16 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you, from our great God and Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

In January 2025, we will participate in 16 days of corporate fasting and prayer as a Church, seeking the Lord's guidance and help as we approach this new year. We will commence this period of Fasting and Prayer on January 8th. We will fast from Wednesday through Friday each week and then on Sunday morning. Our final day of prayer and fasting during this period will be Friday, January 31st, 2025.

Our theme will be “A Fresh Start.” The relevant scripture passages are:

1. Lamentations 3:21-23 - Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

2. Jeremiah 3:12-13 King James Version (KJV)- 12  Go and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, Return, thou backsliding Israel, saith the Lord; and I will not cause mine anger to fall upon you: for I am merciful, saith the Lord, and I will not keep anger forever. 13  Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God, and hast scattered thy ways to the strangers under every green tree, and ye have not obeyed my voice, saith the Lord.

3. Zechariah 10:6 King James Version (KJV) - 6  And I will strengthen the house of Judah, and I will save the house of Joseph, and I will bring them again to place them; for I have mercy upon them: and they shall be as though I had not cast them off: for I am the Lord their God and will hear them.

STARTING OVER. It’s the second chance we didn’t think we’d have. It’s a wave of relief that washes over our past mistakes. It is a gift from God we don’t deserve. In the book of Lamentations, the prophet Jeremiah looks back at the destruction of Jerusalem. God promised His people would face punishment for their sinful choices, and He was faithful to His word. Their city had been ravaged, and they were now living in exile. The temple was destroyed. Despite his lament, Jeremiah remembers God’s mercy. Were it not for God’s mercy, all of God’s people would have perished. Although God's judgment on them was painful, He would not leave them ruined. Eventually, God would forgive and restore them after they acknowledged their disobedience and confessed their sin. He would allow them to start over once more. He does the same for us.

Maybe you have experienced the discipline of God in your own life. You have suffered painful consequences for the sinful choices you made. Perhaps you feel that God has left you there. If so, remember that although God is just, He is also full of mercy. His compassion never fails. He promises to forgive us when we come to Him and confess what we have done or not done. No matter how you have offended God, you can have hope because of His great mercy. You can always have a fresh start with Him because His compassions are “new every morning.”

Take some time to thank God for the specific ways He has acted mercifully toward you. Thank Him for forgiving your sin. Express gratitude to Him for actively restoring you. You may even want to sing or pray the words to the hymn, “Great is Thy Faithfulness.”

“Pardon for sin and peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessing all mine, with ten thousand beside!”

Dear Brothers and Sisters, I pray and hope we will all discipline ourselves and participate as extensively as possible in this consecration endeavor. To benefit from this effort, you should significantly reduce your time on social media and video and movie streaming platforms, including television. This will help us shut in with God as best as possible.

All members are encouraged to continue participating in our current Bible reading program. If you have fallen behind or have yet to start, please begin and aim to be consistent as we read and study the Scriptures together.

Once again, we request total participation. We ask that every member (excluding those who cannot go without food for extended periods due to a diagnosed medical condition) limit themselves to one meal daily in the evening (after 6 p.m.). Water can be consumed throughout the day. Members taking medications are encouraged to consult their doctors before participating in fasting. If your doctor advises against fasting, we encourage you to fully engage in praying each day for the specified prayer needs.

You are asked to pray thrice daily: in the Morning, at Noon, and in the Evening/Night. Please make a special effort to participate in all prayer sessions. The number for the UAC Prayer Line is (551-258-6254).

God bless you richly!