Well, I’ve got my “just hit 40” reading glasses on and my Bible out.  It’s time to write this blog.  My topic today is fasting….fasting is something I have done often throughout my adult life, but not something I feel particularly good at.  And specifically the fasting I’m referring to is fasting from food.  So, I’m approaching this topic with a little trepidation because I’m advocating, even imploring the believers in our region to partake in a 21 day corporate fast, from June 8 – 28, knowing that the very thing I feel called to do, I feel so bad at.

Human weakness aside, I cannot ignore this growing urgency that we have come to a point in Kalamazoo’s (and southwest Michigan’s) history that compels JLK and KHOP to “sound the trumpet”, so to speak, regarding a citywide fast for Jesus Loves Kalamazoo’s upcoming Catalyst Week (July 6 – 11).

The Lord’s been speaking to me for many months now that it’s time for His people to be properly positioned as an army, both as individuals and as churches/ministries.  And, to do it in unity with one another.  I believe the Lord wants us to start strategizing as His army.  We war for the souls of people who are ensnared by the shackles of sin and unbelief.  We do not war against people, but FOR them.  The Apostle Paul is very clear about that when he admonishes the Church of Ephesus, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”

People may hate us, call us names, even throw stones at us while we are out ministering the gospel, but they are not our enemies.  We are called to unconditional love, which the enemy cannot combat, and in which fear cannot remain. (1 John 4:18)

I remember waking up with a start on March 1, the morning that Healing the Land was happening.  As soon as my eyes opened, I heard the words, “It’s time to war!” ringing in my spirit.  I already knew that leaders gathering together across cultural and denominational lines to repent was important, strategic to God’s purposes in our region.  I knew that in church history, repentance and united prayer precedes revival.

And then it dawned on me, this citywide repentance of leaders, and evening OneWorship Encounter with the community, were acts of war.  What we deem as mere events, the Lord (and the enemy) sees as acts of war.  Think about it: true repentance causes us to acknowledge and get rid of our junk, i.e. things that hinder our love for God and our love for others.  When we do that, we create more space for God to move within us and through us.  Our hearts are freer to love, freer to experience joy, freer to be courageous, freer to worship, freer to share the gospel.  Strongholds bind and clutter the mind; repentance cleans those things out.

When we do this as a city/region, in unity with one another, we are making room for the Lord to move within us and through us on a much greater level.  To expand on the motto for the Healing the Land Advance: “personal repentance leads to personal revival which leads to personal transformation.”  Citywide repentance leads to citywide revival which leads to citywide transformation.

And now we’re adding fasting…

Do you remember the story in Mark 9 when the father brought his demonized boy to Jesus?  This desperate man had brought his tormented son to the disciples and they could not free him.  The father then asked Jesus for help.  Jesus commanded the demon to leave the boy and never enter him again.  The boy was set free.  The disciples asked him why they were not able to drive out the demon.  Jesus answered, “This kind can come out only by prayer and fasting.”  The word for “kind” is the Greek word genos, and it has to do with family, nation, race.  So, I believe Jesus is saying that there is a “family” of demons that does not come out with just a verbal command; there has to be prayer and fasting in advance for its expulsion.

Our city/region is seeing an increase of gang-related violence on our streets.  I believe that some of the spiritual forces behind that are racism, hatred, and lawlessness.  And some of these demonic forces have tormented and bound families for generations.  We are seeing the homosexual agenda in our region grow in influence and power.  And abortion clinics such as Planned Parenthood are still in operation.  I say this not to dishearten us, but to provoke us to action.  We need a shift.  We need for His Kingdom to come on earth as it is in heaven.  And I believe that a unified citywide fast, along with unified prayer and worship, are a few of the keys to seeing this occur.

Fasting softens our hearts and positions us nearer the Lord.  United fasting and prayer positions a body of believers closer to God’s heart.  We all hear Him better.  We all sense His heart.  We all are humbled.

Our Lord expects us to fast.  Remember when He taught His disciples how to fast in Matthew 6?  He wouldn’t have said, “When you fast….” if it weren’t implied that we should be doing it as a regular part of our Christian life.  If the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the desert for a 40 day fast before He began His earthly ministry, then why wouldn’t we, too, need to humble ourselves in like fashion?

What was the first step to Queen Esther and the Jews of Persia to finding deliverance from their impending doom?  United fasting.

United fasting, prayer, and worship can release the captives on our streets, homes, schools, and businesses.  Harvest laborers praying, worshiping, and fasting together will change our city.

The Lord does not usually call us to minister where we are strong.  If we could do it in our own strength, then He is not the one doing it, we are.  And then we receive the honor for it.  He encouraged Paul that His power is made perfect in our weakness; that His grace is sufficient for us.  (2 Cor. 12:9) You don’t feel good at fasting?  You struggle in this area like me?  Good news!  His grace IS sufficient.  He is about to perfect His power in our weakness.

So, would you prayerfully consider joining Jesus Loves Kalamazoo and the Kalamazoo House of Prayer in this season of united fasting, prayer, and worship for Kalamazoo and southwest Michigan?  Seek the Lord for the specifics of how you are to fast. Let’s get into position, beloved, for it’s time to war!

-Tami Flick, Kalamazoo House of Prayer & the JLK Vision Team

Some Scriptures About Fasting for Personal Study:

Isaiah 58

Matthew 6:16-18

Esther 4

Mark 9:14-29

Joel 2

Daniel 9