April 1st - The Final Preparation
“So He said to them, ‘This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
(Mark 9:29)
I am putting out a call for a season of prayer & fasting beginning today, April 1, 2026 and proceeding for the next 50 days. Why has this called been issued?
Prayer is often accompanied by fasting in the Bible. Fasting expresses earnestness and urgency in our prayers; if we continued to fast, eventually we would die. Therefore, in a symbolic way, fasting says to God that we are prepared to lay down our lives that the situation may be changed rather than it continue the way it is.
Prayer with fasting acknowledges that we are truly in need; that this is serious, urgent business. Therefore future of our nation or our church may depend on it. Therefore future of protection of religious liberty and our our freedom to worship God freely may depend on it. The spread of Christianity around the world may depend on it.
Another reason to call for a time of fasting and prayer is that Jesus taught that some spiritual battles are so serious, they can only be dealt with through prayer and fasting (Matthew 17:21; Mark 9:29). So, if we see this time as so pivotal in our nation’s or church’s history, wouldn’t it make sense to pull out all the stops, and to do whatever we could to ensure the best possible outcomes?
If we answer the call to pray and fast, what might that look like in each of our individual life situations? That is a question that can only be answered by each of us individually seeking the Lord for ourselves. Some of us may be able to lead our entire family in 1 day a week or 1 day a month of prayer and fasting. Some of us may be led to just take in liquid all day fasting from solid food. Others may only be able to skip a meal or two because of the obligations we have. Yet others may have medical issues so we are not able to go without food for even a single meal. But everyone can give up something — sweets? Second servings? Dessert? A certain activity? On line time? But let’s not let this become legalistic. Let’s each of us simply ask the Lord what He would have us do or not do in obedience to this call to fast and pray.
More importantly than what we choose as a fast is why we choose to fast. If our motive is to be seen by others as more righteous, then our actions will not be blessed. Jesus instructs in Matthew 6:1 (NIV) “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” He then further instructs “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly, I tell you, they have received their reward in full” (Matthew 6:16 NIV).
Jesus goes on to tell us the proper attitude in fasting: But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you” (Matthew 6:17-18 NIV).
Notice Jesus did not say “IF” you fast… He said “WHEN” you fast… The assumption is that we will fast from time to time. But Jesus tells us to do it in such a way that it does not call attention to ourselves for the purpose of people’s praise, but only to be seen by God Himself.
People judge by outward appearances; God looks at and judges our hearts (1 Samuel 16:7). He is the only One whose praise we seek as we make a plan for this season of prayer and fasting. As He leads, we choose to set aside some portion or all of this season in fasting and prayer in advance of our important, coordinated attack on our enemy and his demonic forces.
Throughout this season of prayer and fasting, as we focus our hearts and minds on our 50-day prayer challenge ahead, let’s ask the Lord what HE would like to accomplish through our prayers. What changes in the hearts and lives of us, His people, would be pleasing to Him? What areas of concern would HE like us to bring to Him in prayer? And what would HE like to see accomplished in the hearts and life of our nation and our church?
As we seek His face and listen to His direction, we may want to use the following space and lines to write down the specific concerns He brings to mind. Then we can refer to this list during our 50 days of intercession and be reminded of His heart for us and our country.