In This Issue· A CALL TO THE DANIEL FAST
· A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
· A PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSORS
Greetings!
Capitol Hill Prayer Partners
P.O. Box 5152
Herndon, VA 20172-1970
chpp@patriot.net
A CALL TO THE DANIEL FAST Saturday, October 11, 2008
At that time I, Daniel, mourned for three weeks. I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips; and I used no lotions at all until the three weeks were over. "Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia." (Daniel 10:2,3, 12, 13)
A CALL TO THE DANIEL FAST
Saints of God,When a nation is in peril, its people turn to the LORD in prayers, in fastings, and in repentance.Tonight, America is in peril. She is in peril economically. She is in peril politically. And she is in peril morally and spiritually. It is time to take desperate measures.Thankfully, our Lord has given us an example, in His Word, of what one man did when his own nation was in peril. That man was Daniel. And God's instruction to Daniel was to observe three weeks in fasting.
JUST AS DANIEL HAD TO CONTEND WITH THE PRINCE OF PERSIA FOR THE LIFE OF HIS PEOPLE, SO MUST WE DO NOW.
WHAT ARE THE GUIDELINES FOR A "DANIEL FAST?"
The Daniel Fast is just as is quoted in Daniel 10:3: "I ate no choice food; no meat or wine touched my lips . . ." (NIV)
Fruits, vegetables, fish, cheeses and pasta are all acceptable on this fast, so this is actually a very healthy way to live.Regarding the words "choice food," NKJ says: "I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth." RSV: "No delicacies, no meat or wine." So, no desserts. Simply follow the guidelines set out in Scripture, seek the Lord, and obey.
HOW LONG DO YOU FAST AS DANIEL DID?
Answer: Daniel fasted for three weeks (Chapter 10, verse 3) All translations say three full weeks - or 21 days.
WHAT HAPPENED WHEN DANIEL OBSERVED HIS FAST FOR THREE FULL WEEKS?
DANIEL'S PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED!
Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. (Dan. 10:3)
WHEN DO WE BEGIN THIS FAST, AND WHEN DOES IT END?
This fast will begin at sunrise on Tuesday, October 14th, and continue through the eve of Election Day: Monday, November 4th.
WHY ARE WE BEING CALLED TO FAST IN THIS HOUR?
We are crying out to God for mercy in our time of need, and to ask Him to do battle for us. God desires to see righteousness exalted in this nation; it is time to contend for our faith!
FINALLY, WHAT PRAYER GUIDELINES DO WE FOLLOW IN THIS FAST?
Here is the wonderful part: Father is asking ONLY that we "pray in the Spirit" during these twenty-one days. The issues before us are so complex, so convoluted, so complicated, and so beyond our own understanding, that only our Omnisicient God can know it all. So, let us turn to Him, praying in the spirit, for a set time each day, so that Father can build His kingdom in us and through us! Amen!
SUMMARY:
The Call to the Daniel Fast begins on Tuesday morning, October 14th and continues through Monday night, November 4th.
Participants are urged to seek the scriptural guidelines in Daniel 10:3 for the diet to be observed, and to seek the LORD for a time He would draw you aside, daily, to pray in the Spirit before His Throne of Grace.
We are asking our Lord to show His mercy in our time of need, according to Habakkuk 3:2 and to send forth His angels (even the archangel Michael, if it be His will) to do battle on our behalf.
Finally, we thank our Lord that it is written "I will contend with those who contend with you, and your children I will save." (Jer. 45:29)
A WORD OF ENCOURAGEMENT
Praying for the Upcoming Election
Patrick Joshua is the Director of the National Prayer Network and a father figure to the prayer movement in India. Because of a special burden for our nation, he visited the United States twice in recent months. Patrick believes the U.S. is at a very critical time in history, the impact of which will be felt around the world.
During his visits, Patrick told the story of God's intervention in India in 2004, in response to the fervent, united prayers of His people. At that time, political forces had mobilized with the intention of turning their nation in a direction that would make it almost impossible for Christians to share or practice their faith. Those forces had the momentum and the numbers as the Christian population in India is a minority, by some estimates representing only 6% of the 1.1 billion people in the nation.
The situation was desperate. Many thought it was impossible. So they turned to the God of the impossible and began to pray. In cities and states across their nation, a movement of united, fervent prayer arose, but with a unique focus. They weren't praying for particular candidates or political parties. Instead they were praying for the person of righteousness, the person of God's choosing, to be elected in every elected office.
Right up until the day of the election every poll and pundit predicted the election would be a landslide for those who were opposed to the gospel. When the votes were counted, however, the results revealed a different story. In district after district those candidates and political allies who opposed the gospel had been soundly defeated. At a national level they were out of power. The press and the pundits were stunned. No one saw it coming.
So what happened? It seems God heard the cries of His people and touched the hearts of the voters as they went into the voting booths. Some believe a corporate conviction came upon the people and they voted for the person of righteous, the person of God's choosing. This was seen most dramatically in the states and regions where prayer was the most concentrated and fervent. In one of those states, laws that restricted the advance of the gospel were immediately repealed.
This is a very hopeful report about what God did in the elections in India. While our situation is different, we are at a critical crossroad. He can do this in our nation too if we will PRAY!
(Source: Taken from "Prayer For God To Call Out Intercessors," Prayer Portions, page 316. © 1991, 1995 by Sylvia Gunter. Available at www.thefathersbusiness.com.)
A PRAYER FOR THE INTERCESSORS
Our Father, our Lord, bless intercessors who have stood as watchmen at their posts unseen and unsung in the hidden work of prayer. You appointed and anointed them by Your Spirit of grace and supplication for the authority they have wielded in standing in the gap between Your holy hand and the judgment that the sins of our nation deserve. Strengthen the hands of these intercessors with patient endurance and with Aarons and Hurs to come alongside (Exo. 17:10- 13).
Release and reappoint those who have been discouraged, distracted, or disillusioned by inordinate attacks on their body, soul, or spirit, or on their families or finances. Come, our Helper Holy Spirit, to the praying ones who have been robbed and beaten up. Pour the oil of Your Spirit on these wounded soldiers, take them up, and restore them to wholeness and health and to their gifting and calling in intercession.
Awake new intercessors in Your church that have been disinterested and lazy. Let us receive new mantles of intercession and hear Your appointment to our posts in prayer. By the Spirit of Christ Jesus, who ever lives to intercede, impregnate the hearts of every believer with the Spirit of prayer as simple obedience to the commands of God's Word to pray without ceasing and to pray for those in authority. Appoint new intercessors and birth in them a holy desperation for prayer until we see You answer and You show us great and mighty things we have never seen.
Raise up intercessors who will . . .Respond to Your call in humility and holiness. Respond to Your call to pray in the fear of the Lord.Pray with grateful hearts of thanksgiving with their eyes on You.Petition the God of the Impossible.Pray with You, not just to You, "Your Kingdom come, Your will be done.Ask our Father, our King, to have mercy and redeem and show us Your glory in the sight of all nations.
Let this be a trumpet call, as Nehemiah said, "The work is extensive and spread out. Whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, join us there. Our God will fight for us. Remember the Lord who is great and awesome." (Neh: 4:17,20)
Holy Spirit, touch Your church.
Show us Your glory.
In Your Name, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, AMEN
(Source: Taken from "Prayer For God To Call Out Intercessors," Prayer Portions, page 316. © 1991, 1995 by Sylvia Gunter. Available at www.thefathersbusiness.com)
