If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from Heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. Now my eyes will be open and my ears attentive to the prayers offered in this place!2 Chronicles 7:14-15

The greatest thing anyone can do for God and man is pray. It is not the only thing; but it is the chief thing. The great people of the earth today are the people who pray. I do not mean those who talk about prayer; not those who can explain about prayer; but I mean those people who take time and pray. -S.D. Gordon “Quiet Talks on Prayer”

I sat across the table from my wife on our weekly date at one of our favorite restaurants on the outskirts of Bangkok, Thailand. We had been missionaries with a church planting team for six years in the teeming, tropical city of 11 million Thai Buddhists. It was March 1997 and we were deep in discussion of the book that we just finished by the legendary leader Bill Bright of Campus Crusade. He had released a book called The Coming Revival: America’s Call to Fast, Pray and “Seek God’s Face.” In it, Bill Bright issued a clarion call across the face of the earth for 2 million believers to stand as watchmen on the wall for America and fast for 40 days to see a nation turn back to God.

We had both been gripped by the words of this Kingdom Statesman, who exhorted us as readers that nothing will shift in our nation except a furnace room of prayer fueled by the intercession of the saints. As we talked, my wife paused for a long moment and a gleam came into her eyes as she said with passion, “I’m called to do this 40 day fast!” When she said this, I knew immediately that we were to do this fast together.
 
The longest fast we had ever done previously was three days, so this was like climbing Mount Everest for us.

We learned many things during this fast; our own weaknesses and frailties and also the kindness and grace of God to go the distance. In looking back now, I can see the Hand of God all through it.

Ten years later, in 2007 we flew our two oldest sons from Bangkok to attend TheCall Nashville on 7-7-07. They were 14 and 12 at the time. A seed was planted in their hearts for the house of prayer and intercession. Fast forward another 10 years to 2017. After graduating from Lee University in Cleveland, Tennessee they both moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado to work with SAFA, (the Spiritual Air Force Academy) led by David and Audrey Kim a spiritual son and daughter to Lou Engle.  The rest of our family joined them a year later. 

It is powerful and significant to see that many who took part in that 40 day historic fast in the late 90s we’re later strategically shifted and moved into geographical locations and ministries that were advancing the Kingdom through prayer and fasting. What is God doing in your heart right now in this 40 day fast? What is he calling you to?


Prayer
Father God, stir my heart in this 40 day fast to see this nation turned back to God and the nations of the earth come in a mighty procession before the throne of God. May my prayers flow into 10,000 streams that converge into the mighty River of God that will cover the face of the earth. Habakkuk 2:14

Steve Allen
Contend Global – Staff