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September 26, 2012
Dear Praying Friend
Today is the first day of our 40 day journey together. I pray as you step out in faith to receive what the Lord has prepared for you during this time of prayer and fasting that you will be encouraged with the knowledge that you are not alone in your quest. There are thousands of other like-minded "feasters" across this country who have responded in this hour to submit these next 40 days as an offering to the Lord desiring to seek His face and to pray for our nation. If you are still unsure of what the Lord would have you to do during this time, I pray this email will encourage you to simply trust Him to lead you one day at a time to experience His powerful peace and presence in these uncertain and challenging days.
At sundown last night the Jewish observance of Yom Kippur (The Day of Atonement) began. This day of fasting commemorates the one day of the year in which the high priest would enter the Most Holy Place to make a blood offering for the atonement of sin for the entire nation (reference Leviticus 16). Before he could even enter the Holy Place, the high priest himself had to be cleansed. We begin our journey on this day being mindful that our Great High Priest, Jesus Christ, has entered the Most Holy Place by His own blood once and for all as the ultimate sin sacrifice to restore the broken union between God and man (Hebrews 9:12). It is our sacred responsibility to purify our hearts from anything that dare pollute or interrupt this most privileged union that Jesus Christ purchased on our behalf. May we begin our journey with a time of reflection and recommitment as we consecrate our lives to the will of the Father and pray for a revival of righteousness throughout the entire Body of Christ (2 Corinithians 7:1) and for our nation to return to the strong spiritual foundation it was built upon (1 Corinthians 3:11).
"My food,' said Jesus, 'is to do the will of Him who sent Me
and to finish His work.' "
(John 4:34)
Jesus became broken bread and poured out wine for us so that we would never have to experience the agony of eternal separation from the Father. He invites us to come to His table to feast on Him, the "Bread of Life," so we can be nourished with His abundant life and experience eternal fulfillment, so we, in turn, can be broken and poured out for others to experience this same remarkable communion with Christ (John 6:35, 53-58; 10:10; 2 Corinthians 12:15; Philippians 2:17). Beloved, communion with Christ came at the ultimate cost. We should daily be delighting to spend time in His Presence and be willing to offer ourselves up at any cost to secure this divine union for others. As our hearts are burdened to pray for our nation these next 40 days may we clearly discern that what is ultimately at stake is the eternal future of this generation and the generations to come. The preservation and protection of our children's and grandchildren's spiritual inheritance is why we are entering this battle on our knees. Far too much has been sacrificed for us to give up the fight now. May we not waste the time we have been given on any other unworthy and unholy pursuit than pursuing the One who gave up everything to spend every moment in communion with us!
Heavenly Father,
How much we have been needing this time with You.
We don't even realize how depleted we have become or
how long we have been striving in our own strength.
You know our every need and have purposed this
time for our restoration and preparation.
Forgive us that we have wasted time on other pursuits
and have neglected spending intimate time with You.
Lord, be the lifter of our heads and fix our eyes intently upon You,
that we may gaze upon the beauty of the Lord.
For You are worthy, our Lord and God,
to receive glory and honor and power.
To You we ascribe our adoration and highest praise
as we come before You now in humble surrender
to sit at Your feet and to bask in Your Presence
these next 40 days and beyond.
Our hearts are filled with great expectation
for what You will reveal to each of us personally
through Your Holy Word. We come to Your table
wanting to be emptied of our flesh and desiring
to be filled with more of You.
Nourish the life of Your Holy Spirit within us.
Strengthen us moment by moment
with Your powerful, fulfilling, and sustaining Word.
Cleanse and purify our hearts so we can bring
Glory and Honor to Your Holy Name.
We lay these 40 days at Your feet
and ask that You do a great work within us so
You may do an even greater work through us;
bringing a broken and hungry world
to Your throne of Grace to find help, forgiveness,
salvation and eternal life - fulfilling their greatest need!
May You find great satisfaction in us as we find the
greatest delight and satisfaction in Your Presence.
To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!
Amen!
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