Our team has been involved in a 40 day fast. We have set our hearts upon Jesus as King. We desire to see His purposes fulfilled in our nation in this hour of history. We have given over our attention, affection, and appetite in fasting and praying to contend for breakthrough. Let God arise, and let His enemies be scattered! (Psalm 68:1)

We are living in and through a very important moment in history. History will tell of how we handled the window of opportunity that was opened up to us in this hour. It is critical for us as believers to not just casually attempt to slide through this season thinking that we can just ignore all that is happening. These are unprecedented days, and they require a response.

We have chosen to fast and pray as a response to the seeming crisis of the hour. Our response should be prayerful and practical. Not one or the other, but both. But, definitely leaning more into the prayerful side so that we can know what to do for the practical side. We want all of our actions to be informed by what is being revealed in the secret place. Most people that are out in public carrying on and demonstrating a lot of nonsense and foolishness are most likely not seeing that in secret first and then acting on it in public. Over the course of Jesus’ life, He shared that He would only do what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). This should be our desire.

We hope and pray that you would be sensitive to God’s desires in this hour and that you would create space in your heart and life to fast and pray in this season. Again, I feel that we will look back upon this window of opportunity in our history and realize much about the decisions that were made and the ripple effect that they had on the timeline of our lives.

There is a funny thing about decisions, you can make your choices, but you don’t necessarily always get to choose the consequences. All decisions come with consequences. That part is undeniable. I pray that we would choose wisely in this hour because we will surely bear the consequences of our decisions.

We are in the middle of a political cycle that will see our nation elect a president in just a matter of weeks. Right alongside that is a new vacancy in the Supreme Court, after the recent passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. These are massive decisions that need to be made. The consequences of these decisions will create a ripple effect throughout the timeline of history. I know that there is a lot of energy buzzing around these two offices that will be filled, both positive and negative.

I am not here to suggest who you should vote for as president. I am not here as an advocate for anyone in the Supreme Court either. BUT what I am here for is to exhort you and remind you that there are consequences to decisions. All decisions carry consequences. And, sometimes we can be so blinded by our own emotional condition in a moment that we don’t weigh things properly OR survey the timeline in order to come to a prayerful decision. Many times, we begin praying with our own preferences already in place. Many times, we are already fixed on what we think God wants to do or should do, and then spend enormous amounts of time trying to get Him to agree with our viewpoint or rally alongside of our case/cause. But this is not the way it should be.

Let’s take a quick look at a piece of a story found in Esther chapter 4. Again, we are talking about fasting and praying and the powerful implications that it can hold when held in the tension of government, offices, and national policies.

Esther has been confronted by Mordecai, her cousin that raised her. She is the Queen, but she is also a Jew. King Xerxes has signed a national ordinance that all of the Jews should be annihilated. The clock is counting down. Mordecai comes to Esther and offers her another perspective about getting involved after she turns down his initial request for her involvement in the matter. After Mordecai’s response, Esther says these words.

“Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go and assemble all the Jews who can be found in Susa and fast for me. Don’t eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my female servants will also fast in the same way. After that, I will go to the king even if it is against the law. If I perish, I perish.” (Esther 4:15-16)

Esther and her team enter into a fast. Mordecai and the people join Esther in fasting and praying. God moves powerfully on their behalf. There is a breakthrough with King Xerxes, and he cancels out the injunction that had already previously been signed for the slaughter of the Jewish people. Praise God!

Wild to think that national breakthrough came through fasting and praying for 3 days. Favor with the King. Change of national policy. Governmental ordinances canceled. Exposure of evil and corruption in government. Salvation for a specific people group. Wow, to think all of that shifted over a matter of just 3 days when they joined together in unity to fast and pray during a critical window in their history.

Here’s the point: Esther handled crisis with fasting and prayer.

How are you handling crisis? Complaining and criticism? Depression? Anger? Fear?

The times are very real. There is nothing “fake” about what we are all going through. However, God’s purposes will not be derailed. His Kingdom is advancing.

Would you consider taking a few steps back from all of the information outlets that you may be attached to, approaching God with prayer and fasting, and asking Him to reveal His heart to you? Would you be willing to ask Him without already believing that you know? Sometimes we think that we’re not hearing God, but it’s because He is not saying what we want Him to say. Or worse, we think that we’ve already heard Him because He must always be in alignment/agreement with whatever preference or position we are most passionate about.

God is doing incredible things in this hour. Yet, there is much more that hangs in the balance. We are believing for national breakthrough. Will you fast and pray to see God’s purposes fulfilled? Esther did.