Fast for Freedom Friday
At the Heart of it All…
I think we would all agree that America is in desperate need of God’s healing touch. When something is broken, it needs to be fixed. There are many things in our country that are broken and desperately need to be fixed. But there is only ONE way and only ONE person who can fix them, and that is our heavenly Father. Many people have tried many things to fix the problems we’re facing, but more money, more education, and more government programs are not the answer—inviting God, the Master Creator and fixer of all things, back into our country is.
Are you a Christian? Then you are a key player in inviting the Father back into America. How? It all starts with prayer. Most of us have heard the scripture, but it definitely bears repeating.
God is not looking or waiting for the democrats, the republicans, or the independents to pray. He is not looking for the unsaved, the atheists, or those following false religions to pray. God is looking and waiting for HIS people—that’s anybody who calls Christ both Savior and Lord—to pray. Humbling ourselves means we admit that we can do nothing in our own strength and wisdom—we need God to step into the picture and fix the mess we’ve made (see John 15:5). When we pray, we are honestly and openly talking to God. This begins with repenting of our personal sins and continues with repenting for the sins of America (see Daniel’s example in Daniel 9:1-17).
About seven or eight years ago, the Lord really began tugging on my heart to pray one day a week for America, and along with prayer, He gave me a desire to fast. Eventually, every Friday during my lunch hour became my prayer time for the country. If the weather was good, I walked the grounds of Joyce Meyer Ministries, praying and interceding for our nation. Sometimes I was joined by others, and our prayer power was exponentially multiplied. And that is where the thought of Fast For Freedom Friday was birthed.
The idea is to bring together as many people as possible on the same day, around the same time and carry out the God-ordained mandate of 2 Chronicles 7:14. Think about it…Americans from all walks of life uniting in prayer. People from different economic backgrounds, educational backgrounds, and denominational backgrounds all coming together at the foot of the cross to seek the mercy and favor of our heavenly Father. No, we are not all in one place geographically. Instead, we are strategically positioned in every nook and cranny of the nation from sea to shining sea—standing in the gap on behalf of our country (Ezekiel 22:30).
Fast For Freedom Friday isn’t just ordinary prayer—it’s “super-sized” prayer. How is it super-sized? It includes a very powerful ingredient. That’s right…fasting. In Matthew 17 Jesus cast a demon out of a boy after His disciples were unable to. Afterward, they came to Him and asked Him why they couldn’t do it. Jesus answered saying, “…this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting” (Matthew 17:21 AMP). I believe there are a number of demonic strongholds in America that will only be removed by prayer and fasting.
So I ask you: Are you tired of immorality on the airwaves and in our streets? Does your heart break for the millions of unborn that have been aborted? Are you frustrated that your freedom of speech and acknowledgment of God in public is being taken away? Then I invite you to fast from lunch on Fridays and join in the concert of prayer being played to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. If for medical reasons or other you can’t fast a full meal, that’s okay—you can still pray. Maybe you could give up your cup of coffee, soda, or sweets in honor of the occasion.
However you decide to participate is between you and the Lord. I just urge you to get involved—for the sake of your children, your grandchildren and the future of this great nation. May God direct and bless our efforts, and may God bless America again!
To Join the Concert of Prayer, click here.