wisdom—always coupled with prayer. Persistent Night-long Seeking • “Spend the night in sackcloth” models extended vigilance (cf. Luke 6:12, Jesus praying all night). • Set up night watches: rotate one-hour slots so prayer covers every hour. • Keep Scripture open; let passages like Psalm 130 or Lamentations 3 guide confession and hope. Restoring the Flow of Worship • Crisis blocked “grain and drink offerings.” Prayer and fasting reopen the channel. • Ezra 8:23: “So we fasted and petitioned our God about this, and He granted our request.” • As God answers, resume joyful giving, singing, and service—visible evidence of revival. Practical Steps for Today 1. Identify the spiritual crisis—lukewarmness, moral compromise, cultural pressure. 2. Call a specific fast—set dates, length, and focus. 3. Gather Scripture promises to pray: Joel 2:12-13; Acts 13:2-3; Isaiah 58:6-9. 4. Combine fasting with confession, worship, and generous giving. 5. Record answers: testimonies fuel continued dependence on God. |
    |